"The EDL is not a racist group"

[IrrelevantElephant]

Please please don't flame me. DPs best friend is a fairly senior member of the EDL. Every time we get into a discussion about race/racism, DP defends his mate. Says there are senior people in the EDL who are black etc.

I'm not smart. I'm not well educated. But I know EDL is wrong. I would appreciate help to defend my views.

Yes- I didn't post in AIBU. I posted in politics, because I thought I would get an instant reply of "they did X on Y date and said they supported X too" .
Instead me and DP got slated. I am trying to change things. Really trying to buck a trend, and it may or may not work, but I want to try.

Anyway- have had a bottle of wine and now might not be the time anyway. I'm probably not making much sense,
Will try and phrase things logically tomorrow, and will reread responses. Thanks to those who helped.

MMOC - yes. I know and feel it is wrong. I can't articulate it. That's what I wanted help with. Thanks for seeing that.

Maresdotes's link is good and pithy.

I could do with a quick riposte to the black "leader" issue though.

I do apologise for my original google comment, I would have thought it obvious but that was cheap.

there isnt a rational discussion of the EDL coz the EDL aren't rational.

go on you tube there are plenty of vids look here is a muslim edl member sure they cant be anti islam then!

have you seen the videos of there protests? here are them attacking a chicken shop would you be associated with that sort of violence?

Nailak - thank you. Didn't finish watching the first clip, but watched the 2nd. It made me feel sick. DP's views of the EDL is that they are logical, well thought out, opposors of extremism. Not racist, just wanting to protect England. He genuinely believes that, from what he has been told by a man that he trusts.
DP is not a racist man- he is kind, and lovely. I dont want to "LTB" thanks, I want to teach end educate him.
Your clip made them look nothing more than football hooligans. I was scared just watching it. That's the sort of behaviour I wanted to how him they were capable of.

their oops too late at night,

has your dp seen the videos of protests? maybe he should go to one and see what they are about?

www.facebook.com/pages/Oppose-Extreme-Thickness-Oppose-The-EDL/160659503979060?fref=ts

here is a nice fb page, the admin searches out all their bile and posts it.

edlnews.co.uk/index.php/latest-news/cxf-and-the-infidels/914-cxf-further-drag-the-poppy-appeal-through-the-mud?COLLCC=4226623464&

This is pretty typical of EDL racism.... <a class="break-all" href="http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?q=english+defence+league+protest&um=1&hl=en&sa=N&tbo=d&biw=1366&bih=643&tbm=isch&tbnid=ee96NNQ3KuT8CM:&imgrefurl=islamizationwatch.blogspot.com/2009/10/anti-sharia-demonstrations-in-leeds-and.html&docid=LW3pHF6w8WdqpM&imgurl=2.bp.blogspot.com/_QfVWU-2pVL4/Suy02hHplaI/AAAAAAAAJas/5Mf-AI8XqUc/s1600/Members%25252Bof%25252Bthe%25252BEnglish%25252BDefence%25252BLeague%25252Band%25252Bother%25252Bpro-English%25252Borganisations%25252Bstage%25252Ba%25252Bdemonstration%25252Bin%25252BPiccadilly%25252BCircus%25252Bon%25252BOctober%25252B31,%25252B2009%25252Bin%25252BLondon.jpg&w=610&h=392&ei=Y0fXUNXTB4mr0QXT6IDwDg&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=718&vpy=125&dur=158&hovh=180&hovw=280&tx=177&ty=67&sig=103850377499570660042&page=2&tbnh=144&tbnw=197&start=19&ndsp=25&ved=1t:429,r:23,s:0,i:163" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">link

Supporters, masked-up behind the cross of St George for cowardly anonymity, making a very big deal about the 'domination of Isam' and protesting against something that is not going to be in the statute books any time soon i.e. Sharia Law. This kind of stereotyping, prejudice and incitement is racism .

The 'they're not racist, some of them are black' defence is utter bollocks. Your DP needs to do a lot better than that! Has he explained why he agrees with the EDL? Ask him which of their ideas he agrees with- he either knows fuck all about them or he's a racist. Let's hope it's the former.

I can't think of the EDL now without thinking of the muslamic rayguns bloke. He pretty much sums up the EDL for me- thuggish and stupid.

I wouldn't even give these type of people the time of day, frankly.

It's really unhelpful to fall back on the 'thick racists' card.
Op, I don't know much about the organisation itself but their supporters can be very intimidating at rallies - if you look at newspaper reports of places they've held marches, there are lots of examples.
Interestingly, often it is the anti-EDL supporters who end up getting arrested. Often on police evidence that is later contradicted by video evidence. Make of that what you will.
I spoke to the EDL people who were leafleting our area a while ago. They were making a big thing of the Asian grooming trial that was happening at that time. Their argument was along the lines of 'white girls/muslim paedophiles'. Imo that was one reason why it wasn't tackled for so long - fear of being politically incorrect. But this is one of many many cases of young girls being exploited - and in the vast majority of cases by white men. Prisons are not full of muslim paedophiles/sex offenders.
Another EDL argument is about sharia courts. Again, there is a grain of truth to this and imo it is not a welcome development for women's rights. However, we are not in any danger of having sharia law.
I'm sorry that's not very helpful. I hope some other posters will try to engage with your topic rather than shouting it down.

So what if your hubby has a friend in the EDL. Surely the poor mans entitled to have whatever friends he likes. The EDL was set up originally because of insults thrown at a group of returning soldiers by a bunch of fanatics. It's not surprise that the EDL was set up in Luton, as some of the people of this town got upset with the 35 mosques that were built.

It's no surprise here on MN most things are taken as racist, it goes with MN territory. That and self-righteous hectoring.

www.telegraph.co.uk/news/religion/9621319/Sharia-courts-as-consensual-as-rape-House-of-Lords-told.html

This is an article about sharia courts in the UK. It was debated in the House of Lords. It is not an 'exclusive to the EDL' argument.

www.telegraph.co.uk/news/religion/9621319/Sharia-courts-as-consensual-as-rape-House-of-Lords-told.html

This is an article about sharia courts in the UK. It was debated in the House of Lords. It is not an 'exclusive to the EDL' argument.

mercibucket. The Anti Nazi League are intimidating as well.

Beatanoxpotter. No I suppose they would not have opposed Churches being built as this is a Christian country, and is not the United Arab Emirates!