Al Haqeeqa
Birmingham: Stand Up to Racism organized a protest under the name “Birmingham United: Don’t let the racists divide us” against the march by Football Lads Alliance (FLA). FLA’s march is against the so-called “Islamist extremists”.
According to the report published in Aljazeera, the intention behind the protest organized by “Stand Up to Racism” was to spread the message of unity and opposition to racism and Islamophobia.
It may be mentioned that the march of FLA is in commemoration of the 1974 Birmingham Pub Bombings. The bombings had taken the life of 21 persons.
However, locals and anti-racists expressed concern that this march by FLA could be biggest Islamaphobic mobilization. Anti-Islam activist, Anne Marie Waters was the speaker at the march.
Talking about the FLA’s march, Mr. Weyman Bennett of “Stand Up To Racism” told that FLA claims to be anti-racists but invited Anne Marie Walters and other racists.
It may be mentioned that as per 2011 Census, Muslims constitute 21.8% of the total population of Birmingham which is higher than the average Muslim population of England and Wales.
Many British MPs including Birmingham Ladywood MP Shabana Mahmoud, Birmingham Edgbaston MP Preet Kaur Gill and Birmingham Hall Green MP Roger Godsiff also expressed their concerns over the march of FLA.
FLA is also allegedly targeting London Mayor Sadiq Khan using secret Facebook page. John Meighan had founded the FLA after the London Bridge attack.
