To not want the EDL in my town?

[NoMoreRacismPlease]

This will probably out me already and its my first thread!
The fucking fucking EDL are coming to my town tomorrow and I am beyond words about it.
We have a very mixed population, Muslims, Sikhs, Hindus, Eastern Europeans, Africans etc and have had hardly any trouble wrt racism for years and years.
People have mingled happily here for ages.
One incident involving Muslims (amongst the 100's of similar incidents perpetrated by every other group of people) and the nasty racist scumbags are descending on my town like rats.

I have been to many an Anti fascist demo in my life so this is not new to me, but I am raging that they have turned my town against one another, divided us already and they are not even here! Everyone is now suspicious of each others intentions, I have already fallen out with someone I thought I knew quite well when it turned out he'd be marching in bloody support of them!

To make it clear I believe in free speech so would not ban them (as much as I'd like to!)

So AIBU to want them to take their nasty football hooligan tactics and racist veiws and shove it up their collective arses and crawl back the swamp from whence they came?? I am really so very very angry.
Of course I will be at the front of the "anti" protest but I just wish they had never though of coming.

I don't know that I'd be as angry as you seem to be.

I don't think many people take them seriously, and if the 'antis' tomorrow are all as angry as you, no good will come of it.

Just live your life in a decent way, get along with your neighbours, and maybe calm down a bit. Getting all reactionary is a bit daft.

What's EDL?

HoneyDragon is a member of the EDL. She loves it!

May not be the same EDL

Canus but if they are going to be in my town angrily shouting about muslims, throwing nazi salutes around and berating small Asian children for the colour of their skin don't you think someone should get angry back? I know not everyone takes them seriously but don't you think they should know they have oppostion? I'm really interested in how other people see it.

Imsucha English Defence League

Or English Disco League but they are lovely people

No. I don't think you should get angry back.

It makes you look unthinking, as though you are up for a fight, just to be seen to be (loudly) on the 'good' side.

Just show your opposition in more practical and useful ways in your everyday life.

The English Disco League like to do counter-demontrations, perhaps they'll be visiting your town too?

The EDL have already been to our city. A lot of people were worried because we've had terrible issues with racism and people thought this was stir things up again. We were told to stay away. There was a counter demonstration and a large police presence. Everything was fine. They mostly get drunk and attack each other.

don't you think someone should get angry back? I don't. It's what they want - to rile people up and drag you down to their level. If people fight against them it'll be proof to them see how violent and terrible these races are or look how brainwashed the whites are that they're sticking up for them. Ignore them. Let them show people the prats they are.

I have already fallen out with someone I thought I knew quite well when it turned out he'd be marching in bloody support of them!

Sounds like this was a good thing. I'd definitely want to know if I was friends with someone who held such heinous views.

In a democracy that's what people have to put up with.

UAF are just as bad and in a lot of cases even more violent.

The EDL are an abomination but thankfully fringe groups however radical can air their views in this country.

I hate what they stand for but as I also support free speech I suppose they have a right to express their ( idiotic ) views.
I wouldn't want them on my town either but sadly it's not up to me or you OP

I wonder what happened to this guy?

Am not usually an angry person but racism really riles me - its not about being seen to be on the "good" side, its about being the voice of opposition when needed. I cant turn my back when they want to march in my town, making out there is an issue that isn't there.
I'm not up for a fight, just think they shouldnt march unopposeds surely? Its not about a violent confrontation, its about making your beliefs as clear as theirs? If no-one confronted them they'd believe we agreed with them!

*unopposed

TiggyD

To be fair that bloke looks very young and probably has learning difficulties.

The media could have interviewed 50 people and just picked up on this particular one.

I dont want to ban them just wish they weren't coming here, we've had hardly any race issues for years.

And am not a member of the UAF but they get an unfair rap from both the police and the media. (though all sides have a story!)

Stick up a massive sign saying "[Name of town] welcomes the EDL" and get volunteers of all backgrounds to hand out tea and biscuits. The EDL wants to stir up trouble, don't give them what they want. They want English culture? Give it to them with tea and reasonableness.

I was shopping in my town center during an EDL protest there was police everywhere. but i can honestly say they was NOT throwing about nazi saluts and they was NOT shouting about how much they hate muslims nor was they berating small asian children, or any asians for that matter.

I'm not defending the EDL btw

Stick up a massive sign saying "[Name of town] welcomes the EDL" and get volunteers of all backgrounds to hand out tea and biscuits. The EDL wants to stir up trouble, don't give them what they want. They want English culture? Give it to them with tea and reasonableness.

Post of the day for me.

That's exactly how to counteract extremism.

NoMore - I get the anger. I was EXACTLY the same when they came to our town and even more so when they organised a march through our area a while later to protest at some perceived slight by a local sports organisation. The best thing about the latter was that only a few turned up, they shuffled up the road and it was a complete non-event.

YDNBU in my view. I grew up in N Ireland in the 70's and saw the effects of narrow-minded bigotry close up - it is hateful, vile and causes untold suffering.
By all means oppose them in 'more practical and useful ways in your everyday life' but getting angry is necessary too, to counteract all the complacency around.

EauRouge thats not a bad idea actually could get all the lovely families round here to have a go. Bit late now though, hope there isn't a next time but if so will have a go at it!

I agree with you. There was a march down Victoria Street in London a few years back. Loads of tourists around and I just felt an utter incoherent rage- I wanted to spit on them

By all means oppose them in 'more practical and useful ways in your everyday life' but getting angry is necessary too, to counteract all the complacency around.

This...

Yay thank you feetheart was worried was only one! You put it much more succinctly than I could!

I just couldn't get enraged by these idiots. Maybe that's the wrong attitude.

However I LOVE the tea and biscuits idea - that would really make their limited brain cells hurt :o

next time I will organise it!