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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to take 7 yo DD on an EDL march?

106 replies

bejeezus · 04/07/2012 09:59

Id like to encourage a bit of political activism
Or at the very least, political awareness
show her that you can stand up against what you believe is wrong
you're either part of the problem or part of the solution etc etc

or do EDL protests get rough?

OP posts:
Original poster
bejeezus · 04/07/2012 10:16

there were a lot of poster up locally about the Anti-Vivisection Protest....she kept asking if we could go on that

Maybe that would be a better one!

OP posts:
PinkPepper · 04/07/2012 10:18

I think yes. I am really thankful to my parents taking me on marches. Go to the start and leave before it finishes. Or even just watch the start. I used to carry placards still getting pushed in my buggy.

squeakytoy · 04/07/2012 10:19

Not at 7 there isnt. Why would you want to introduce a small child to adults and a volatile atmosphere?

It is not a child appropriate activity. It is forcing your adult views onto a small child who is not old enough to be really aware of what it is about, and potentially putting her in danger.

If you want to go, then go, but leave your child with someone else where she wont be subjected to angry crowds, and the nastiness that accompanies these sort of marches.

FantasticDay · 04/07/2012 10:19

No! I've taken my 4 year old and 6 year old on marches against cuts to Surestart, and on the Civil Service day of action strike - but cancelled a booked and paid for visit to the Black Country Museum because the EDL were marching in Dudley that day. If you want to encourage her to be politically aware, I'd say join the Woodcraft folk, sponsor a child in Africa and get her writing so she learns more about global inequality, or, if you are politically active, get her helping to make posters/deliver leaflets.

PomBearWithAnOFRS · 04/07/2012 10:19

Could you forgive yourself if something someone throws hits her on the head? Or if she sees someone, oh I dunno, getting kicked to the floor in front of her? Both worst case scenario type things, but could happen...

overtherooftops · 04/07/2012 10:23

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Trills · 04/07/2012 10:38

Hahaha.

When the EDL marched in my town there was a "Unite Against Fascism" march the same day.

The police kept the two well away from each other, they both had pre-planned routes to march.

One guy had a placard reading "hugs not thugs". There were reggae-sounding drums and stuff.

Original poster
bejeezus · 04/07/2012 10:38

i think youre probably right pom and squeaky i would never forgive myself if something happened

she is young...there is plenty of time for that...i just think that we have such a small window really when we have any influence over them. Shes already far too fluffy Grin Soon there will be no room in her head for anything other than the pink glitter and cute bunnies that she keeps in there..

oh well...off to the soft play for us

OP posts:
Original poster
bejeezus · 04/07/2012 10:39

Oooo..trills...if it was like that...

OP posts:
PomBearWithAnOFRS · 04/07/2012 10:42

Give her time to be a child bejeezus they seem to grow up so damn fast as it is, let her have her pink bunnies and unicorns for a bit longer - she has her whole life to have to deal with the world being a bit lot crap :(

DontHaveAtv · 04/07/2012 10:45

I personally wouldn't take my 7 year old. Something usually kicks off, so I would be worried.

How about getting her to help make some flyer's, but you go and hand them out?

AmazingBouncingFerret · 04/07/2012 10:54

FantasticDay we were at the Black Country museum the day the EDL marched in dudley!

It was a great day. Nice and quiet and no trouble at all. Smile

Dahlen · 04/07/2012 10:55

Personally I wouldn't. Marches and protests seem to be very different now to just a few years ago, and the riots last year have really affected the violence threshold. Good people can behave badly when the mob mentality takes over and things can turn on such a seemingly insignificant detail.

It's great that you want to encourage your DD to be active though. I'd just leave her behind for this one.

paradisechick · 04/07/2012 10:56

I would.

eurochick · 04/07/2012 11:06

When I was a teenager an anti-BNP rally occurred nearby. It was bloody scary. I was working in the family business for my Saturday job and my dad ended up locking up and going home and crossing his fingers that the shop windows didn't get smashed. There was a LOT of trouble. People got hurt, property was damaged. It's not the place for a 7 year old. Go the the anti-vivisection one instead if you want to introduce her to political activism.

ratspeaker · 04/07/2012 11:08

I was taken on CND marches in my pushchair
I took my kids in pushchairs to protest the closure of maternity units in Edinburgh-not that it did any good but we objected to the cuts

But I would be very wary of EDL and anti EDL marches , they have a reputation for getting rough so it could be very scary for a 7year old

You can always discuss with her the politics involved- as much as the glitter and bunnies will allow
Then one day you may be treated to the sight that I met several years ago, an exhausted teen asleep on the sofa, slogan on her cheek, placard at her side.
< oh I was so proud >

ChairOfTheBored · 04/07/2012 11:09

They can get a bit hairy - especially if UAF and the EDL groups clash. That said, I grew up in the 80s, attending football matches home and away, which could be equally hairy, and I survived unscathed!

When they marched in our local town there was a large cross community effort to support peaceful protest (vigils, prayer meetings if that's your thing, support for the police/paramedics who were on stand by, providing 'safe' places in teh town centre for people to use etc.). If it is an important issue to you, you might want to see if there are any similar activities locally, and seek their advice as to how you and your DD can help?

ratspeaker · 04/07/2012 11:12

Mind you this is the same lass that got the bejeezus scared out of her when she walked out of Waverley station into the G8 protests, ironically she came down from Stirling as she was getting no sleep due to noise and police helicopters overhead there

sashh · 04/07/2012 11:29

I know she will pick up my views.....but it brings it to life doesnt it?

Don't count on that, someone asked my 7 year old brother what he wanted to be when he grew up. He confidently replied, "I want to be an IRA sniper" - not great in England in 1973.

We think he heard in on the news and thought it sounded cool.

I've herd of the police intimidating kids on marches - putting cam corders in their faces and following families. I have nnot seen it myself, so don't know how common it is.

FantasticDay · 04/07/2012 11:44

Amazing - Aw. Sorry I cancelled now! (We have been back twice since and loved it)

squeakytoy · 04/07/2012 11:52

"I know she will pick up my views.....but it brings it to life doesnt it?"

leave it until she is old enough to actually understand properly and then it can be her choice maybe...

My parents, particularly my dad were heavily into politics, my dad was a local councillor, and believe me, the only effect that the constant talk of government, politics etc while I was growing up was bloody boring, and led me to purposely have no interest at all in the subject. At 7 I wanted to go swimming, play out with friends, build dens, do jigsaws, and be a child. I didnt want to go to meetings, rallys, listen to a load of adults bickering about things which I did not understand or need to know at that age.

I grew up in the 70's and the country was in the middle of strikes, impending wars, conflict, and many other things to get into a tizz about, great if you are an adult... completely over the head of children, and so it should be.

Orwellian · 04/07/2012 12:03

Hmmm. No I wouldn't. UAF tend to be much more violent and confrontational than the EDL. I wouldn't want my child thinking that violence and aggression is ok as long as it is in support of the "correct" side.

Ephiny · 04/07/2012 12:06

I wouldn't. Maybe when she's a teenager and old enough to take an interest in politics and have an opinion on these matters, but not at 7 years old. What's wrong with liking fluffy bunnies etc when you're a small child?

BandersnatchCummerbund · 04/07/2012 12:08

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Latara · 04/07/2012 12:28

Bejeezus - I understand why you want to take your DD but IMO at 7 she's too young to attend a potentially violent event. I would be concerned for her safety.
Even shouting & an aggressive atmosphere can terrify a small child.

If DD sees all the people looking angry & shouting abuse from both sides then she's likely to be scared of the people on both sides (EDL & Anti-EDL).
At age 7 that will be her memory of the march - the aggression & anger - & she is unlikely take in anything else.

The heavy Police prescence, possibly with Police dogs will be quite intimidating too.
Your DD needs to feel that she can go to the Police for help if she witnesses a crime, or is a victim of crime.

However, seeing a large, very tense group of Policemen & women who may need to make arrests (arrests that could get violent) may leave her terrified of them.

The Police dogs may all be barking, or need to be involved in arrests; again that could put her off dogs for life!
Plus there may be Police horses present - even seeing them just used in crowd control may distress her, because she may feel scared that they will get hurt.

I think you could show her pictures of a march from the internet / newspapers instead & explain things in simple terms - why each group is there; what their basic beliefs are & what your views are.

Also explain why the Police are there; what the function of police horses & dogs are; why they carry certain equipment (eg. batons, stab vests) & what their role is.
(I don't know if you like the Police yourself - but it's best to present them in an unbiased way to DD in case she needs their help in the future).

She can go to see marches when she's a teenager if she wants to - but personally i'd let her enjoy her childhood for as long as possible.

I have friends who moved to Britain so their children won't witness the violence / war in their home countries - they would never take them to potentially aggressive events, because that's what they came here to get away from...

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