The Many Ways of Protesting Against the EDL

bristol | protests | opinion/analysis Monday July 09, 2012 23:39 by DiverseViewz

With the EDL coming to Bristol on Saturday, we must not forget all those against them are all fighting their repulsive and unwelcome views and their intolerance. 

The wide range and diversity of people against the EDL means we all react differently to things and choose to act against the EDL in different ways. Whilst we may disagree on which day to march, politics or how to protest, we all agree that WE DO NOT WELCOME THE EDL TO BRISTOL and we value the diverse, multicultural and tolerant nature of our city.

Over 2,000 people have signed a petition asking for the EDL to be banned from marching in the city, but others who are equally against the EDL and who do not welcome or want them here, are concerned about the process of banning marches and it’s greater implications for free speech. We must remember despite our different opinions on this we are together in opposing the EDL.

Fear is affecting some people who are against the EDL, concerned that things may escalate violently, this does not make them cowards and they are still part of the mass of people against the EDL in Bristol and they should be welcomed to protest or stand up against the EDL in a way that they feel able to.

Some people will attend counter-protests against the EDL on the day, to show that people in Bristol do not agree with them and so that their repulsive and unwelcome views will not go unchallenged. But other people plan to attend Gay Pride and celebrate our liberal tolerant society this way,  yet others have made a concious decision to go ahead with their day as a form of protest, showing the EDL they are not affecting their lives and do not have power over them.

Some people plan to join a peace march planned for the next day, intending to show that Bristol is peaceful, and to deny the EDL a confrontational experience many believe they want, whilst showing the unity and solidarity for peace in Bristol. Others think this is ‘letting the EDL get away with it’ or conversely the timing is ‘giving the EDL too much prominence’.

As well as marches and possibly direct action, there are people writing letters to their MP’s and to their councillors, to the newspapers and writing online voicing their disagreement with the EDL. Also a group of knitters are protesting the EDL by putting up a yarnbomb (form of knitted sculpture) in central Bristol, to celebrate cultural diversity.

With a diverse range of people being brought together in our shared digust and disagreement with the EDL’s repulsive views, a beautiful diversity of ways of opposing and protesting should be expected. Let's support each other and share our creative and diverse actions.

With all these people opposing the EDL, in all these various ways, we can stand strong, together in our diversity, for a multicultural, tolerant and accepting society in Bristol.