UK far-right groups plan largest rallies in 30 years
Protests aim to exploit soldier's murder to incite xenophobia in Britain, anti-racism activists say
Far-right groups are planning their biggest mobilisation for 30 years this weekend with more than 50 rallies planned in towns and cities across England.
Anti-racism campaigners have branded today a "day of hate" after identifying 55 English Defence League (EDL) events as well as a British National Party (BNP) march in London.
This is about the EDL taking their message of hate and division to communities
The events are seen as the latest attempt by British far-right groups to exploit the murder of the British soldier Lee Rigby, who was stabbed to death by alleged Muslim extremists in Woolwich, southeast London, last week.
"Towns and cities across England are going to have EDL events - many of them for the first time - and this is about the EDL taking their message of hate and division to communities across the country to try to stoke tensions and provoke a response," said Nick Lowles from Hope not Hate.
"It is going to be a very tense weekend and it represents the biggest far-right mobilisation we have seen in this country for 30 years."
BNP leader Nick Griffin had planned to stage a 10-kilometre march from Woolwich to Lewisham in south London today. But police imposed restrictions on the march, changing the route to central London between Millbank and the Cenotaph in Whitehall, because of fears it could result in "serious disorder, serious damage to property, and/or serious disruption to the life of the community".
