EDL Fails to 'Retake' Bradford (and what it means for the South West)
antiBNP | 29.08.2010 21:22
Remember when some reported that the EDL (English Defence League) were planning to march in Bristol? Then on the day of the leadership debate in Bristol the EDL did turn up - though in smaller numbers than it was claimed online would attend (though to be fair, we don't know if those posting online as the EDL are really the EL) - well judging by the numbers at the Bradford demo, the high tide of the EDL has been reached, and we may only see lower numbers from here...
Back in there were race riots in Bradford - well there were riots, and race was involved, but it was a more complex situation that Asian vs White - as were the St Pauls riots of the 80s more complex that Black vs White. Fast forward to now and the EDL - a group claiming to oppose 'radical Islam' but one clearing ill at ease with itself, sought to the take to the streets of Bradford - a city with a sizeable Asian and Muslim population and 'reclaim' it from the radical Muslims. Not that the radical Muslims ever held the city, but that's another story... It was speculated that this was going to be the 'big one' - especially as rumours were that disaffected BNP supporters, tired of the in-fighting in the BNP and the electoral whiteout it suffered in the recent elections - that the far-right were moving from the ballot box back to the streets.
Well first we the the issue of what exactly the EDL stands for - we know from it's claims that it opposes radical Islam. But we also know that there seems to be a battle within the EDL about who it really is - Neo-Nazi? Pro-the Jewish State? Anti-Muslim? Racist? Pro-Gay? It seems that all of these views are boiling around in the EDL and may are contradictory with each other. In addition the group seems to be unable to top the largest attendance of around 2000 at it's Dudley and Bolton demos earlier this year. It could be that a ramped up police presence is putting off it's supporters - but I suspect it is more around discontent with what it is and what it stands for, after all how easily can a Jewish supporter march next to a Nazi happily sieg-heiling along?
So the big one came and went - and the turnout was put at 700 (though the police often under-estimate numbers at demos) but still less that it' high point. SO this from an account of the day:
"So was the day a success in terms of opposing the EDL? To my eye it was, and to a large extent due to the failure to rise to the extreme provocation and baiting being aimed at the local residents. Instead of the old tactic of shouting 'Nazi' at the EDL (something which surely even the most hard nosed EDL supporter can now not deny given the chanting that was going on) and ineffective speeches-cum-paper-selling tactics of the UAF, action was planned and executed by the local population and a unified, defiant but peaceful show of strength was made. The EDL was shown in their true colours, they didn't spark the race riot they so badly wanted and came off extremely badly in the eyes of the mainstream press whos attention they have been courting for some time now. Their claims to support the police will now ring pretty hollow and it will be hard for them to regroup and continue to recruit new members after this PR disaster." http://northern-indymedia.org/articles/916
This means that even in northern cities where the far-right has been able to claim support, it is not gaining but loosing number - so the chances of huge demos in cities like Bristol, who support for the far-right from judging from the recent elections is minimal at best - is falling by the day. That's not to say we might not see isolated actions by EDL supporters.
Still, the most interesting thing about the day comes from a comment on the above article about an action within the crowd opposing the EDL:
"Couple of things that I saw that I think deserve recognition - the unfolding of the banner in defence of Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani, the Iranian woman sentenced to stoning - this got a lot of support from everyone gathered around Kirkgate, I know it doesn't need saying but just shows the absolute bollocks that Bradford is somehow one step from Shariah Law. "
Back in there were race riots in Bradford - well there were riots, and race was involved, but it was a more complex situation that Asian vs White - as were the St Pauls riots of the 80s more complex that Black vs White. Fast forward to now and the EDL - a group claiming to oppose 'radical Islam' but one clearing ill at ease with itself, sought to the take to the streets of Bradford - a city with a sizeable Asian and Muslim population and 'reclaim' it from the radical Muslims. Not that the radical Muslims ever held the city, but that's another story... It was speculated that this was going to be the 'big one' - especially as rumours were that disaffected BNP supporters, tired of the in-fighting in the BNP and the electoral whiteout it suffered in the recent elections - that the far-right were moving from the ballot box back to the streets.
Well first we the the issue of what exactly the EDL stands for - we know from it's claims that it opposes radical Islam. But we also know that there seems to be a battle within the EDL about who it really is - Neo-Nazi? Pro-the Jewish State? Anti-Muslim? Racist? Pro-Gay? It seems that all of these views are boiling around in the EDL and may are contradictory with each other. In addition the group seems to be unable to top the largest attendance of around 2000 at it's Dudley and Bolton demos earlier this year. It could be that a ramped up police presence is putting off it's supporters - but I suspect it is more around discontent with what it is and what it stands for, after all how easily can a Jewish supporter march next to a Nazi happily sieg-heiling along?
So the big one came and went - and the turnout was put at 700 (though the police often under-estimate numbers at demos) but still less that it' high point. SO this from an account of the day:
"So was the day a success in terms of opposing the EDL? To my eye it was, and to a large extent due to the failure to rise to the extreme provocation and baiting being aimed at the local residents. Instead of the old tactic of shouting 'Nazi' at the EDL (something which surely even the most hard nosed EDL supporter can now not deny given the chanting that was going on) and ineffective speeches-cum-paper-selling tactics of the UAF, action was planned and executed by the local population and a unified, defiant but peaceful show of strength was made. The EDL was shown in their true colours, they didn't spark the race riot they so badly wanted and came off extremely badly in the eyes of the mainstream press whos attention they have been courting for some time now. Their claims to support the police will now ring pretty hollow and it will be hard for them to regroup and continue to recruit new members after this PR disaster." http://northern-indymedia.org/articles/916
This means that even in northern cities where the far-right has been able to claim support, it is not gaining but loosing number - so the chances of huge demos in cities like Bristol, who support for the far-right from judging from the recent elections is minimal at best - is falling by the day. That's not to say we might not see isolated actions by EDL supporters.
Still, the most interesting thing about the day comes from a comment on the above article about an action within the crowd opposing the EDL:
"Couple of things that I saw that I think deserve recognition - the unfolding of the banner in defence of Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani, the Iranian woman sentenced to stoning - this got a lot of support from everyone gathered around Kirkgate, I know it doesn't need saying but just shows the absolute bollocks that Bradford is somehow one step from Shariah Law. "
antiBNP
Original article on IMC Bristol:
http://bristol.indymedia.org/article/693300