Casuals United
Encyclopedia
Casuals United also known as UK Casuals United is a British protest group. The group is closely affiliated with the English Defence League
. The group describes itself as "Uniting the UK's Football Tribes against the Jihadists
", and as "an alliance of British Football Casuals of various colours/races who have come together in order to create a massive, but peaceful protest group to force our Government to get their act in gear."
Casuals United is organised around several British football teams' supporters. A leading organiser of Casuals United is Jeff Marsh of Barry, South Wales
, a former member of the Soul Crew
football hooligan firm. He has said: "Hooligans from rival clubs are uniting on this and it is like a ready-made army ... We are protesting against the preachers of hate who are actively encouraging young Muslims in this country to take part in a jihad against Britain."
, reportedly organised by the Islamist group Al-Muhajiroun
, against a parade of members of the 2nd Battalion Royal Anglian Regiment
returning from fighting in the war in Afghanistan
in March 2009. Social networking sites such as Facebook
have been used to coordinate protests in London, Luton and Birmingham. In July 2009 the group picketed an Islamic roadshow in London. Casuals United were one of four groups which were prevented from taking part in unofficial marches after Luton Borough Council applied for a banning order under the Public Order Act
. In August 2009 the group staged a protest in Birmingham. More protests along with the English Defence League, took place in Manchester, Leeds, Stoke, Bolton and Dudley.
English Defence League
The English Defence League is a far-right street protest movement which opposes what it considers to be a spread of Islamism, Sharia law and Islamic extremism in the UK. The EDL uses street marches to protest against Islamic extremism...
. The group describes itself as "Uniting the UK's Football Tribes against the Jihadists
Jihadism
Jihadism is a term to describe the renewed focus on armed jihad in radical Islamic fundamentalism....
", and as "an alliance of British Football Casuals of various colours/races who have come together in order to create a massive, but peaceful protest group to force our Government to get their act in gear."
Casuals United is organised around several British football teams' supporters. A leading organiser of Casuals United is Jeff Marsh of Barry, South Wales
South Wales
South Wales is an area of Wales bordered by England and the Bristol Channel to the east and south, and Mid Wales and West Wales to the north and west. The most densely populated region in the south-west of the United Kingdom, it is home to around 2.1 million people and includes the capital city of...
, a former member of the Soul Crew
Soul Crew
The Cardiff City Soul Crew are a notorious football hooligan firm associated with the Welsh football club, Cardiff City. Over the past decade the Soul Crew have become one of the biggest and most active football firms in the United Kingdom.-Background:The Soul Crew name was adopted by hooligan...
football hooligan firm. He has said: "Hooligans from rival clubs are uniting on this and it is like a ready-made army ... We are protesting against the preachers of hate who are actively encouraging young Muslims in this country to take part in a jihad against Britain."
History
Casuals United were formed by Jeff Marsh in reaction to protests by some Muslims in LutonLuton
Luton is a large town and unitary authority of Bedfordshire, England, 30 miles north of London. Luton and its near neighbours, Dunstable and Houghton Regis, form the Luton/Dunstable Urban Area with a population of about 250,000....
, reportedly organised by the Islamist group Al-Muhajiroun
Al-Muhajiroun
Al-Muhajiroun is a banned Islamist organisation that was based in Britain and which has been linked to international terrorism, homophobia and anti-semitism...
, against a parade of members of the 2nd Battalion Royal Anglian Regiment
Royal Anglian Regiment
The Royal Anglian Regiment is an infantry regiment of the British Army, part of the Queen's Division.The regiment was formed on 1 September 1964 as the first of the new large infantry regiments, through the amalgamation of the four regiments of the East Anglian Brigade.* 1st Battalion from the...
returning from fighting in the war in Afghanistan
Helmand province campaign
The Helmand province campaign is a series of military operations conducted by ISAF forces against Taliban insurgents in the Helmand Province of Afghanistan...
in March 2009. Social networking sites such as Facebook
Facebook
Facebook is a social networking service and website launched in February 2004, operated and privately owned by Facebook, Inc. , Facebook has more than 800 million active users. Users must register before using the site, after which they may create a personal profile, add other users as...
have been used to coordinate protests in London, Luton and Birmingham. In July 2009 the group picketed an Islamic roadshow in London. Casuals United were one of four groups which were prevented from taking part in unofficial marches after Luton Borough Council applied for a banning order under the Public Order Act
Public Order Act 1986
The Public Order Act 1986 is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It creates a number of public order offences. They replace similar common law offences and parts of the Public Order Act 1936...
. In August 2009 the group staged a protest in Birmingham. More protests along with the English Defence League, took place in Manchester, Leeds, Stoke, Bolton and Dudley.