Cross-posted from Bartholomew’s Notes on Religion
In 2010, Pam Geller announced a “Global Freedom Initiative” of anti-Islam activists. Not much followed, but in January of this year she promised a “a new global force”, called Stop Islamization of Nations, to bring together European and American “Stop Islamization” franchises. Now, yet another umbrella organisation has been unveiled, finally cementing her stormy on-off relationship with the English Defence League:
The Global Counter Jihad rally will feature the president of SION and executive director of SIOA, Pamela Geller, as well as SION Vice President and SIOA associate director Robert Spencer. Also speaking will be the EDL’s Tommy Robinson, SIOE’s Anders Gravers, and other worldwide leaders from official Stop Islamization and Defence League groups.
“The conference,” said Geller in a statement, “heralds the launch of a worldwide counter jihad alliance. Freedom fighters from Europe and America, as well as India, Israel, and other areas threatened by jihad, will at last be working together and forming a common defense of freedom and human rights.”
The conference is to take place in Stockholm. If “Tommy Robinson” wanders over the border into Norway, let’s hope he manages to avoid making drunken jokes about Anders Breivik, such as his infamous “I’m from Norway and I’ll shoot you” crack.
Back in 2009, Geller and Spencer were so wary of the EDL that Spencer made noises about “libel” when I discussed a dinner in London involving Spencer at which EDL members had shown up. Since that time, the EDL has courted respectability: it has made an alliance with British Freedom (formerly called “The British Freedom Party”), which cast off some ex-BNP baggage to facilitate the move; British Freedom’s leader Paul Weston in turn has met with Brigitte Gabriel’s Act for America and with the Tennessee Freedom Coalition (the TFC also directly supports the EDL and the UK group Christian Concern). “Tommy” has also been regularly interviewed on Michael Coren’s TV show.
(Hat tip: LGF)
