Anti-fascist alliance in London's East End

The new Bishop of Stepney is to speak at an anti-fascist rally aimed at stopping a march planned by the Far Right through London’s East End.

The Right Rev Adrian Newman, in his first public engagement since his inauguration at St Paul’s Cathedral last Friday, is to address the rally staged at the London Muslim Centre in Whitechapel this coming Friday evening (July 29).

An alliance organised by United East End has been set up to stop plans by the English Defence League to stage a march through Whitechapel on September 3, the 72nd anniversary of the start of the Second World War.

United East End co-ordinator Glyn Robbins told the East London Advertiser: “This is not the first time racists have planned to march in the East End after similar threats last year which were stopped.

“The threat has prompted the community again, including political parties, trade unions, cultural and faith organisations, to come together to show that the EDL is not welcome here.”

The alliance follows a petition to Tower Hamlets Council earlier this month signed by United East End, Tower Hamlets Inter-Faith Forum, Rainbow Hamlets, London Muslim Centre, Tower Hamlets Tenants’ Federation, Neighbours in Poplar, Unison and East London NUT.

The petition was also signed by Max Levitas, former Tower Hamlets councillor now in his 90s who is a veteran of the 1936 ‘Battle of Cable Street’—which stopped Mosley’s Blackshirts marching through Whitechapel and Shadwell.

Tower Hamlets councillors from all parties supported the petition calling for any Far Right demonstration to be banned.