Local trade unionists, faith group leaders and councillors in Brent have backed a unity statement against plans by the racist English Defence League to “protest” at an event held by a Muslim charity in Wembley.

The statement says:

The racist, Islamophobic English Defence League is threatening to demonstrate in Wembley on Saturday 26 June against a peace conference, organised by a Muslim charitable foundation and aimed at building understanding between Muslims and non-Muslims.

The EDL is an organisation of violent, bigoted thugs with proven links to the Nazi British National Party. They should be condemned everywhere, but will be particularly unwelcome if they come to Wembley, part of this country’s most diverse borough.

We are proud of our diversity. In the London Borough of Brent, people live and work together, children study, play and grow up together in peace and mutual respect, regardless of faith or skin colour.

As residents and workers in this borough, we will not tolerate attempts to divide us or stir up hatred. We stood united to show that there was no place for racism or Islamophobia in the neighbouring borough of Harrow. We stand prepared to do the same in Brent.

Signed by:

Pete Firmin president, Brent Trades Union Council, Benjamin Rickman, secretary Brent TUC and Hendon and Wembley Unite, all 40 councillors in Brent Council’s Labour Group, all 17 councillors in Brent Council’s Liberal Democrat Group, Pete Broadbent Bishop of Willesden, Rabbi Aaron Greenstein senior rabbi, Northwood and Pinner Liberal Synagogue, Felicity Scroggie area dean of Brent, Peter Murry Brent Green Party and secretary, Green Party trade union group, Navin Shah London Assembly Member for Brent & Harrow, Fr David Neno rector, Christchurch with St Lawrence, Brondesbury, Harrow College UCU branch, Alf Filer Harrow College UCU, Nick Grant National Union of Teachers national executive, An-Nisa Society, Nisar & Rashida Dean, Tala and Thomas Birch, Jane Morris St Gabriels Church, Jo Lang president, Harrow Teachers Association (NUT), Jon Gamble secretary, Watford Trades Union Council, Nikita Joshi secretary, LGBT committee and student governor, Harrow College NUS, Joshua McKenzie vice-president, Harrow College NUS and NUS executive, Clive Morton vicar, Holy Innocents Church, Kingsbury

Cllr Navin Shah, London Assembly Member for Brent & Harrow, Tom Taylor PCS L&SE regional secretary, Martin Francis former Green Party candidate for Brent North

Pic by Jess Hurd/reportdigital.co.uk shows school students who turned out in huge numbers to prevent the EDL attacking the mosque in neighbouring Harrow last year.