The English Defence League (EDL) were in Dudley protesting against the proposed building of a super-Mosque in the town. The Unite Against Fascism (UAF) held a counter-demonstration on the other side of the town. Dudley, UK, 03 / 04 / 2010
Dudley had been turned into a ghost town on what should have been a bustling Easter Saturday for the local shoppers. The majority of the shops on the high street were boarded up and closed for the weekend and all of the approach roads were closed off to motorists. The few people that were walking through the town centre were very conscious and anxious about the day’s events. Police and security staff ensured that those who were open for normal business could do so in safety.
The Unite Against Fascism (UAF) gathered in the car park area off Stafford Street which was a much more convivial atmosphere compared to the event in Bolton. An array of bands, musicians and a DJ occupied the demonstrators who were well organised.
The English Defence League (EDL) gathered by the Cinder Bank Island, with the Dudley By-pass being completely closed off. Divisions of the EDL commuted from all over England and formed a group of 1500 people. The police were out in force, and the EDL were providing more active marshalling, and despite a few scuffles was a reasonably good-tempered affair. The march made its way to the Flood street car park, which was specially penned off to keep the EDL, controlled. After a few brief speeches, which introduced members from ethnic minorities, the majority of the group decided that they wanted to break through the fencing. From this point on, any notion of a political agenda to the day deteriorated into an opportunity for the hooligan element of the EDL to confront the police and seek every avenue to escape into the town. The police managed to contain them for most of the time; they eventually broke through and the majority of the EDL contingent then dispersed into Dudley town centre. The large numbers of police managed to control them eventually, and order was brought back to the town.
The day had very little to do with local concerns over the building of a new mosque and became another place where the EDL’s infamy left its mark.
