{"id":2614,"date":"2012-10-14T22:02:52","date_gmt":"2012-10-14T22:02:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bothness.uber.space\/?p=2614"},"modified":"2012-10-28T00:32:23","modified_gmt":"2012-10-28T00:32:23","slug":"we-are-norwich-public-meeting","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/norwichpeace.org\/?p=2614","title":{"rendered":"We Are Norwich Public Meeting"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/span>Local community groups unite to oppose plans by the English Defence League (EDL) to demonstrate in Norwich on Saturday 10th November 2012<\/strong><\/div>\n
<\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span>In the interests of a peaceful city<\/span><\/h2>\n

a rainbow coalition of faith groups, trade unions, political parties and community organisations has said it will do all in its power to peacefully oppose a planned march of the English Defence League (EDL) through Norwich next month (November). The ‘WE ARE NORWICH’ group says the EDL is a violent fascist organisation with clear links to other far right groups across Europe.\u00a0 Speaking on behalf of the group, secretary Nick O’Brien said: “The EDL has held countless demonstrations across the country where they have rampaged through towns – attacking mosques, businesses and individuals. More recently it has begun to attack peaceful demonstrations, multicultural events and trade union demonstrations. Its leader Tommy Robinson, who has a string of convictions and was formerly a member of the British National Party appeared on a Channel 4 programme praising Anders Breivik, the fascist terrorist, responsible for killing 76 people in Norway.”<\/span><\/p>\n

Church Leaders speak out against plans for English Defence League march through Norwich<\/strong><\/p>\n

The leaders of all the Christian denominations in Norwich have issued the following joint statement:-<\/p>\n

\u201cThe intention of the English Defence League to mount a demonstration in Norwich is entirely unwelcome.\u00a0 Norwich has a long history of welcoming strangers, often in considerable numbers.\u00a0 The integration of so many different groups into the life of this fine city is what gives Norwich such richness in its life today.\u00a0 This is a cause for celebration, and we must not allow this honourable tradition to be broken.\u201d<\/p>\n

Fr David Bagstaff, Diocesan Administrator, Diocese of East Anglia (Roman Catholic)<\/p>\n

Major David Jackson, Divisional Commander of the Eastern Region, Salvation Army<\/p>\n

The Rt Revd Graham James, Bishop of Norwich (Church of England)<\/p>\n

The Revd Richard Lewis, Regional Minister of the Eastern Baptist Association<\/p>\n

John Myhill, on behalf of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers)<\/p>\n

The Very Revd Graham Smith, Dean of Norwich (Church of England)<\/p>\n

The Revd Graham Thompson, Chair of the East Anglian District of the Methodist Church<\/p>\n

Fr James Walsh, Dean of the Cathedral Church of John the Baptist (Roman Catholic)<\/p>\n

The Revd Paul Whittle, Moderator of the Eastern Synod of the United Reformed Church<\/p>\n

Link to Evening News article and poll<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span>The EDL claim to be demonstrating in Norwich to oppose the banning of a stall in the centre of the city by the Norwich Reformed Church. The city council banned the stall because of the Islamaphobic nature of its leaflet. The Norwich Reformed Church are the only group to protest at the city’s annual Pride event.\u00a0 WE ARE NORWICH is planning stalls in the city centre, a public meeting on Wednesday 24th October (7.30pm at the Vauxhall Centre) and a high profile Love Music, Hate Racism and Homophobia gig at the start of 2013. Should the EDL still comeWe are Norwich have promised to work with the police and local authorities to hold a safe and peaceful demonstration that celebrates and protects the city’s diverse and multicultural city.<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

Meanwhile members of the city’s Muslim community say they are alarmed at the prospect of an openly hostile and violent organisation being given the opportunity to push a creed of intolerance and hate on their home city. \u00a0The Norfolk and Norwich Muslim Association also condemned the march. \u00a0Trustee Dr Muhammed Abu-Elmagd said “We believe the EDL’s intention is to cause disharmony among the residents of Norwich. \u00a0However, we hope the people of Norwich will stand firm together and refuse to allow any attempt to divide our fine city.” <\/span><\/div>\n

<\/span>For more information \u2013 contact Nick O\u2019Brien on 07717504210 OR email <\/span>norwichuaf@gmail.com<\/span><\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/span>A full list of our supporters:<\/strong> <\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span>Clive Lewis (Norwich Labour Party) <\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

Norwich Green Party City Council Group
\nChapelfield Mosque
\nThe Norwich Pride Collective
\nIan Gibson
\nRichard Murphy<\/span>
\nThe Rev’d Simon Wilson, Social and Community Concerns Co-ordintor, Diocese of Norwich
\nJosh Bowker (Union of UEA Students)
\nKings Lynn Trades Council
\nGreat Yarmouth Trades Council
\nNorwich Trades Council
\nNorfolk Coalition against the Cuts
\nNorwich Stop the War Coalition <\/strong><\/span><\/div>\n

<\/span>Julie Bremner (Norwich Unite against Fascism)
\nUnison Norfolk County Branch
\nUSDAW (various branches)
\nNorfolk Division NUT
\nPCS Eastern Region
\nNorwich Unite Central LE\/1880
\nUnite Great Yarmouth & District LE\/142
\nAndrew Osborne Unite Norfolk & Suffolk Area Activists Committee
\nUnison branch (Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust) <\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span>David Peel (NUJ)
\nMatthew Fulton (Compass Youth)
\nNorwich SWP<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Local community groups unite to oppose plans by the English Defence League (EDL) to demonstrate in Norwich on Saturday 10th November 2012 In the interests of a peaceful city a rainbow coalition of faith groups, trade unions, political parties and community organisations has said it will do all in its power to peacefully oppose a […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0},"categories":[3,1],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/norwichpeace.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2614"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/norwichpeace.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/norwichpeace.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/norwichpeace.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/norwichpeace.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2614"}],"version-history":[{"count":12,"href":"https:\/\/norwichpeace.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2614\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2668,"href":"https:\/\/norwichpeace.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2614\/revisions\/2668"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/norwichpeace.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2614"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/norwichpeace.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2614"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/norwichpeace.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2614"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}