News

Who are the English Defence League (EDL) and what do they want? They claim to be against radical Islam, and or  extremism but at every opportunity their leadership and members denounce Islam as an evil religion.

It is difficult to pin down exactly how many members the EDL has. Estimates range from 25, 000 to 100, 000 on Facebook the number of supporters went from a few hundred to 75,000 in the week that Lee Rigby was killed. There are no membership cards or fees/subs to join the movement. They are fluid in terms of membership and have open requirement.

In the weeks and months ahead OBV will be inviting BME candidates from the main political parties to write about themselves and their ideas. Today, Kamaljeet Jandu who is hoping to be selected as a Labour candidate in London to become an MEP, shares his vision for Europe.
 

It would be easy for me to write down a vision for Europe that chimes with the very vocal minority we see and hear right now.  At times it sounds a little bit like this:

His Excellency Garvin Nicholas will make his first visit to Liverpool in his capacity as Trinidad and Tobago High Commissioner to the United Kingdom. The trip, which takes place today, highlights the High Commissioner’s objective of developing more profound trade and business connections in all major hubs of the United Kingdom. The High Commissioner’s visit was organised by Trinidad-born Liverpool Councillor Natalie Nicholas, who envisions the event as a prime opportunity to establish strong collaborative links.
 

It was almost inevitable that Right-wing preachers of hate would seize upon the awful tragedy of Lee Rigby to sew their own brand of hatred, division and violence.

Black Youth, terrorism and the moral blindness.

The brutal killing of the young British solider Lee Rigby on a British High Street in Woolwich South London by religious fanatics was deeply shocking. The fact that such a savage and grisly attack can take place on a busy British street in broad daylight has left the nation numb with shock and bewilderment.

The barbaric image of a blood dripping sadistic killer who is both Black and Muslim is beamed around the world this morning. For some, white society’s worst nightmare. The simplistic imagery couldn’t be worse for the Black and Muslim community. The atrocity is truly shocking, the unbearable pain for the victim’s family, friends and colleagues. To call this man a Muslim is an insult to the religion of Islam. Sadly, he and his murderous accomplice proclaimed the heinous crime in the name of Islam.

Yesterday evening at the Stephen Lawrence centre the sun briefly came out as Doreen Lawrence unveiled the Nubian Jak blue plaque in memory of her son.

There were a number of tributes, not least by Lewisham Mayor Sir Steve Bullock and Stephen’s local Pastor Reverend Cruise. Chair of the Trust, Symon Sentain said that,

The contribution of African women to society is significant, but often goes unnoticed. Political heavyweights include Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Liberia’s first female president and Kenya’s environmental activist and Nobel Peace Prize winner the late Dr Wangari Maathai.

These women have impacted society at a national and global level and have inspired many other women to emulate their success, such as Wolverhampton based Karyne Tazi who founded the African Women of Substance charity.

A damning report has accused Brighton and Hove City Council of racism. The report which was commissioned by the Council, stated that many job applications were ignored if the applicant had a ‘foreign’ sounding name.

Today a blue plaque will be unveiled in tribute to the memory of Stephen Lawrence.

In this 20th anniversary year since his murder, the Nubian Jak Community Trust in partnership with the Stephen Lawrence Charitable Trust and the Luton African Caribbean Community Development Forum, will hold the special ceremony.

Mother of Stephen Lawrence, Doreen Lawrence said: