Following two articles are from HopeNotHate.org and Islamophobia-Watch.com:
WDL humiliated in Swansea
Just got this report from our sister organisation in Wales:
The English Defence League or Welsh Defence League as they like to be known west of Offa's Dyke, have spent the last week playing 'cat & mouse' about when they intended to bring their UK tour of intimidation to the streets of Swansea. They started gathering at about noon on a sunny Saturday in Yates's Wine Lodge, a pub adjacent to their planned place of protest in Castle Square.
It soon became clear that their hopes of an easy ride on their first Welsh outing would be dashed, as hundreds of anti-fascist campaigners gathered in the same square, denying them their moment in the sun. As 4pm approached, when they had booked their slot, 35 half drunk EDL supporters were frog-marched by the police to an open space next to the square. They looked for all the world like a bunch of football hooligans being corralled before a match.
There was then a stand-off between the two sides for over an hour, with the increasingly agitated EDL surrounded by hundreds of chanting anti-fascists. Any pretence of respectibility soon disappeared, as they engaged in football chants and Nazi salutes. At 5pm, they were marched away by the police much to the delight of the masses of anti-fascist activists and after a swift celabration away from the area of conflict, everyone dispersed without any violence and with the EDL humiliated. It was a great day for Swansea as many of the protesters were young and on their very first protest. South Wales Police also deserve praise for their sensitive handling of the event but above all, it was a statement by the people of Swansea that their Muslim Welsh community was not going to be intimidated by a bunch of pumped up football hooligans.
Nazi-saluting Islamophobes take to the streets of Swansea
They denied being fascists ahead of their first Welsh march – but at yesterday's Welsh Defence League protest against Islamic extremism onlookers were confronted with scenes of jeering men giving Nazi salutes. It was the first time the newly-formed group have been out on the streets in Wales.
The controversial march had sparked a counter-demonstration, with about 200 protesters occupying the city centre. A heavy police cordon on either side of Castle Street in Swansea city centre kept the two groups apart.
Speaking before its demonstration, the Welsh Defence League (WDL) said the event would be peaceful, and consistently denied allegations of fascist tendencies. But the ugly scenes, in which grown men among the group of around 60 were seen making Nazi salutes in front of small children, seemed to prove otherwise.
Keith Ross, one of the organisers of the counter demonstration by groups including Swansea City of Sanctuary and Searchlight Cymru, said: "My first reaction to the WDL is who are they defending us against? I don't need to be defended against Muslims and I'm sad that the WDL has made a public call for no more mosques, which is a breach of human rights. Yet they have been given the right of freedom of speech."
Plaid Cymru Assembly Member Leanne Woods was among those who had turned out to oppose the Welsh Defence League. She said: "This is the first time they have come to Wales and a lot of people from different organisations have come out to say far-right extremism isn't acceptable on the streets of Swansea. We are happy to live together with the Muslim community and we are not prepared to accept divisive and hate-based politics on our streets."
Dr Mohammed Rahman, who attends Swansea Mosque, said Muslims in Swansea were very much an accepted part of the community.
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