Lee Rigby 'memorial march' sparks alarm on copycat violence
A group which has supported the English Defence League is planning a march through Bloxwich, sparking fears of a repeat of the violent scenes at an EDL protest in the borough three years ago.
The Walsall Patriots want to hold a memorial walk in Bloxwich to mark the second anniversary of the murder of solider Lee Rigby by Islamic extremists.
The group claims on social network Facebook it has invited more than 5,000 supporters of the EDL to the event on May 23.
Councillor Shaun Fitzpatrick, of Bloxwich East, said: "Despite the pleas by Lee Rigby's family and by the Ministry of Defence for extremists not to exploit his death for political purposes, this group seems intent on doing just that and by doing so they dishonour his memory.
"When the EDL came to Walsall we saw police officers being injured, business premises attacked and 30 EDL supporters being sentenced to over 60 years for their violent offences. We don't want to see a repeat of that in Bloxwich."
Walsall North MP David Winnick also condemned the move and called on residents to boycott it.
Mr Winnick said: "The memory of Lee Rigby and his terrible murder will always be remembered by the British people.
"It should not be dishonoured by a few extremists who use the name of this fine soldier for their sordid political ends.
"Lee Rigby's death was a horrifying event for his family and for the nation and for people to use this for their own ends is despicable.
"What the organisers' intentions are in holding this demonstration in Bloxwich can only be guessed at.
"I would ask the people of Walsall to turn their backs on this blatant exploitation of a brave soldier's death."
It added that officers had held talks with the organisers and given advice about making a formal application to the council for such an event. An EDL protest in Walsall town centre in September 2012 resulted in ugly scenes as the violence which forced businesses to close and bus and taxis services to be suspended.
More than 500 EDL supporters descended on Leicester Street with hundreds of people also joining a counter protest by the Unite Against Fascism group on the same day.
Michael Adebolajo received a whole-life term and Michael Adebowale was jailed for a minimum of 45 years for murdering Fusilier Lee Rigby, in London, in 2013.
A statement from the Walsall Patriots said: "We are not there to cause trouble. We are not linked to the EDL in any way.
"We want to bring back patriotism back to Walsall. We are local people. We are not sparking any fears of an EDL march. We are there to show respect to Lee."
