As for the EDL, they are not as popular in England as you may think, at each of their previous “rallies” they have been met with counter-rallies, usually organised by Unite Against Facism working with local anti-fascist/racist groups, that have seriously outnumbered them and generally sent them home with their tail between their legs. The most worrying thing is the support they recieve from the Police at these rallies where missile throwing and racist/islamophobic chanting is accepted but anti-fascists are arrested on an officers whim.

Good work on the article, The EDL, and, to a lesser extent, the WDL need to be internationally exposed for what they truly are so other countries don’t fall for their “Nationalism isn’t Racism” schtick.

Your demonization of the English is despicable.

“it’s how we do it here” No, that’s how ignorant people do it here, ignorant people like you.

I am arguing with the staff on this blog because it is the staff on this blog that are making all sorts of false, arbitrary claims about the flag of England. The English Defense League are free to use the English flag all they like, it’s still the English flag. This article calls it “the cross of St George” and “the medieval flag” which is “most famous for it’s use by British Crusaders”. Never once does it point out that it’s the flag of England. I am questioning this, and rightfully so. And as for British Knights shoes, I don’t see them as being relevant to this discussion.

“Again, why are they coming to the U.S. in the first place for this type of event? Americans that are from the same type group/thinking have been banned from Europe, arrested, in order to prevent them from giving speeches, and you’re complaining that some of your ‘problem child’ type residents coming to the U.S. to add to the problems we already have? ”

I’m not sure what your point is. I’m English and from England, so I can’t make any comments about what Europe does. If someone from an American equivalent of the EDL was banned from entering England then that’s wrong in my opinion, but I’m not the English government (there is no English government). As for why they’re coming, they’re showing solidarity with people who share their views. It’s a pretty normal thing to do.

“And for your information, I’m sure the author knows the difference of English and British, however, most people in this country have been doing this like forever – this is how we do it! As far as Americans are concerned, there is no difference!”

Well just because you’ve been believing something for a long time doesn’t make it right. People thought the world was flat for a long time, and it turned out they were wrong.

Britain is an island comprising Scotland & England & Wales. If you call English British then do you also call Scottish British and Welsh British?

Again, why are they coming to the U.S. in the first place for this type of event? Americans that are from the same type group/thinking have been banned from Europe, arrested, in order to prevent them from giving speeches, and you’re complaining that some of your ‘problem child’ type residents coming to the U.S. to add to the problems we already have?

And for your information, I’m sure the author knows the difference of English and British, however, most people in this country have been doing this like forever – this is how we do it! As far as Americans are concerned, there is no difference!

You also mention that “St. George’s Cross. White with red crossbars, the medieval flag is most famous for its use by British Crusaders. The flag also has a long history of use by far-right British nationalists in conjunction with other regional flags. In recent months, it has become the central symbol of the English Defence League (EDL), a thuggish anti-Muslim street movement that is rapidly spreading throughout the United Kingdom.”

This is so arbitrary!
First of all, St, George’s Cross was used by ENGLISH Crusaders. There was no such thing as being British until Scotland and England united in 1707.

Secondly, who are you to say what the English flag is most famous for? Have you done some sort of survey? And why does it even matter what it’s “most famous” for?

The Cross of St George is the flag of England, I would suggest that that is what it’s most famous for. You may not have noticed the World Cup recently where English football fans went mad flying the English flag.

You also suggest that British Nationalists have long used the English flag, but I think you’ll find that British Nationalists tend to use the British flag. It’s English Nationalists who use the English flag.

What about the other people who use the English flag? Like the Church of England? Or England football fans? Or everyday English people flying it in their backyards? On St George’s Day the English flag flew from Downing Street, does that mean the British government is racist?

Now, let’s go even further, remember we had the nationwide ‘day without an immigrant’ protests/marches – seems to me that mainly white Americans had a problem with the immigrants waving their flags. It seems that white Americans were making comments like, ‘how dare they wave their flags in this country, if they love their country so much they should go back…..’

It is important for people to know what is happening in Britain, because, if you ask me, they are working together. Maybe you should read up on the EDL. Everything I have read on the EDL allege this group is a violent group that will assault/attack anyone, including law enforcement. What I find that is so sad, when a minority does something like this, it is repeatedly reported on the news, bail is set so high (violation of the constitution) that they can’t make bail. When white people do things such as this, if they are granted bail, sometimes it’s so low that it enables them to flee, or they are giving so many chances to go out and commit even more horrific crimes.

And to say that this misrepresents England, wow, I’m so sure. When one black person does something, the entire black race is punished, when muslims does something, the entire muslim group is punished, when one latino does something, the entire latino race is punished. Not to mention, this country has a habit of calling any person that looks latino a Mexican.

Lastly, if anyone wants to know what’s really happening in England, again, I invite you to view the website http://hurryupharry.org – as far as I’m concerned, SPLC is done an excellent job of pointing this out. Hell, the SPLC has even extended courtesies of being polite in their description of this group, whereas at Harry’s Place, he gives it to point blank and tells it like it is.

The first paragraph of this article is disappointingly hypocritical, prejudiced and unmerited. Shame on you SPLC! I really like your organization but SHAME on you for this, it’s completely hypocritical.

Racists wave the American flag too, but that doesn’t make it a racist symbol.