Luton communities show a united front against British First and the far-right at Bury Park meeting

A MEETING was held in Bury Park this afternoon which saw Luton unite against the the planned Britain First march on Saturday.

The event at Bury Park Community Centre saw members from all different communities, religious beliefs and ethnicity come together to condemn the far-right group.

Representatives from Bedfordshire Police and Luton Borough Council were also present at the meeting.

Dr Fiaz Hussain of Luton Council of Mosques said: “The purpose of the meeting was to facilitate a dialogue between Bedfordshire Police and Luton Borough Council with the general public.

“We have representatives from the mosques, the churches, the gurdwaras and others, together as one big community that looks after and values one another.

“Britain First want to use the platform which is already here for them due to the English Defence League to paint a picture that Luton is divided.

“They want to portray the image that the communities have a go at eachother, that Bury Park is a ‘no-go area’ for non-Muslims, which as you can see by just looking around Dunstable Road and looking at the people who came to the meeting is total, total nonsense.”

A joint statement from Luton Council of Mosques, Sunni Council of Mosques and Luton Shia Community said: “Britain First have an unpleasant history in Luton and have continued to behave in an aggressive and deliberately provocative manner.

“We have a duty to protect our community and and particularly our young people from these actions and the long term effects that these have on them.”

Following the meeting, Dawood Masood, CEO of Quba Trust said: “It seems like every six months we’re having this meetings about what to do with groups like these.

“First with the EDL and now Britain First specifically targetting Luton.

“They in no way represent the town and events like this cost an awful

“The only solution I can see is a ban else these marches, which damage the town and its community, will just keep happening.”

It was also announced that an anti-fascist counter demonstration will be taking place at the same time as the Britain First march on Saturday.