EDL march met by counter-demonstration

Coventry was host to two demonstrations on 21 May. The English Defence League (EDL) carried out a police-escorted protest march whilst United Against Fascism (UAF) held a counter-demonstration.

The EDL supporters marched from Litten Tree Pub to Speaker’s Corner, outside the Council House, where speeches were made.

Items on the EDL agenda included child grooming, electoral fraud, immigration and the radicalisation of people to join groups such as the Islamic State. Phrases like “E, E, EDL” and “I’m English till I die” were chanted.

Although the UAF protesters believe that only about 100 people took part in the EDL demonstration, officials have estimated a group of over 220.

Phrases like “E, E, EDL” and “I’m English till I die” were chanted.

The UAF counter-protest took place in Broadgate with an estimated 300 protesters. This demonstration kicked off at about 12.30pm. Members of Coventry UAF, the Socialist Party and the Socialist Workers Party were present.

The demonstration took shape through many mediums; music performed by Coventry band Ruder Than U, poetry and speeches.

The speeches focused mainly on showing Coventry’s unity as a city of many cultures, and thus the need to oppose the EDL.

One representative spoke out: “It is a sad day and an uplifting day. Sad because the EDL are trying to spread their poisonous division, but uplifting because so many people have come here today to say no to the EDL.”

The counter-demonstration. Image: Hattie Rowan

Another representative, James from Coventry UAF, reminded the public that “this city was built on the sweat and the tears of the hard labour of people from all over the world.”

A member from Birmingham UAF urged the crowd not make themselves a “soft target” by leaving the demonstration early, or the EDL will continue to return to Coventry. He expressed the necessity of boycotting EDL events.

The counter-demonstration crowd chanted alternatively: “EDL, go to Hell”, “Black and white, unite and fight. Smash the EDL” and “Say it loud, say it clear, refugees are welcome here”.

The counter-demonstration crowd chanted alternatively: “EDL, go to Hell”, “Black and white, unite and fight. Smash the EDL” and “Say it loud, say it clear, refugees are welcome here”.

An estimated 100 policemen were spread between both demonstration sites. Their main concern was not to let the different groups meet in case of violence.

A helicopter circled the area to ensure that no protesters from either group were sneaking past the ground police in an attempt to meet the opposing demonstration.

Several Warwick Students’ Union sabbatical officers were present at the counter-demonstration.

Luke Pilot, Welfare and Campaigns Officer, expressed that he ‘found the demonstration disappointing. Keeping the counter-demonstration separate from the EDL’s march and preventing a march in opposition completely undermined any anti-fascist activists who wanted to actually oppose this vile, fascist group.

‘The counter-protest was kept far away enough such that their chants could not even be heard where the EDL held their demonstration. What EDL spokespeople said and the signs they held contained the most vile, racist vitriol I have ever encountered and unfortunately they went completely unchallenged on Saturday.’