FAO DJ Worthy

Just read your review and couldn't help notice your comment on the FLA. You obviously don't know what the FLA is and have drawn conclusions simply from the word "lads" and presumed the worst. Below to many will be "too many words" but here goes...

The FLA was formed earlier this year by a young guy (a non "lad" Spurs supporter) as a non-racist, non-violence, non-political Facebook group to see if he could get some support to put pressure on this government to review their stance on those monitored people living in the UK who are known terrorist risks. He took the risk of using the football "lads" as a network of patriotic blokes who he thought would get off their arses and stand up for the course. He was right as within weeks he'd organised a march (with all the work that goes into that) on June 24th for which 10,000 lads and lasses turned up.

The police report afterwards stated it was free of arrests and incident. Millwall and West Ham, Spurs Chelsea and Arsenal, all stood and shook hands while laying wreaths in memory of those killed and in support of those affected such as families, witnesses, and the emergency services. The lads then went off and drank together and that spirit has been maintained in most quarters since. Colchester and Bristol had a drink with Norwich FLA members on Saturday. Birmingham brought their flags and had a beer with us in the Compleat recently.

Anyone with links to any non-central organisations is not welcome. While many have a history this isn't about being Billy Big Bollox this is about a common belief in a common enemy living amongst us and able to affect the lives of our loved ones with no visible proactive actions being taken. We could sit at home and do nothing other than get angry next time a bomb goes off or a vehicle runs down innocent UK residents and visitors. This has given an opportunity to actually try and make a difference. A petition is following in the next few days where we hope for 100,000 signatures to give John and his legal team the chance to have our views debated in Parliament.

Again, anyone who demonstrates or hints at an extremist view within the group is thrown out. We all want this to be free of politics, skin colour, violence etc and so far it's working. The usual rent a mob organisations have come out of the woodwork trying to discredit the group. In fact one organisation has threatened violence on the day against the "right wing fascists". The Met are aware and will be out with their spotters to stop them if possible. We are very aware that photographers will be present desperate for a reaction to discredit the organisation. Each of the 92 club groups (plus non-league) have been asked to provide Stewards to work with the Police on the day as we march from Park Lane to Westminster Bridge.

Representatives of all 92 clubs "lads" plus many more non-league and European clubs will lay wreaths on the Bridge. There will then be speeches by John and others including the Muslim community. The hope is that at least 30,000 will attend this time. If it goes off peacefully the idea is to then organise another march in the north (probably Manchester) in the new year. Our sign off like COYY and CTID, is TWAS Together We Are Stronger.

I realise they'll be negative comments but the members are really passionate about this and it's mending many old rivalries which is a good thing. It's easy to be pessimistic but if the majority of people look for the good they may be surprised that their views (anti extremist, anti terrorism) may be being represented by a group of human beings trying to make a change for the good.

TWAS

Posted By: Old Splat, Sep 25, 22:19:43