Reading English Defence League’s forum may give one the impression the EDL is taking over the WORLD but in fact they are in a wee bit of trouble. Jings! Over the weekend they attempted various mobilisations and publicity stunts that tended to either backfire, or like Bradford, disappoint. In London 100 turned up at the US embassy and then were escorted under heavy police escort to the Saudi embassy where they stood and shouted for a bit. Rumours that the Saudi’s immediately renounced Allah are yet to be confirmed.
In Nuneaton about 50 EDL caused a bit of consternation after waving at the homecoming troops parade. They were shepherded to a boozer by plod and were subsequently surrounded by 200 people from the local community. If the EDL really want to ‘fight militant Islam’ why don’t they all go down the Army recruiting office and sign up for Afghanistan? Or are their criminal records and membership of far right groups going to be a problem?
In Oldham about 120 EDL, casuals and BNP members assembled for a ‘flash demo’ and according to the EDL forum the local cops were anamused and responded in force. There were several arrests.
Of course, the news media picked up on all 7 EDL members in New York. ‘Tommy Robinson’ AKA Steven Yaxley-Lennon was turned back by customs and claims that the motives were political but ‘Tommy’ was jailed for assaulting a policeman and this is the real reason for his expulsion. Embarrassing. The EDL are also claiming their hotel rooms were turned over when they were out. This confirms how ‘dangerous’ they are. Which is the point. Without the attendant publicity the EDL cease to exist. Politically they have achieved nothing. They have caused several very negative media splashes at their demos but apart from filling their scrapbooks their gains have been exactly nowt. They need the press and opposition to make themselves feel important but apart from allowing them to let off steam gets them nowhere. All they get is bad press. Some may say ‘all publicity is good publicity’ but not if your Gary Glitter.
Plod Bother
The EDL’s new strategy of flash demos is not going to please Old Bill in the least. They are illegal and plod will respond with force. As shown in Oldham. Some are saying that they should just turn up in Leicester rather than liaising with the authorities because they are sick of hanging around at the RV point for hours then being marched to a site to be kettled in for hours with scant facilities. Which has caused problems in the past. At Bradford, ‘chav scrotes’ attacked stewards and fighting broke out with the police. Liaising with plod has caused dissent with many as has the leadership deciding everything (but that’s what leaders do lads!). Many EDL would rather have a straight fight with the cops and anyone else who opposes them and whilst the flash demos will certainly provide an opportunity to do this, it also means heavier policing, more arrests and diminishing numbers at each demo. As Bradford showed they are contracting in size. The confrontational approach will attract more Nazis, hooligans and ‘chav scrotes’ but how this will be politically expedient is unclear.
Dutch Courage?
The EDL will be hoping to get to Leicester on October 9th but there are moves to ban the demo. However, the government banned marches in Bradford but it still kicked off on their static demo. They are also hoping to mobilise at Nuneaton again soon. They intend to go to Amsterdam on 30th October to support right winger Geert Wilders. A further concern is the influence of the EDL on hooligans across Europe who will copy their tactics and appreciate the opportunity for a scrap and to voice overt racist sentiments with little state repercussion. Many in the UK see the demos as a good day out on the beer and this will be attractive to Euro-hooligans as well.
Conclusion
The EDL have proven, time and time again, that they are politically naïve in the extreme. They are genuinely perplexed when the police attack them for illegally assembling. They still pretend they are ‘not racists’ despite the continued and increasingly noticeable presence of known fascists on their demos. On the EDL forum, others complain about the Nazis and racist chanting and there have been several notable resignations by prominent members. They pile into potentially volatile areas – Bradford, Bolton – and then wonder why there are hundreds of people there to oppose them. their understanding of the opposition demonstrates their naivety the most: their logic goes ‘we oppose militant Islam so anyone who opposes us therefore supports militant Islam.’ Wrong. That the Muslim communities despise the EDL’s provocation tactics is well documented but there are a great many others who counter-demonstrate because they dislike pissed up racists marching through their towns claiming to represent the majority of British people. The EDL define themselves by what they oppose, not what they stand for. They sing ‘English till I die’ but their idea of England does not reflect the reality. The majority of British people dislike drunken racist hooligans causing violent disturbances and would rather live peacefully.
‘Malatesta’
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Comments
Hide the following 18 comments
Why do most anarchists attack those who oppose Islamic extremism?
15.09.2010 09:11
The EDL is not just made up of football fans but is a united front of people from all backgrounds who have come together to oppose Islamic extremism. I though anarchists were against 'divide and rule', but most anarchists use the same tactic against the EDL by saying don't have anything to do with them they are all racist football fans. Well some football fans are anarchists, some football fans are socialists, some football fans are anti-racist, some football fans are black, some football fans are asian. Stop promoting stereotypes!
EDL anarchist division
Durrr...
15.09.2010 10:00
nationalism is the opposite to anarchism
IM admins hide this bullshit comment and mine too
me
There is no "EDL anarchist division"
15.09.2010 12:03
Finally there is no "EDL anarchist division", yes Indymedia mods should remove posts that are self-evident Jeff Marsh / EDL bollocks, and Jeff please shut the fuck up or you will only make it worse for yourself
Amherst Crescent
I have to ask. . .
15.09.2010 16:30
Why hasn't anyone on the left criticised the Labout Party for fielding the obviously racist Dianne Abbott as a candidate for leadership?
Why do so many on the left support the racist, criminal Black Panther Party?
You all seem to hate authority yet so many of you would support a socialist & communist government, as shown by communist flags been waved at left-wing demos.
You also refuse to criticise fascist asian groups whilst jumping down the throat of white patriots.
Why is this?
Are you scared of been called racist for opposing fascism from other races?
I see none on the left have turned out to oppose the obviously racist and fascist Muslims Against Crusades yet. . .
An observer. . .
What About the EDL Financial Wing.
15.09.2010 16:57
Suffice to say the EDL have served their purpose. Anything they do now is a bonus for their masters.
Stuart Millson's Apprentice
@ An Observer
15.09.2010 17:43
Targeting you
flash demos are not illegal
15.09.2010 17:50
anon
local cops ?
15.09.2010 17:54
truth
EDL anarchist
15.09.2010 18:45
IHTF
EDL Anarchist Division exists. It's run by Orlando Montfort.
15.09.2010 19:18
anon
They were genuinely shocked in Brighton that the locals hated them
15.09.2010 19:21
anon
Tactics
15.09.2010 19:34
Concerned of gipton
concerned of gipton
15.09.2010 20:46
anon
EDL Fantasy Division
16.09.2010 00:21
Nice try trolls
The Tooth Fairy
EDL Fantasy Division
16.09.2010 00:21
Nice try trolls
The Tooth Fairy
EDL Fantasy Football Div
16.09.2010 00:22
Nice try trolls
Tooth Fairy
to anon
16.09.2010 07:10
Concerned of gipton
"I have a cunning plan..."
17.09.2010 21:47
To be honest I'm not that concerned about the EDL's new change in tactics. On the down-side the fear is that flash protests might mean the knuckle-draggers finally get their chance to start serious race riots, but on the up-side, BECAUSE flash demos aren't likely to be opposed by Anti-Fascists, at least the EDL can't blame any trouble that occurs on us, and secondly the EDL invariably kick-off with the police and further wreck their attempts to cross-pover / go mainstream / present themselves as believers in peaceful protest / have any real political future! This is a battle for hearts-and-minds, not just the streets, and in PR terms those are both serious Fash own-goals. In this case even the down-side has an up-side however. Arriving at chosen boozer in dribs-and-drabs and downing a "few" pints (and lines) for Dutch courage, means the EDL rarely prove able to mob-up without attracting police attention, and takes long enough the cops have PLENTY of time to get it together and ensure any real fights are between cops and knuckles not between knuckles and Asians.
For all the cock they talk about the British Army, the EDL have some cannon-fodder but (bearing in mind Alan Lake knows even less about military strategy than he knows about politics or Muslim culture) zero intelligent street-leadership, and the new tactic is basically a desperate attempt to placate the grunts in the face of self-evident failures in the EDL's "all Baldrick and no Blackadder" tactical thinking.
Sun Tzu