COUNCIL URGED TO REJECT DEMO APPLICATION
The General Secretary (GS) of the Celtic League has written to members of Edinburgh City Council to urge them to reject an application for a march by a far right organisation in September.
In his letter the GS says that even though the Celtic League usually supports the freedom of individuals and groups to protest and express their views, the pplication by the Scottish Defence League (SDL) to hold a march in Edinburgh on
the weekend of the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks in New York seems esigned to provoke trouble in the city. The GS has written to all the members f the Licensing Committee of Edinburgh Council asking them to reject the pplication at their meeting on Friday (19th August 2011) where they will iscuss the matter.
The full text of the letter can be found below.
Licensing Sub-Committee
The City of Edinburgh Council
Edinburgh
17/08/11
Dear Councillor Munn
Scottish Defence League (SDL) Application
I am writing to express my concern about the proposed protest by the Scottish efence League (SDL) in Edinburgh on 10th September 2011. he Celtic League believes in the freedom of peaceful protest and expression by roups and individuals, but it would seem that in this particular instance the DL seem intent to cause mischief in consideration that the planned march in the
city will be held on the weekend of the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks in ew York.
In addition, with the recent events in England and the reputation that the nglish Defence League (EDL) has for inciting violence and hatred, it would seem ertinent that you turn down the application by the SDL in this case. The heavy eployment of police in the city and the general unease that the protest will ause could have an adverse effect on visitors and residents alike and
unnecessarily disrupt the local economy.
I look forward to hearing what the outcome of the Council's discussion is.
Yours sincerely
Rhisiart Tal-e-bot
General Secretary
Celtic League
This article prepared for Celtic News by Rhisiart Tal-e-bot General Secretary eltic League. For follow-up comment or clarification contact:
Tel: 0044 (0)1209315884
M: 0044(0)7787318666
rhisiart.talebot@
gensec@
J B Moffatt (Mr)
Director of Information
Celtic League
17/08/11
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