EDL Bristol March Organiser Photographed Giving Nazi Salute at Bradford Demo

bristol | protests | news report Saturday June 30, 2012 16:19 by Auntie Fash

Anybody who knows a little about the English Defence League knows that their claims to be merely against "Islamic extremism" is just a front for their deeper, more sinister agenda. EDL members have openly attacked anybody they deem as as different including left-wing paper sellers in Lewisham and striking workers in Liverpool. Their tactics mimic more closely those of far-right, fascist street organisations like we've seen in the past, so it should be of no surprise that the EDL have been making strong connections with the openly fascist and racist National Front in the north of England.

While the EDL may claim to be non-racist and anti-fascist, the core of their movement is made up of fascists and Nazi sympathizers.

One example of this is Mickey Bayliss. Mickey recently appeared in the local rag, The Post, presenting himself as a friendly face of the English Defence League (http://www.thisisbristol.co.uk/EDL-march-organiser-defends-protest/story-16468113-detail/story.html). Mickey Bayliss identified himself as one of the organisers of the Bristol demo to take place on Saturday July 14th. Like most people involved in the EDL, Mickey claims that the organisation isn't racist or homophobic and claims that "any racist chanting, would be identified and reported to the police."

Mickey goes on to say: "Unfortunately we are being painted as a racist group, but we are clearly not. In any group you have a rogue element, but most of us just want to protest peacefully.

"We will be marching with gay, transsexual and some Sikh members of the organisation.

"Hopefully people will see us for what we really are."

If the rogue elements, Mickey is talking about, includes the Sieg Hielling, racist abuse chanting, thugs so often seen at EDL demonstrations then he need look no further than the EDL Demo in Bradford in 2010 where he was photographed giving a Nazi salute.

A quick online search of Mickey Bayliss's moniker (the oh-so original Mickey English Bayliss) brings you straight to this page (http://edlnews.co.uk/index.php/featured-stories/edl-nazis/310-mickey-english-bayliss) where Mickey's Nazi saluting photo is presented along with a host of other information.

Mickey Bayliss may be an extreme case of fascism within the English Defence League but if the so-called organiser of the Bristol EDL demo has been photographed giving Nazi salutes at previous demos, what strength does that give to his claims that the EDL are a non-racist, anti-fascist organisation? If Mickey Bayliss is claiming that he will report all "rogue elements" within the march to the Police then he should start with himself!

It is up to all of us to oppose the English Defence League when they come to Bristol on July 14th! Bristol Anti-Fascists has already put out a call-out for people to oppose the EDL:

OPPOSE THE EDL MARCH IN BRISTOL
ASSEMBLE: TEMPLE MEADS AREA*
11AM SATURDAY 14TH JULY!
(*Start point may change. Wherever they start, we will stop them! See online for up-to-date info.)