Home Secretary Theresa May to receive petition this week

Telegraph & Argus (Bradford) by Marc Meneaud | Monday, 9 August 2010 | Click here for original article

A petition backing calls to ban the English Defence League (EDL) from spreading hate in Bradford has been signed by more than 10,000 people.

Residents in the district from all walks of life have sent a strong message to the group that they do not want them to hold a rally in the city on Saturday, August 28, say petition organisers.

Supporters have been taking to the streets and visiting homes, places of worship and businesses, gathering a huge groundswell of support in favour of banning the EDL march.

Under a proposed ban, Unite Against Fascism (UAF), which has organised a counter-protest on the same day, would also be prevented from marching through Bradford.

The petition is supported by the Telegraph & Argus through its Back the Ban campaign and co-ordinated by banner organisation Bradford Together.

Paul Meszaros, speaking for Bradford Together, said: “Given the short time we have had to raise the petition, the fact that we have got 10,000 signatures is astonishing. The T&A has collected petitions by post showing people have gone to the effort – and expense – to support us.

“It goes to show the commitment of Bradfordians to say that we do not want these people in our city.”

Mr Meszarsos said the response to the petition had been from “right across the board”. “They have been from all kinds of Bradfordians – from Buttershaw to Manningham and every area in between,” he said.

A delegation from Bradford Together will travel to London on Wednesday to hand the petition to Home Secretary Theresa May. It will include Bradford-based Hope not Hate organiser Lorraine Fitzsimons and Nick Lowles, of anti-fascist magazine Searchlight.

West Yorkshire Police chiefs have previously said the EDL march could be banned if the force has compelling evidence it would be a threat to public safety.

Any decision has to take into account the group’s right to protest under the Human Rights Act.

Councillor Ian Greenwood, leader of Bradford Council, said: “The police are still in the process of determining their view and part of that view will be to take into account the attitude of the citizens of Bradford.”