Ugly scenes as protestors meet on streets of Swansea
MEMBERS of the Welsh Defence League (WDL) and anti-fascist protestors have confronted each other on the streets of Swansea.
Around 50 WDL supporters — and around five times as many opponents — were involved in a tense stand-off around Castle Square on Saturday afternoon.
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Video of march below
The WDL called the march to protest against what they called "extreme Islam's" influence in Wales.
But they were met by hundreds of anti-fascist protestors who turned out hours before the event and held their own counter-rally.
A heavy police presence kept the two sides apart and a tense stand-off ensued.
Darren Cadwallader, a resident of St Helen's Road, said he was there to support the resistance to the WDL demo.
"It is worrying, the intolerance," he said.
"One of the things I love about St Helen's Road is the diversity."
Police kept the WDL supporters contained in a small pocket outside Pizza Express for more than an hour as the two sides taunted each other — chats of "fascist scum off our streets" were met with choruses of "Rule Britannia".
Around 5pm mounted police moved in and the WDL protestors were escorted along High Street to the train station, where some got on trains and the rest were dispersed in small groups, followed by officers.
One arrest was made during the day - a 25-year-man was arrested for a racially aggravated public order offence.
Police have hailed the way officers dealt with the protests a success.
Chief Superintendent Mark Mathias said: "I am pleased with the success the police operation today, which allowed the protests to pass off peacefully, whilst taking into the account the rights of the people of Swansea to go about their normal business.
"I would to thank them for patience and understanding for any disruption that was caused."







186 Comments
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by Ap Pedr, Abertawe
Thursday, October 22 2009, 9:07AM
“The Welsh language is getting stronger in Swansea through demand .
I remember when that Asian chap who was a big noise in the Race Discrimination Board who is based in Swansea said you should only speak Welsh in the house and its rude to speak to it front of others . We the Welsh Nation suffers from all angles Left and Right . Like I said it is our culture and our history. And you may of noticed that I wrote languages ! The English and Welsh are both tongues of Cymru... not Polish , Pakistani or whatever else. When in Rome do as the Romans do.”
by Medusa, Swansea
Wednesday, October 21 2009, 8:32PM
“Ap Pedr, Abertawe, our language (Welsh) does not have a chance in Swansea - the majority seem to detest it! Unlike London where it is appreciated!
The lefties whom post here are mere hypocrites whom will step upon their own in order to support the enemy!”
by Ap Pedr, Abertawe
Wednesday, October 21 2009, 12:23PM
“As a Welsh Patriot and Nationalist I have no love for the Extreme Islam that would be forced upon us if they had their way , its a backward religion that wants to conquer the West and us infidels , its a way of life that I would not want for my children or myself. We have a Welsh way of life that is diverse and welcomes all extreme Islam does not. Then I look at the WDL and think what the hell are doing singing 'Brits we are proud of it ' and using Hitler type salutes and there was known racist BNP supporters in there . WDL should= Welsh Defence League but it don't it equals = sell out to the Brits . Know your culture about Cymru about its languages , its history , its resistance to English rule , about our own Royal family. And the same goes to the Unwashed and soap dodgers who jump about in their Antiwar Afghanistan is wrong blah blah , I bet none of you would want to live under a ShiaLaw or a Taliban regime ??? I am all for tolerance but you Brits can go and live in England and the unwashed can go and live in Tehran.
Free Wales Army.”
by Bill the builder, Swansea
Wednesday, October 21 2009, 12:18AM
“John Smith, Swansea local authority pay me a handsomely to sit around and do nothing, but they get me to do the roads sometimes and i havent got a clue so i close ther road off and sit in the JCB eating custard slices, if they get suspicious i pay a few polish people £10 to put some tarmac down
Merv Williams, that women was nothing to do with the WDL, she confessed she was BNP, the WDL and EDL have no link to the BNP and dont promote them.”
by Medusa, Swansea
Tuesday, October 20 2009, 9:12PM
“Very well said Bill the builder, Swansea.”
by Jhn smith, Swansea
Tuesday, October 20 2009, 2:49PM
“Bill the Builder no wonder theres so many construction sites in and around Swansea, you spend all your time on this forum, seen Spanish hotels put up quicker”
by Ashley Davies, Briton Ferry
Tuesday, October 20 2009, 2:35PM
“Theres a%£oles from all walks of life, regardless of race, religion, sex or sexual orientation, its within human nature to hate and destroy. I can see the points of view from both sides, on one hand I do agree that islamic extremeists have no place in society and some parts of thier religion seem to be very facist but on the other hand Great Britain has raped pilidged and taken over many countries in the reign of her empire and has brought a lot of this modern tension on itself. Prime example off this is society's hate of people from Pakistan, a nation that was only formed due to our occupation of India. We as a nation have a lot to answer for and I feel this modern Britain has a tendency to forget the damage weve caused, you say ban the mosks because we don't want thier religion forced on us, have you heard of a little thing called the crusades? Another thing that is very hippocritical is when I hear the phrase 'they're taking our jobs', no the lazy freeloaders who don't want to get off their bums to do an honest days work for minimum wage and would rather live off benefits are the ones that I have the problem with, least they are working. Its time everyone stopped looking for blame and point the finger where we should have been for a long time, the good for nothing goverments who rule this world, stop being puppets and make a stand. Don't like the fact our petrol costs are rising, lets go on strike, buisness's getting lost overseas don't buy thier products, not happy with the banks don't bank with them, we need to make a stand together and stop letting the greedy politicions sit happy with thier 3 houses paid for by us. Excuse my spelling rushing to finish this in work.”
by christian, swansea
Tuesday, October 20 2009, 10:54AM
“DEAR MR SARACEN PLEASE ANSWER MY QUESTION AS YOU HAVE GONE VERY QUIET AND THE QUIESTION REMAINS UNANSWERED..
DO YOU SUPPORT THE BRITISH ARMED FORCES.
1 QUESTION MR SARACEN IM NOT A RACIST OR A BIGGOT JUST VERY CURIOUS ABOUT YOURSELF AND WHERE YOUR MOTIVES LIE AS YOU DID THREATEN TO CUT A BRITISH CITIZENS TOUNGUE OUT AND THAT MY FRIEND IS UNACCEPTABLE IN A MODERN DAY UK SOCIETY.
PLEASE MR SARACEN ANSWER THE QUESTION DO YOU SUPPORT THE ARMED FORCES OF THE UNITED KINGDOM.
THE ARMED FORCES THAT PROTECT YOU AT PRESENT IN THIS COUNTRY ALSO DO YOU SUPPORT THE UK POLICE FORCES THAT HELP PROTECT YOU ALSO.”
by eddie, uplands
Tuesday, October 20 2009, 9:02AM
“Saracen is a typical British Muslim - he wants to silence all criticism of muslim and Islam, and will do so by straw man arguments, falsely accusing people of racism and being extremists, and ultimately, threats of violence. TYPICAL BRITISH MUSLIM.
Here are someintelligent points mad by the Centre for Social Cohesion:
Mark Thompson, the director-general of the BBC, admitted that he thought Islam should be treated more sensitively than other religions. As the London-based publisher of The Jewel of Medina (the novel about Muhammad and his youngest wife Aisha) could tell you, it can pay to be careful. Gibson Square had its London offices firebombed just before publication. But this is no time to accept any kind of censorship - whether self-imposed or worse.
The Centre for Social Cohesion has produced a publication which details the cases of almost 30 Europeans born to Muslim parents who are risking their lives to speak out against aspects of their faith and culture. The most important rarely receive more than passing attention. But they deserve our focus. For the risks that they ¿ and many other reformers ¿ are taking will in the end be for us all.
The individuals profiled range from cabinet ministers to journalists, writers, academics, artists and even pop singers. Most are in trouble for having criticised elements of what they see in Europe¿s Muslim communities, particularly the treatment of women. Nyamko Sabuni, the Swedish minister for integration and gender equality, has been the subject of death threats since speaking out against female genital mutilation and proposing that all Swedish schools should have mandatory gynaecological examinations to discourage the practice.
In Denmark, Manu Sareen, a city councillor and social worker who helped victims of ¿honour violence¿, was forced to give up his job after being approached on the way to his office by two men who told him that if he helped more of their women he would be killed.
Governments across Europe, including our own, make regular pronouncements about helping moderate Muslim voices to emerge above the din of radicals and radical-affiliated groups who have such a knack of grabbing the headlines. But the truth is that many of the individuals detailed in Victims of Intimidation either never had, or took a long time to get, the support they deserved.
Ehsan Jami, 23, the Dutch Labour party politician and founder of the Central Committee for Ex-Muslims, was repeatedly assaulted before being guarded by the Dutch police. He now requires constant protection but his own political party, instead of assisting his right to speak out about what he saw in the religion he was born into, tried to make him tone down his public statements about the treatment of women, apostates and homosexuals within Islam.
Those like Jami who have left Islam are often treated, by our governments and broadcasters as much as by the Muslim communities, as though they are out of the discussion. The British government has repeatedly elevated orthodox and highly conservative Muslim groups here but steers clear of former Muslims or still-practising Muslims who are seen to have harsh critiques of certain Islamic practices. In doing so it operates a terrible double standard. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights declares ¿freedom of speech and belief¿ as among ¿the highest aspirations of the common people¿. But freedom of belief for Muslims in Europe seems not to operate in the same way. A different standard is expected.
Deepika Thathhaal (or Deeyah), the Norwegian-born London-based pop singer, was attacked on stage at a concert in Oslo and has had her life repeatedly threatened. She has been criticised for her dress, dancing, music and her music video What Will It Be? which highlights the victims of ¿honour killings¿.
As Deeyah has said herself: ¿What¿s been a hard and sad thing for me to realise is how not one single person from the religio”
by Merv Williams, California
Tuesday, October 20 2009, 5:52AM
“Oh!!!!!!!! Bill The Builder.
Now you have dropped yourself in it.
You say that the girl on the video should find her own B& B.
After watching this quite a few times, I realise that she is with the WDL.
Shame on you Bill.
Next week, no doubt, you will be summoned to a Court Martial, where yoy will have to explain your remark.
No doubt your henchmen will find you "Guilty".
You will be then taken to a wall, offered the last cigarette, then blinfolded.
You will hear the command, "Lad your rifles", then the word "Fire", AND WILL BE PAINT-BALLED.
After, your body will be taken to Castle Gardens, where all of the WDL will PEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE over you..
May you rest in peace.”