Derby music festival plan for English Defence League march
- Published
A Derby music promoter is planning a multiculturalism music festival on the same day as an English Defence League (EDL) march in the city.
About 300 people have indicated on the EDL's Facebook page that they will attend the Derby march on 9 July.
The Love Music Hate Racism festival will feature music at seven different venues in the city on the same day.
A Derbyshire Police spokesman said it was aware of the march but had not been officially contacted by the EDL.
'Appropriate' response
Supt Gary Parkin said: "We will continue to look at the intelligence arrangements and make sure we have an appropriate policing response to make sure the policing of Derby is as safe as possible.
"We will facilitate lawful protest - but I would be very unhappy if I had to put a policing response and put a lot of police on the streets."
The EDL, which was not available for comment, said on its website that it works to "protect the inalienable rights of all people to protest against radical Islam's encroachment into the lives of non-Muslims".
Festival spokesman Baby J said he hoped the police would step in and control the demonstration because the EDL "do not represent the city".
"We live in a very multicultural city and we get along very well and work alongside people or all different faiths and colour - and this is something we want to celebrate."