EDL: People should go about normal business during Dudley demo
The English Defence League says people should 'go about their normal business' in Dudley town centre as up to 2,000 protestors stage a demonstration.
EDL members are planning on marching through the town towards Dudley Council House where their main demonstration will take place around 2pm tomorrow.
But anti-fascism campaigners have also organised a counter-demo on the same day in Castle Street, near the Earl of Dudley statue, starting from 11am.
Traders and business owners in the town centre have voiced their concerns over the protests and say disruption is likely to force many to close for the day.
Police have already announced a series of road closures as they try to control the arrival of protestors, the main demonstrations and restoring order after the events.
In a statement through the EDL website, the group urged the town to maintain business as usual and asked counter protests to take place on separate days.
The group also hit back at those who condemned the protest including UKIP West Midlands MEP and Dudley councillor Bill Etheridge.
The EDL statement said: "Local people are not prevented by us from going about their normal business.
"Whenever there has been trouble it has been caused by the police allowing counter demonstrators who are intent on causing as much mayhem as they can," they claimed.
"The cost to the police force increases 10 fold because the police bring together opposing forces.
"In the same way that we cooperate with the police in arranging our demos and get their permission, the opposition do the same.
"But the opposition do not have a reason to exist except to follow the EDL around the country.
"We suggest that the police allow the opposition to demonstrate but on another day - that way it will be clear to everyone why a loss of business occurs, if it does."
This comes as counter protestors issued a statement denouncing the EDL demonstration.
Councillor Etheridge, in response, said UKIP's stance remained opposed to the new mosque proposed to be built in Dudley.
He added: "We have asked people not to go to the EDL demonstration as it is just self gratification on the group's part."
