Scottish Defence League
The Scottish Defence League (SDL) is an offshoot of the English Defence League and was created in late 2009. The Times describe the group as a "far right organisation affiliated to the English Defence League (EDL)"[1]. The group carried out a demonstration in Glasgow on the 14-November-2008[2] and according to their Facebook group are planning a further protest in Edinburgh on 20-February-2010.
Contents
Demonstrations
Glasgow demonstration
The SDL held their first demonstration in Glasgow on 14-November-2009. The group claimed they were protesting against the "Islamification" of Scotland[3]. According to a report in the Scotland on Sunday:
- 80 people briefly unfurled banners calling for the banning of the burqa, sang Rule Britannia and shouted "SDL" to shouts of "scum" and boos from shoppers[4].
The BBC reported:
- Police said about 80 SDL protesters gathered in Cambridge Street, north of the city centre, and there were clashes. The SDL protesters, some with their faces partly covered with scarves, sang songs and chanted "SDL" as they held their demonstration[5].
The Sunday Mail described how:
- The drunken mob left the Cambridge bar on Cambridge Street and moved to the city centre at noon where they were confronted by around 30 anti-fascist protesters shouting, "Nazi scum off our streets"[6].
There were five arrests connected to the demonstration, four for alleged breach of the peace and a fifth for racially motivated breach of the peace. Assistant chief constable Fiona Taylor said the demonstration involving about 70 people against immigration and Islamic fundamentalism had passed off "without any major incident"[7].
A counter demonstration staged by Scotland United took place on the same day, police estimated that 1,500 people attended the anti-fascism demonstrations with organisers putting the figure at 3,500[8][9]. The Scotland United demonstration was described in The Sunday Times:
- Meanwhile, members of Scotland United gathered at Glasgow Green and marched to George Square, where they held a counter-demonstration backed by trade unions, politicians and faith groups.
The demonstration included speeches by Nicola Sturgeon, Osama Saeed, Mohammed Sarwar, Aamer Anwar, Annabel Goldie, and Tommy Sheridan[10].
Edinburgh Demonstration
Three days after the SDL's Glasgow demonstration plans were announced by the SDL to have a further gathering in Edinburgh[11]. Details were published on the groups Facebook page in early December giving the date of the 20-February-2009 for the protest.
BNP Connections
One of the administrators of the SDL Facebook group is John Wilkinson who lists his political views on the site as BNP. Wilkinson can be seen on the site leafleting for the BNP in the 2009 European Elections. Wilkinson also appears on the leaked BNP members list which was posted on wikileaks[12].
Members of the SDL Facebook group include Adam Lloyd (Pictured Left) who is the BNP organiser for Bridgend in Wales[13].
The BNP have publicly denied any connection with the English Defence League and issued a press release distancing themselves from the EDL and the "confrontations they seek"[14].
Another member of the group Iain Brooks from Glasgow is also listed on the leaked BNP members list which appeared on Wikileaks[15].
Military Connections
The SDL facebook group has a military photograph with the caption "Tartan Army on Tour", presumably taken in Afghanistan. One of the groups administrators John Wilkinson a BNP member and activist also appears in military gear and in one photograph appears to be serving abroad.
Another SDL member Iain Brooks from Glasgow has also served in the military.
Web Presence
SDL on Facebook
The SDL has a group on Facebook used to recruit new members and organise demonstrations. Administrators for the group are Chris Anderson, Karen Chesser from Aberdeen and John Wilkinson from Dumfries.
The SDL Facebook group where 197 of the 420 members have their location displayed. Of these 197 members less than half are based in Scotland:
| Location | Number of Members | |
|---|---|---|
| Scotland | 83 | |
| England | 79 | |
| USA | 10 | |
| Wales | 9 | |
| Australia | 5 | |
| Canada | 2 | |
| Israel | 1 | |
| Northern Ireland | 1 | |
| Spain | 1 | |
| Serbia | 1 | |
| China | 1 | |
[16]}
UK Casuals United websiteUnlike the English Defence League, the SDL don't have a dedicated website[17]. Their web presence consists of a Facebook group and a page on the UK Casuals United website. The "UK Casuals United" website hosts pages on the other "Defence Leagues" which are the English Defence League, Welsh Defence League and the Ulster Defence League[18]. The groups website is registered in the U.S. at webs.com[19]. The group describe themselves as:
The tagline on the groups website reads, "Uniting the UK's football infidels", and they make claims to be opposing Islamic Extremism and stopping Muslims who "wish to impose Sharia law upon us by stealth"[21]. The writing style used on the website is often incoherent, for example this passage comes from the section explaining who the group are:
This incoherent style is repeated in an announcement about the groups Glasgow demonstration of the 14-November-2009, the group announced:
See alsoPeopleChris Anderson | Karen Chesser | John Wilkinson | Anthony Bamford | Johnny Brabender | Martin McIntyre | John Robertson ContactE-Mail: casualsunitedhq@hotmail.com Notes
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