EDL Rally

[hisroyalgingerness]

Having had a fair busy week at work, and not reading the yokal press...I've missed all the hoo-ha with the EDL rally. WTF's going on???!!?

[finlayson]

The EDL are having a rally/shout.

Anti-Nazi League/Anti-fascists are going to try and disrupt their right to peaceful protest with violent protests.

Ironic isn't it.

[boltonboris]

I might go to this, wearing a Burkha, minding my own business to see if I get any bother, but concealing a machete and a machine gun underneath

[William the White]

The EDL are having a rally/shout.

Anti-Nazi League/Anti-fascists are going to try and disrupt their right to peaceful protest with violent protests.

Ironic isn't it.

This is the peace-loving, bob-a-job, help old ladies across the road English Defence League, seeking a place for peaceful protest, right?

[Bruce Rioja]

Do we know what time this is kicking-off (pun intended)? Perhaps better still, do we know when it's likely to be over? I could do with nipping into town, Sat'di.

[William the White]

Do we know what time this is kicking-off (pun intended)? Perhaps better still, do we know when it's likely to be over? I could do with nipping into town, Sat'di.

The stuff we've had today - all staff, and, i think, all students at the Uni - is that they expect the ranks of the 'EDL' to be swollen by what the police call 'football risk' suppprters - that is football followers essentially looking for trouble. The police estimate possible numbers of these at up to 2000, many not from Bolton - seems unlikely to me, there'll be some, but way short of that... They also warn that the aftermath coul linger into the evening with our 'welcome' visitors and their opponents seeking each other out... Have advised students to keep out of town...

The police suggest about 800 supporters of Unite against Fascism may be present to exercise their right to freedom of speech in opposition to them... It's quite likely (though the police don't say this, i think so) that these will be enhanced by militants seeking a confrontation...

If there was a way to guarantee a peaceful protest against this despicable pond life I'd take it, and advocate it... but i think there's little chance of that, and I'm not going into town myself...

[Bruce Rioja]

Thanks William, sounds like it's a larger scale thing than I had in mind. Yeah, I think I'll follow your lead and give the place a miss this week.

[Worthy4England]

Do we know what time this is kicking-off (pun intended)? Perhaps better still, do we know when it's likely to be over? I could do with nipping into town, Sat'di.

The stuff we've had today - all staff, and, i think, all students at the Uni - is that they expect the ranks of the 'EDL' to be swollen by what the police call 'football risk' suppprters - that is football followers essentially looking for trouble. The police estimate possible numbers of these at up to 2000, many not from Bolton - seems unlikely to me, there'll be some, but way short of that... They also warn that the aftermath coul linger into the evening with our 'welcome' visitors and their opponents seeking each other out... Have advised students to keep out of town...

The police suggest about 800 supporters of Unite against Fascism may be present to exercise their right to freedom of speech in opposition to them... It's quite likely (though the police don't say this, i think so) that these will be enhanced by militants seeking a confrontation...

If there was a way to guarantee a peaceful protest against this despicable pond life I'd take it, and advocate it... but i think there's little chance of that, and I'm not going into town myself...

I guess the only comment I'd make WtW is that the EDL, in a democracy should be able to state their case.

It's up to the electorate to then judge whether it's persuasive enough. It's not right (in my opinion) for others to surpress the case they want to make.

I personally think that all views should have a platform to be discussed, even though I'd discount many of them on a personal level.

[William the White]

Do we know what time this is kicking-off (pun intended)? Perhaps better still, do we know when it's likely to be over? I could do with nipping into town, Sat'di.

The stuff we've had today - all staff, and, i think, all students at the Uni - is that they expect the ranks of the 'EDL' to be swollen by what the police call 'football risk' suppprters - that is football followers essentially looking for trouble. The police estimate possible numbers of these at up to 2000, many not from Bolton - seems unlikely to me, there'll be some, but way short of that... They also warn that the aftermath coul linger into the evening with our 'welcome' visitors and their opponents seeking each other out... Have advised students to keep out of town...

The police suggest about 800 supporters of Unite against Fascism may be present to exercise their right to freedom of speech in opposition to them... It's quite likely (though the police don't say this, i think so) that these will be enhanced by militants seeking a confrontation...

If there was a way to guarantee a peaceful protest against this despicable pond life I'd take it, and advocate it... but i think there's little chance of that, and I'm not going into town myself...

I guess the only comment I'd make WtW is that the EDL, in a democracy should be able to state their case.

It's up to the electorate to then judge whether it's persuasive enough. It's not right (in my opinion) for others to surpress the case they want to make.

I personally think that all views should have a platform to be discussed, even though I'd discount many of them on a personal level.

Is there anything I've said that disagrees with that?

[Worthy4England]

Do we know what time this is kicking-off (pun intended)? Perhaps better still, do we know when it's likely to be over? I could do with nipping into town, Sat'di.

The stuff we've had today - all staff, and, i think, all students at the Uni - is that they expect the ranks of the 'EDL' to be swollen by what the police call 'football risk' suppprters - that is football followers essentially looking for trouble. The police estimate possible numbers of these at up to 2000, many not from Bolton - seems unlikely to me, there'll be some, but way short of that... They also warn that the aftermath coul linger into the evening with our 'welcome' visitors and their opponents seeking each other out... Have advised students to keep out of town...

The police suggest about 800 supporters of Unite against Fascism may be present to exercise their right to freedom of speech in opposition to them... It's quite likely (though the police don't say this, i think so) that these will be enhanced by militants seeking a confrontation...

If there was a way to guarantee a peaceful protest against this despicable pond life I'd take it, and advocate it... but i think there's little chance of that, and I'm not going into town myself...

I guess the only comment I'd make WtW is that the EDL, in a democracy should be able to state their case.

It's up to the electorate to then judge whether it's persuasive enough. It's not right (in my opinion) for others to surpress the case they want to make.

I personally think that all views should have a platform to be discussed, even though I'd discount many of them on a personal level.

Is there anything I've said that disagrees with that?

Not that I can see good sir.

I should probably have done a respond rather than a quote

Point I'm making is, as a society, I don't believe (generally) we should censor viewpoints, rather we should discuss them. Minute you start censoring, then how's it different from the perception of what "Communist Russia" did?

[Lord Kangana]

Feck, I'm not sitting on the fence. I hope they show themselves up for the knobheads they are by causing a riot. Its 2010, I wish we'd stop travelling backwards with this bullshit.

[finlayson]

"Despicable Pond Life"

I support the EDL's main objective of removing Islamic fundamentalism from our nation. As I would Christian/Jewish fundamentalism.

Am I Pond Life for being pround of my country and it's traditions?

I would never attend a EDL event as these public protests get infiltrated by the lunatic fringe.

"I disagree with what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it."

[William the White]

Do we know what time this is kicking-off (pun intended)? Perhaps better still, do we know when it's likely to be over? I could do with nipping into town, Sat'di.

The stuff we've had today - all staff, and, i think, all students at the Uni - is that they expect the ranks of the 'EDL' to be swollen by what the police call 'football risk' suppprters - that is football followers essentially looking for trouble. The police estimate possible numbers of these at up to 2000, many not from Bolton - seems unlikely to me, there'll be some, but way short of that... They also warn that the aftermath coul linger into the evening with our 'welcome' visitors and their opponents seeking each other out... Have advised students to keep out of town...

The police suggest about 800 supporters of Unite against Fascism may be present to exercise their right to freedom of speech in opposition to them... It's quite likely (though the police don't say this, i think so) that these will be enhanced by militants seeking a confrontation...

If there was a way to guarantee a peaceful protest against this despicable pond life I'd take it, and advocate it... but i think there's little chance of that, and I'm not going into town myself...

I guess the only comment I'd make WtW is that the EDL, in a democracy should be able to state their case.

It's up to the electorate to then judge whether it's persuasive enough. It's not right (in my opinion) for others to surpress the case they want to make.

I personally think that all views should have a platform to be discussed, even though I'd discount many of them on a personal level.

Is there anything I've said that disagrees with that?

Not that I can see good sir.

I should probably have done a respond rather than a quote

Point I'm making is, as a society, I don't believe (generally) we should censor viewpoints, rather we should discuss them. Minute you start censoring, then how's it different from the perception of what "Communist Russia" did?

Pretty wholehearted in agreement with that - it's made me unpopular on this Forum when I've pointed out the rights of Luton islamists to demonstrate against the anglia regiment...

There are limits - inevitably - and the EDL is likely to come close to transgressing those by indulging in hate speech and threatening behaviour, complete with the always charming Nazi salutes...

But, yes, stalinist russia, was a vile, murderous regime and a stain on the whole idea of socialism... I know you would make the same point of any other tyranny... and so would I...

[Worthy4England]

Feck, I'm not sitting on the fence. I hope they show themselves up for the knobheads they are by causing a riot. Its 2010, I wish we'd stop travelling backwards with this bullshit.

We're not travelling backwards - that's why it need the platform.

My personal belief is that many prejudices haven't gone away.

Censoring the viewpoint actually won't help it go away.

The viewpoint will not be altered by just pretending it's not there.

[Lord Kangana]

Theres a joke in there about putting the mental into fundamentalist. But I can't be arsed. I'm not scared by voodoo, shadows or the dark.

[Lord Kangana]

Feck, I'm not sitting on the fence. I hope they show themselves up for the knobheads they are by causing a riot. Its 2010, I wish we'd stop travelling backwards with this bullshit.

We're not travelling backwards - that's why it need the platform.

My personal belief is that many prejudices haven't gone away.

Censoring the viewpoint actually won't help it go away.

The viewpoint will not be altered by just pretending it's not there.

I'm not after censorship, I hope they smash the town centre up. It needs a facelift.

[William the White]

"Despicable Pond Life"

I support the EDL's main objective of removing Islamic fundamentalism from our nation. As I would Christian/Jewish fundamentalism.

Am I Pond Life for being pround of my country and it's traditions?

I would never attend a EDL event as these public protests get infiltrated by the lunatic fringe.

"I disagree with what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it."

I await your plan of action against christian fundamentalism with bated breath... how many rallies so far?

The EDL is a specifically anti-moslem organisation... And i don't buy the 'oppositon to fundamentalism' bit... these guys are racists, xenophobes, and they operate in the shadow of gas chambers... There's an efficient way of removing Islamic fundamentalism...

I didn't call you 'pond life' - i don't know you, and have no way of knowing what you mean by our country's history and traditions... you call it 'my' - but it's mine as much as yours - Some are worthy of pride, others more suited to shame, in my view...

In any case, judging from your last comment, you support, to the death, my right to call the EDL 'pond life'?

[Worthy4England]

Pretty wholehearted in agreement with that - it's made me unpopular on this Forum when I've pointed out the rights of Luton islamists to demonstrate against the anglia regiment...

There are limits - inevitably - and the EDL is likely to come close to transgressing those by indulging in hate speech and threatening behaviour, complete with the always charming Nazi salutes...

But, yes, stalinist russia, was a vile, murderous regime and a stain on the whole idea of socialism... I know you would make the same point of any other tyranny... and so would I...

I guess I should temper my comments a liitle, in that I'm not in favour of "hate speech" from any side of the debate, demonstration I'm fine with. I'd much rather reasoned debate around the perceived problems (or if you're American "issues").

I do think that there's a significant proportion of the population of our country that have particular views on the current levels of immigration (I'm not putting that particluar point forwards as a "colour" argument) and our ever increasing multi-culturalism (which to many is the difference between white and black so a racist viewpoint). It might go underground, but my perception is that it isn't shifting much - people won't bring their innermost thoughts up in general conversation, but they haven't changed them, they just don't openly discuss them - and maybe some of that is demographically/geographically based.

The enlightened and educated can pretend it will resolve itself, but I'm personally sceptical in the short term. I think it'll take much longer.

[Athers]

When i was up in Edinburgh the other week I bumped into a protest by UAF against the Scottish Defence League who were apparently holding a meeting in a hotel in the city centre.

UAF were anything but a 'football risk' - lots of students, women etc and they just walked around peacefully from what I could tell. Don't think the SDL got out onto the streets as like I say, just a meeting not their own demo.

Don't think there was any trouble like there supposedly was in Manchester, but that was probably because the entire police force of Scotland and Northern England was standing around the city centre.

[BWFC_Insane]

"Despicable Pond Life"

I support the EDL's main objective of removing Islamic fundamentalism from our nation. As I would Christian/Jewish fundamentalism.

Am I Pond Life for being pround of my country and it's traditions?

I would never attend a EDL event as these public protests get infiltrated by the lunatic fringe.

"I disagree with what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it."

I await your plan of action against christian fundamentalism with bated breath... how many rallies so far?

The EDL is a specifically anti-moslem organisation... And i don't buy the 'oppositon to fundamentalism' bit... these guys are racists, xenophobes, and they operate in the shadow of gas chambers... There's an efficient way of removing Islamic fundamentalism...

I didn't call you 'pond life' - i don't know you, and have no way of knowing what you mean by our country's history and traditions... you call it 'my' - but it's mine as much as yours - Some are worthy of pride, others more suited to shame, in my view...

In any case, judging from your last comment, you support, to the death, my right to call the EDL 'pond life'?

Well said WtW. They are IMO "pond life".

I love the way that Islamic fundamentalism has now become the equivalent of the "boogieman". There are nutters on both sides but take that away and I think most people just want to get on with things.

I love the image of "old" England that some people seem to have of picnics on the village green where everyone knew everyone else, there was no crime, people walked to work and there were no dirty muslims or paedo's to ruin everything!