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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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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 13:37

I agree with missm

this stuff is important to me, in the same way religion is to other people...so why wouldnt i involve my dcs? its the same kind of ethos...morality and standing up against what is wrong, having compassion etc etc

OP posts:

WorraLiberty · 04/07/2012 13:43

Yes but you can do all of that without potentially causing them a lot of distress/injury.

Even simple things like trying to get out of a crowded march if your child has had enough can be extremely difficult and if it kicks off, the police will kettle people for hours sometimes.

I just wouldn't do it to a child.

somebloke123 · 04/07/2012 13:45

I personally wouldn't take a child of mine on any demonstration - even if I could be fairly confident that it would be peaceful - unless they had clearly indicated a wish to go and had some appreciation of the issue. Perhaps unlikely for a 7 year old

Having said that I can see why other people might wish to. I guess we all try to pass on our values and opinions to our children at some level.

Original poster

bejeezus · 04/07/2012 13:51

unless they had clearly indicated a wish to go and had some appreciation of the issue. Perhaps unlikely for a 7 year old

I disagree

worra which is why i have decided against this protest

kids are in 'orrible unkid-friendly siutaions all the time- we've been stuck in a 10 hour traffic jam, been to many festivals with big crowds/bottlenecks/massive queues for disgusting toilets. travelled in rural africa to see family on unpaved roads...areoport delays etc etc etc

OP posts:

ThePathanKhansWitch · 04/07/2012 13:54

Bejeezus , You had me worried for a minute.

We had an EDL meeting/march thing here, and by all accounts it got nasty.

wilderumpus · 04/07/2012 13:57

sorry if I am repeating someone else, I have been lazy and skimmed the thread... BUT when the EDL came to Bradford my friend organised a women's sit-down protest on a lovely patch of green in the centre, rather than get into the anti-demo march. They definitely can be a bit rough.

I couldn't go sadly, but I would take DS (2.5) to a sit down, multicultural protest, just out of the way with a few readings about peace (or not), some literature/flyers on anti-racism and a few cakes and cups of tea.

Still gets the message across but not in a confrontational way.

BlueFlyer · 04/07/2012 14:01

No, I would not do it. We went into a local town, not knowing that there was an EDL march and it was very frightening being in the vicinity of it. When we got off the train, even though the town was supposedly 'business as usual' the EDL were being kept in one area, and the rest of town was completely empty. The EDL were being very aggressive and trying to break out of their area (which was large and not kettling in any way) being monitored by police helicopters and there were huge numbers of police.

They then closed the train station for safety reasons, so we had no choice but to walk into the town, and we were escorted by the police for our own safety. Having said that, when we then got the bus home, we saw the anti-EDL demo, and they were being kept out of town in a park, and never came into contact with the march route at all. So from that point of view, it may be that you are entirely safe and simply showing support for the local community in a nice part get together.

But if your protest involves being near enough to actually see the EDL, I would not do it with a seven year old. And I say that as somebody who has been on a variety of demos including anti-BNP as a teenagers.

Scheherezade · 04/07/2012 16:22

I hope you are also teaching her how horrible doctors and nurses are and not to trust going to the GP/hospital for treatment, because Shipman was a doctor, and nurses have hurt people. Heaven forbid a generation tries out mutual respect, peace, appreciation of people risking their health and lives to help others. No, because a few, in hundreds of thousands have been bad we should act like spoilt 5 year olds. Fingers crossed you and your daughter don't get mugged/attacked/raped (or all 3) because I bet you wouldn't have a problem asking for help from the same people you villify then, eh?

But then da powleece r auforitee, man.

Scheherezade · 04/07/2012 16:26

(My DP used to be a special. Is the most kind, caring, considerate, anti-violence man you ever met. He quit because of the way he was treated OUTSIDE the job, when people learned what he did. He only joined to do something good, help people).

Since you're so full of irrational hate based on stereotypical bigotry, I think maybe you would be better on the pro EDL side.

Scheherezade · 04/07/2012 16:30

Ooh best not send her to school, I heard a teacher once did something bad to someone.

hairytale · 04/07/2012 17:31

I wouldn't. I've been on anti del demos. The edl are very nasty and I think it would be frightening for such a young child.

Aboutlastnight · 04/07/2012 18:25

I think it's also about how a seven year old makes sense of what is happening.

It's not the same as bej gcstuck in a traffic jam.

Original poster

bejeezus · 04/07/2012 22:05

scheh I'm not vilifying anyone, you mentaler

OP posts:

maddening · 04/07/2012 22:12

what about amnesty international? They look for help like letter writing - you and dd can sit down and write a letter together ?

Krumbum · 04/07/2012 22:16

Haha omg, thank god you said anti!
Is it wIth UAF?
I've been with UAF against the edl at a rally outside a mosque.
The edl threw stones, bottles, lit bottles. It was terrifying, they were screaming racist slur and doing the hitler salute. They don't care who they hurt. They were throwing these things at all the UAF and elderly ppl and children coming out of the mosque. They are despicable. I wouldn't risk taking a child.

TheSpokenNerd · 04/07/2012 22:18

Yabu. she is a small child and those marches get scary at times.

gordyslovesheep · 04/07/2012 22:24

I am agreeing with most of your points OP - I am a stark raving trades unionist and lefty and I was raised on picket lines and marches - I take my 2 eldest on demos with me ...but I think I would draw the line at an EDL demo (anti one!) as I have seen footage of them getting a bit hairy, I remember anti fascist marches and anti NF stuff in my youth and they was a bit scary

I would probably decide not to take mine ( 9 and 8 ) but it's you choice - and there is NOTHING wrong with sharing your politics with your kids

2rebecca · 04/07/2012 22:25

EDL? Is this a local thing? Never heard of them is it like BNP? (I do live in Scotland)

lovebunny · 04/07/2012 23:06

oh, yeah, anti,

Krumbum · 04/07/2012 23:21

2rebecca
The edl are the English defence league. A fight right group of football hooligans that's main aim is to get rid of Muslim people from the uk. They use violent marches at mosques and Muslim areas to get their point across. They arnt a political party and have no real power but are a scary presence on our streets who spread racism and intolerance.

2rebecca · 05/07/2012 08:52

Thankfully nothing like that in Scotland. The SNP have been careful since gaining real power to play down and suppress the anti-nonscottish elements in their party so they don't come across as racist or anti-English (as far as English folk living in Scotland are concerned, they are still anti-Westminster government).

Mrsjay · 05/07/2012 09:08

Oh get your title changed you may get some edl supporters trying to hug you to take her or not it really is up to you never to young to let children know about bigotry and stupidity imo, It may get rough though

Aboutlastnight · 05/07/2012 09:33

2Rebecca

There are plenty of English living in Scotland who support the SNP. And you can't compare the EDL with the SNP. The EDL are a bunch of knuckle dragging thugs who are in it for the notoriety rather than any political conviction. They make the BNP look like political geniuses which is saying something as the BNP are made up of thugs and inadequates too.

2rebecca · 05/07/2012 09:45

I wasn't compaing the SNP with the EDL! Read what I actually said ie
"thankfully nothing like that in Scotland"
I added the bit about the SNP in case anyone in England thought the SNP were similar, although 15 years ago the SNP did have some supporters and members who were anti-English accents in Scotland. They have been trying to shed this image though.

OddBoots · 05/07/2012 09:56

The day before the last EDL march in my town the council of faiths had a peace vigil and people of many faiths and none stood for an hour holding balloons, blowing bubbles and then reading a statement of unity as a protest.

I took my children to that and would do so again in a heartbeat but I'd not take them near the actual march.

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