Is it time for a security upgrade?

As the EDL breaks up, their acolytes are going one of two ways. Some are choosing to go with Robinson and his merchandise racket, to chase their delusions of electoral grandeur, whilst the rest are joining splinter groups such as the ‘infidels’, and returning to their roots of gutter racism street violence.

The Infidels and their supporters completely reject the EDL/BFP project and claim that they will carry on the work that is based on the EDL’s founding principles. The added twist to their back to basics campaign is that they are now openly and actively targeting ‘left wing’ activities. There are numerous accounts of attacks on ‘occupy’ events, threats to attack striking trade unionists, and other incidents such as repeated attacks on a radical bookshop in Liverpool, and a trade union office.

Originally, the EDL was portrayed as a single issue organisation. However, there are large elements of the group that are rapidly moving towards a more traditional fascist organisation.

This change in ideological direction has been recently discussed elsewhere, and I do not want to replicate that discussion. However, for me, the change direction of the EDL/Infidels has many implications for everyone and every group who has an opposing ideology to them. Today, a group of EDL thugs were jailed for an attack on an SWP meeting last year. This type of attack is set to become much more common place. This raises the question of, what are we going to do about it?

Many groups and campaigns advertise their events and meetings as widely as possible. That is fine if there are large numbers attending in a public place, but what about the meetings were there may only be a handful of people? What safety measures do we have, if at all? I am sure that the SWP members that were attacked were just as complacent as I have been.

These bastards are stating that they are actively going to attack left wing gatherings and meetings. I for one will be proposing that the group I am involved with should look at the safety and security of our meetings as a matter of priority.

A statement from the leader of the Infidels faction, John "Snowy" Shaw, states: "We have decided to put all our efforts into opposing everything you do regardless of the issue at hand, it's your organisations we oppose." He adds: "Every event you hold will be a potential target along with your meetings, fund raisers and social events."

Some may feel that this is an over-reaction, but looking at what they have done or attempted so far, and reading their threats, and attempts at information gathering online, I feel that a review of how seriously we take security issues needs to take place.