ENGLISH DEFENCE LEAGUE MARCH IN MIDDLESBROUGH ON 9 JULY 2011

That this House condemns the English Defence League which promotes racism and anti-Semitism and who are planning a march in Middlesbrough on 9 July 2011; notes that this organisation has always been silent on crucial local issues like the closure of Redcar blast-furnace, cuts to local services such as health and education and that they are not from Middlesbrough and have nothing to do with the area; further notes that this march displays a complete disregard and ignorance of the history of the town, which was founded on immigration from a range of countries including Italy, Germany, Ireland and theBaltic countries, which previously had a large Jewish community and now has a large Asian community, and its forefathers like Henry Bolckow, the industrialist and Middlesbrough's first Member of Parliament who was from Germany; further notes that the Cenotaph in Middlesbrough is a commemoration to the brave local men and women who gave their lives to fight fascism; believes that this march is a grave insult to their sacrifice; and calls on all the communities in Middlesbrough to join together in showing solidarity and opposition to this march.