Glasgow City Council in pledge to halt racist marchers

Nov 2 2009 By Lauren Crooks

CITY council leader Steven Purcell has vowed to keep the "racist thugs" of the Scottish Defence League and their "brutal violence" off the streets of Glasgow.

The leader hit out at the group who have planned a confrontation with Muslims outside Scotland's biggest mosque, during a march in Glasgow.

Mr Purcell says that the group - made up of far-right activists mostly from England - bring nothing but hatred and violence wherever they go.

And after hearing their plans, Mr Purcell insisted they will not be made welcome in the city.

He said: "This organisation has done nothing but spread hatred and brutal violence wherever it has emerged.

"I will do everything within my power to keep its racist thugs off the streets of Glasgow. We have not received a proper application for a march, or a request to occupy a civic space.

"If we get one, I will take steps to ensure it will be refused point blank.

"We are a modern, cosmopolitan city and we will not stand by and allow our fellow Glaswegians to be targeted and intimidated."

Members of the SDL - which include senior BNP activists - travel to Scotland from Birmingham, London, Luton and Carlisle.

They first made contact with the council over their plans to stage a public procession on November 14, but the notification did not comply with council procedures and was not progressed. The anonymous applicant then withdrew the request and is now thought to be planning a 'static protest' which does not come under council control.

But Councillor Purcell is adamant that this will not be allowed to go ahead either.

He added: "I have every confidence Strathclyde Police are well prepared to deal with any protest that emerges and they know they have my full support."

A group of trade unionists, political parties, anti-racist organisations and faith groups called Scotland United have organised a rally to celebrate multicultural Glasgow at noon on Saturday, November 14, at Glasgow Green.