Celebrating the diversity of Dundee

In early June the Dundee Courier ran a headline. The Scottish Defence League (SDL) had applied to the city council's licensing committee to formally book the city square for a static protest on September 1.

If this went ahead it would represent the first manifestation of organised far-right activity in the city since the BNP tried to organise a meeting on one occasion back in 1990.

The SDL, sister group of the English Defence League (EDL), is noted particularly for its anti-Muslim bigotry, hidden behind a mask of being "concerned about Muslim extremism."

Pictures taken at demonstrations it had recently held show nazi salutes as well as banners denouncing Mohammed as a paedophile and claiming that Islam is a "fascist ideology."

This was all evidence that the "anti-extremism" it proclaims was nothing more than a cloak.

To enhance its minuscule numbers at demonstrations in Scotland the SDL also invites its unsavoury allies from the north of England along - the EDL and the North East and North West Infidels, whose reputations for thuggery are well known.

Dundee's city square has a special place in the city's long history of struggle, from rallies against the Unemployment Assistance Board in the '30s to strike rallies and solidarity protests supporting the peoples of Spain, Chile, Vietnam and Palestine.

For almost a century it has been the place where the labour and democratic movement comes together.

Dundee trades union council and a number of other deputations spoke at the licensing committee, where the councillors voted unanimously to turn down the SDL's request to book the square.

In reply, the SDL representative warned: "Be ready, we are coming."

In response to that threat Dundee TUC has been working with other like-minded bodies in the city to organise an event entitled Dundee Together this Saturday, September 1, in the city square.

Dundee Together is committed to "building September 1 into a true reflection of Dundee - a city at ease with the wonderful diversity of all the different groups which make up our community."

Its supporters include the Scottish TUC, University of Abertay Students Association, local trade union branches, youth groups, church groups, political parties, local businesses and many hundreds of individuals.

The licensing committee has since unanimously granted the use of the square to the Dundee Together event - rejecting a recommendation from Tayside Police that the square should be shared with the SDL!

The far right emerge at times of depression and hardship, feeding off discontent and using it to try to turn sections of the community against one another.

In the 1930s it was the Blackshirts who mimicked Hitler and Mussolini's followers, targeting Britain's Jewish community.

Then, they found little support in Dundee - the city which in 1936 saw both the election of Scotland's first Asian councillor and over 60 of its sons go to fight fascism in the Spanish civil war, possibly the highest proportion for any city in Britain.

They were the forerunners of thousands of Dundonians who fought fascism between 1939 and 45.

Dundee's experiences of different peoples and cultures go back centuries. Flemish, Belgians and Italians all settled here, as well as folk from China and the Indian subcontinent.

During World War II Poles sailed submarines from the harbour and many stayed on after the war.

They have all become part of the rich tapestry that is Dundee today.

And each year, thousands of students from around the world come to study here, in our two universities and in further education, and then take their experiences of our city home with them and on with them into their careers.

It isn't in Dundee's tradition to passively tolerate fascist activity in our city or to allow one section of our community to be isolated and intimidated.

On September 1 our communities will share the city square under the banner Dundee Together. The SDL are not, and do not want to be, part of that togetherness. They should stay away.

Mike Arnott is secretary of Dundee trades union council.