EDL LEADER TOMMY ROBINSON LEAVING THE ENGLISH DEFENCE LEAGUE !HT: Independent.
"Tommy Robinson quits because he can no longer keep extremist elements at bay"
The Two leaders of the far-right English Defence League are to leave the group, it was claimed today.
Tommy Robinson and Kevin Carroll, who set up the anti-Islamist group in 2009, have decided to leave because they can no longer keep extremist elements at bay, think tank Quilliam said.
The organisation, which calls itself the "world's first counter-extremism think tank", is helping Mr Robinson move away from the group and put his energy into countering extremism.
It called for other members of the EDL to follow in his footsteps, and for Islamist extremist leaders to also leave their respective groups.Read the full story here.
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EDL leader Tommy Robinson quits group over 'dangers of far-right extremism'
In a statement released by the London based foundation, Mr Robinson, real name Stephen Yaxley-Lennon said: “I have been considering this move for a long time because I recognise that, though street demonstrations have brought us to this point, they are no longer productive.
"I acknowledge the dangers of far-right extremism and the ongoing need to counter Islamist ideology not with violence but with better, democratic ideas.”
Mr Robinson said his decision to leave the group was to be true to what he stands during an interview on BBC Radio 5 live.
“When some moron lifts up his top and he's got the picture of a mosque saying boom and it's all over the national newspapers it's me,” he said.
“It's when I pick up my kids from school the parents are looking at me, judging me on that. And that's not what I've stood for and my decision to do this is to be true to what I stand for.
“And whilst I want to lead a revolution against Islamist ideology, I don't want to lead a revolution against Muslims.
“I believe that the revolution needs to come from within the Islamic community and they need to stand up. And I believe this is a step forward not a step back.”
Quilliam said they had been working with Mr Robinson, who they say wishes to exit the group along with Mr Carroll "because they feel they can no longer keep extremist elements at bay".
Quilliam said they had previously identified "the symbiotic relationship between far-right extremism and Islamism" and believe that this event "can dismantle the underpinnings of one phenomenon while removing the need for the other phenomenon".
The think tank said they are now looking to assist Mr Robinson in investing his "time and commitment in countering extremism of all kinds".
"Tommy and Kevin believe the voice they have created can be channelled in a positive direction", they continued. "Quilliam stands ready to facilitate such moves across the spectrum."
They also called for supporters of the EDL to leave the organisation and for Islamist extremist leaders to follow suit by leaving their respective groups.
Mr Robinson co-founded the EDL in 2009 and the group regularly stage marches across the country which often result in clashes with opposing demonstrators, such as Unite Against Fascism. Mr Robinson said on Twitter today he hoped "people listen to my reasons".
In a separate tweet, he added: "The most difficult day of my life! I thank Edl supporters for their messages of support . For me this is a step forwards not backwards".THERE YOU GO.
WHEN (STARTING BACK IN SEPT. 2007) I OPPOSED THE DIRECTION THE COUNTER-JIHAD MOVEMENT TOOK IT WAS FOR EXACTLY THE REASONS TOMMY ROBINSON ARTICULATES HERE.
1) I DON'T WANT TO BE ASSOCIATED WITH MORONS - THE DECISIONS OTHER COUNTER-JIHADISTS MAKE REFLECT ON THE WHOLE MOVEMENT. ANY STUPID DECISION MADE BY LEADERS OF THE COUNTER-JIHAD MOVEMENT NEGATIVELY REFLECTS ON THE MOVEMENT AS A WHOLE. TOMMY'S COMPLAINT HERE IS WITH MORONS IN CROWDS. IT'S EVEN WORSE WHEN THE MORONS ARE AMONG THE LEADERSHIP (CHRISTINE BRIM), AND THEY ARE PROPOSING IDEAS IDEAS SUCH AS AN ALLIANCE WITH THE BNP, OR FRANCE'S NATIONAL FRONT.
2) WE DON'T OPPOSE MUSLIMS. WE OPPOSE EXTREMIST ISLAM. TO THE EXTENT THAT MUSLIMS, IN GENERAL, DO NOT STAND UP TO EXTREMIST ISLAM, WE DO RESERVE THE RIGHT TO MAKE FUN OF "MUSLIMS". BUT INDIVIDUAL HUMAN BEINGS ARE INDIVIDUAL HUMAN BEINGS, CAPABLE OF MAKING THEIR OWN INDIVIDUAL CHOICES. AND THAT NEEDS TO BE RESPECTED, AS IS EXPRESSED IN OUR COLLECTIVE STATEMENT AT THE TOP OF EVERY IBA PAGE: "All of us, every single man, woman, and child on the face of the Earth were born with the same unalienable rights; to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. And, if the governments of the world can't get that through their thick skulls, then, regime change will be necessary."
3) AS I HAVE OFTEN SAID, IT IS NOT THE JOB OF INFIDELS TO DETERMINE THE COURSE OF ISLAM. IT'S UP TO MUSLIMS TO DEFINE ISLAM. TOMMY PUTS IT NICELY, SAYING, ""THE REVOLUTION NEEDS TO COME FROM WITHIN THE MUSLIM COMMUNITY."
THIS IS GOOD NEWS, IMO.