English Defence League.
Does anyone know much about these? Only I'm shooting their demo on Saturday, and apart from their website, and Wikipedia, can't find much about them.
They SAY they're not racist. Fair enough, their website has a vid of them burning the Swastika flag.
Then again, I think Nick Griffin has accused them of being racist.
Then again, they have black guys as members.
Then again, am I being a bleeding heart white liberal in assuming only the white race can be bigots?
Then again, they say they're only against extremism, and have moderate Muslims as members.
And I must admit, I find some parts of extreme Islam - shooting women through the head for not wearing burkas, and calling on death to cartoonists - a tad unreasonable. Then again, Allah said to take one life is to take the life of all. Or something like that.
Then again I try to believe in the right of free speech, no matter how offensive and nasty it is. It's generally more interesting.
Then again...Oh fuck it. Any views/information?
(Bear Pookie The Frankly Challenged. Halloween is coming to town., Wed 7 Oct 2009, 17:31, 10 replies, latest was 16 years ago)

I've read about them in the Luton Press
It seems to be some form of group that wants to stop islamic extremism in England and Wales. I do not know why it exists, or how it can work. The moderate behaviour and view points it stands for will soon be swept away by the extreme English, who I despise as much as any extremist.

I'll take a wild stab in the dark, but their all a bunch of loonies. Much better to ignore them.

Just had a thought from Reggie Perrin. When Jimmy, the nutty army brother in law is thinking of starting a secret army to save our way of life. Reggie lists all the different people he will attract. Fascist, Communist, Anarchists, Crypto Fascists, Crypto Communists, Skinheads, hells angels, etc etc. All in an attempt to show Jimmy the sort of people who will want to join. With this great list of followers, jimmy just thinks that it is great he will attract so many people, rather than the quality of the people.

It is much funnier in the programme, sorry. My point though is, all extremism is bad no matter from where.
( Bartleby A dead man on vacation, Wed 7 Oct 2009, 17:58, Reply)

They "say" they aren't racist or violent
but a large number of the people rioting in Birmingham City Centre in the name of the EDF are football fans with convictions for violence, and it has been reported that a number of them are members of the BNP too. Lets face it, with a name like the English Defence League and the fact that all of their demonstrations have descended into riots, it doesn't take a genius to work out that they probably aren't the most kosher of people.
(Bazongaloid, Wed 7 Oct 2009, 18:07, Reply)

And not the most halal of people either.
Sorry.
(Bear Pookie The Frankly Challenged. Halloween is coming to town., Wed 7 Oct 2009, 18:11, Reply)

All that said of course
as you say, they are perfectly within their rights to say what they want, and just because you film or photograph them or whatever doesn't mean you have to agree with their views, I'm sure lots of people who work in security for the various party political conferences don't agree with the party they are working for, doesn't stop them doing it.
(Bazongaloid, Wed 7 Oct 2009, 18:15, Reply)

Agree
The Voltaire quote sort of applies: "I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it".
(lkjshaglkasjdhglkhjz lkcvl; g;aodh;owih, Thu 8 Oct 2009, 8:31, Reply)

Oh, I say!

( Noeli overtheshoulderboulderholderthingstraplatchboobs, Wed 7 Oct 2009, 19:08, Reply)

there was a thing on radio 4 about them
they sounded like the stupid angry wing of the bnp , but are clearly not linked in any electoral way , your job your call etc but Im not sure I would want to make them look good
( fudboy high ideals and crazy dreams, Wed 7 Oct 2009, 18:47, Reply)

Nah.
It's for my own thing, not job related this one; I tend to shoot anything that happens locally.
I did the Afro Caribbean carnival, but I ain't black!
(Bear Pookie The Frankly Challenged. Halloween is coming to town., Wed 7 Oct 2009, 19:54, Reply)

only a matter of time
before they have a solution for the Jew problem that had blighted England for so long.
(knackerz is skinning up, Thu 8 Oct 2009, 1:12, Reply)

They're a dodgy lot...
Not had dealings with them directly, but a colleague has and they seem to be made up primarily of people in and associated with the football hooligan firms. Chances are they'll be well behaved in public but be warned; they are generally made up of thugs and other not very nice people...
( TheMattInAHat has a particular... odour..., Thu 8 Oct 2009, 22:02, Reply)