Anti racists raise alarm about Football Lads Alliance Birmingham March

The Football Lads Alliance (FLA) say they are marching in Birmingham against extremism next Saturday.

But as the Observer newspaper has now exposed the groups secret Facebook page has exposed threats to the lives of London mayor Sadia Khan and to Shadow Home Secretary Diane Abbott.

The site has a constant stream of racist and Islamophobic posts and even expressions of sympathy with Finsbury Park attacker Darren Osborne.

Far right speakers on FLA protests and support for extremist events such as a march against the East London Mosque involving known fascist have been an increasing feature.

The main speaker on Saturday will be former UKiP leadership candidate Anne Marie Waters, who is known for her extreme Islamophobic ideas and links to the far right.

Stand Up To Racism has been sounding a warning since the emergence of the FLA last summer.

A statement opposing the FLA march in Birmingham has been backed by hundreds of local people and national figures including Unite the unions Len McCluskey, NEU leader Kevin Courtney, PCS General Secretary Mark Serwotka, Roger Godsiff MP and leading Muslim campaigner Salma Yaqoob

Weyman Bennett joint Convenor of Stand Up To Racism said: ‘

Now the FLA are to march in Birmingham one of Britain’s most multicultural cities. It’s almost 50 years since Enoch Powell’s infamous ‘Rivers of Blood Speech’. Some of the posts on the FLA site reflect the bitter racism that Powell tried to project’.

Stand Up To Racism says Birmingham must stay united.

We will be holding an anti-racist gathering at 12 noon next Saturday. At present the gathering is at Waterstones HighSt. Birmingham B4 8SL. The Stand Up To Racism assembly point may change as we will be assembling on the route the FLA are taking into central Birmingham.

Event here https://www.facebook.com/events/330512080781002??ti=ia

Stand Up To Racism is a major anti-racist organisation backed by trade unions and faith groups that organised the 20,000 strong march against racism in London last Saturday 17 March.

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