EDL London March Opposed by UAF

Around a thousand English Defence League supporters marched to the Houses of Parliament this afternoon in support of Geert Wilders of the Dutch Freedom Party surrounded by police and accompanied by police horses. They were met by around the same number of Unite Against Fascism counter-demonstrators, who had earlier blocked the road. Several arrests were made. London, UK. 05/03/2010

The UAF (Unite Against Fascism) demonstrators gathered in Old Palace Yard opposite the Houses of Parliament a couple of hours before the EDL (English Defence League) were due to arrive. While I was there they chanted slogans against the EDL and there was a short address by MP Jeremy Corbyn. The UAF accuses the EDL of being a fascist, racist and homophobic group of football hooligans, and is also opposed to the showing of Geert Wilders's film ‘Fitna’, which it says is racist and incites violence against Muslims.

In 'Fitna', Wilder use of verses from the Koran, combining them with images of violence, and compares Islam to Nazism. Muslims regard his use of the Koran as blasphemous abuse and he has received death threats, but he defends his actions as an example of freedom of speech. While we may deplore his film, such threats are unacceptable in civilised societies. But it does seems inconsistent to his critics that he is calling for a ban on the Koran in the Netherlands, claiming that like Hitler's Mein Kampf which is already banned there, it is a work of totalitarian ideology that incites violence.

The EDL were supposed to be gathering outside Tate Britain, but when I arrived there was nobody there. Walking down the road a couple of hundred yards there were a hundred or so of them on the pavement outside the Morpeth Arms and more packed inside. I talked to a number of them and most were happy to be photographed, many posing for the camera. All I talked to were eager to stress that they were not racist, and were not anti-Muslim, but only against Muslim extremists. They said they were opposed to the increasing Islamic nature of English cities and in particular to the suggestions that Sharia law should play any part in British justice. They also made clear their strong feeling that they did not get fair treatment in the press.

As at previous EDL/March for England events I've photographed, there were a handful of black members present and around the same number of women. It was a stark contrast to the UAF supporters, many of whom were women and represented the diversity of backgrounds we are now used to in London, although most were young, including many students.

Later during the actual march I did get sworn at, threatened and given the finger, but only by a small minority of marchers, and a young female Asian journalist seemed to attract considerably more aggravation than me. There was also some clearly anti-Muslim shouting and singing, and the placards and slogans that attack the building of mosques seem to threaten all Muslims rather than just the extremists. However I did not hear the songs about 'Allah' that gave offence at some earlier events. The EDL had asked marchers not to sing these and had carefully organised stewards, with team leaders, first aiders and others in colour coded vests, although it was unfortunate during the short rally before the march that one steward in particular attempted to stop photographers taking pictures. As a police officer pointed out politely to him, it just meant we took more pictures, particularly of him.

The main speaker outside Tate Britain was a Sikh, Amit Singh, who appeared at least at some points in his address to be attacking Muslims rather than extremist views. A police officer had a serious word with him after his speech although this may have been connected with his use of offensive language rather than the rest of what he said.

After the rally, the march moved off towards the Houses of Parliament where the marchers were met by loud shouting from the UAF. There were a few minor incidents as the march passed the crowd, but these were quickly dealt with by police, who filtered the EDL into a pen on the north side of the road, with the UAF being kept behind the permanent barriers in front of Parliament on the opposite side of the road.

After watching the two groups shouting at each other for around half an hour, with small groups leaving from both sides (a few of the EDL were given a police escort to Westminster tube) I decided it was time to leave. Half an hour later I could still see the police helicopter hovering overhead.

Many young working class people in England do feel strongly that they have been marginalized and neglected, particularly those who have not achieved highly in the education system, many of whom are unemployed or in tedious and often badly paid jobs. It isn't surprising that they are fertile ground for the kind of racist stereotypes and myths peddled by right wing groups such as the BNP, even if they present them in a less overt form.

Although it important that these views are challenged and that people demonstrate their oppositino to groups like the EDL, rather than simply dismissing them as racists, attention need to be paid to the underlying causes. Which means confronting issues of class which it has been fashionable to dismiss over the past decades, and encouraging a pride in our heritage and in an inclusive Britain which is a home for all our people wherever their origins.