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Recent articles by An observant bus driver
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Recent Articles about Bristol ProtestsChina, capitalism and class struggle May 18 13 EDL confronted in Old Market bristol |
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 Sunday July 15, 2012 19:29 by An observant bus driver
 Yesterday, following the EDL march in Bristol, a sizeable group of EDL supporters were confronted by antifascists outside a pub on Old Market. Reports that a large number of EDL members had congregated in the Long Bar on Old Market Street were confirmed when a pissed-up group outside began to hurl abuse and insults at random passers-by who they presumed were 'opposition.' Beknown to them, there was a crew of around 40 antifascists just around the corner... The EDL group seemed surprised as the antifascists approached them at speed, responding by launching a number of bottles, cans and pint glasses. A load of the group inside the pub just watched from the window, apparently bolting the door behind their mates who were outside. The two police officers initially present were left in the middle of a volatile situation, helplessly running around swinging batons and shouting. A couple of people went to ground and at least one of the EDL felt the true extent of local opposition. Another of their number was apparently overheard pleading with a copper, shouting "why aren't you stopping them?" The stand-off lasted for a few minutes, with rocks, bricks and even a breeze block thrown between the two sides. As police riot vans arrived, the antifascists made good their escape. The EDL group were not so quick off the mark, getting stopped and having their details taken by the filth around the corner.
One EDL supporter had this to say on the facebook event page for the demo: Ricky Howell: "it went right off in old market an hour ago, everyone outside long bar got attacked by a load of scruffy fuckers with bricks, bottles and lumps of wood......loads of edl just stayed in the pub and watched while a hand full of use fought with them and just about held our own!!!!!! not on we should of all stood together, some people got all the gob but no bottle when the shit hits the fan.....you know who you are!!" Chris Rasher Bacon: "all ok?" Ricky Howell: "not really, one of ours got his face bit, another had a bit of a kicking as there were so many of them and he went to the ground......just shocking how so many stood in pub and watched out of the window,we were out numbered and they were tooled up." A youtube video from the Gas Hit Squad (Bristol Rovers football hooligan firm) has since gone up online, claiming to show them 'Chasing Antifa and UAF out of Old Market.' The 41-second video actually shows a very small proportion of the events; the two groups moving back, forth and across the road as cops arrive, and nobody getting 'chased off' as they claim. Despite all of the machismo and arm-waving, this was certainly no victory for the EDL. They were made aware that not all of their opposition will just walk on by when they abuse and threaten, and that some are more than willing to play them at their own game. |
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Screenshot from EDL Bristol March event page on facebook
When they shouted "wankers" at the three of us as we passed the long bar, bet they weren't expecting 30 to come legging it round the corner in response.
The Long bar is marked now.
from about 5:20 of stuff on oldmarket http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qmSux3Xd3-8&feature=yout....be&a
Shows EDL charging in then running away again, pretty much fits in with the description above (two sides charging then falling back, rather than anyone being 'chased'), assuming from what the EDL posted on facbeook that more police than pictured must have shown up (to kettle them round the corner and chase off the 'UAF')
Also not entirely sure all those fighting are actually edl activsts, looks more like the football hooligan types that sometimes drink around there who were just like 'ooo a fight'.
Before anyone says that most of the football types are sympathetic with the EDL on the way back fro a rovers game we were contained by police at a train station, a few fuckers started chanting 'E E E D L' but were told to stop being wankers by the majority and shut up pretty quick.
As a customer of the Long Bar I would like to make it very clear that myself and the people I associate with in this pub regard the EDL and their ilk as fascist scum.
Apparently it was the work of the GHS (Gas Hit Squad) at the Long bar. In my experience a lot of the firms are racist - I was a season ticket holder who used to drink in 3 lions etc and most of the city lot (the ones who fight) hold a lot of similar views to EDL, obviously love a scrap and tend to go on sickening rants about 'pĪkis'
Im a bit confused? You can clearly see a black lad with the EDL lot. I thought they were racists???
Because Black people can't be racist?
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/racism
why have comments been removed that show a different side to the story?
let people read views and make there own mind up rather than hiding things that dont suit your own view..
(not that you will bother putting this on !)
Before maligning the Three Lions pub keep it factual. Pub regulars are black, the pub features pictures of sportsmen who are black. Indeed one of the pubs barmen is obvioulsy not anglo saxon. Hardly a hotbed of racism.
Bristol Citys firm have always been multi racial and appear to have little time for the EDL.
Has the video shows there was a black lad with this mob of edl and the above poster shows that you can be black and racist. Considering the EDl are against islamic extremism the above comments don't really make a difference. I thought the edl were supposed to be homophobes as well but there were gay and transexual members marching with them on saturday.
They were plenty homophobic to me when I showed up. I wonder why?
Who needs the EDL?
EDL view
That was the pub that a group of drunken people came out of to racially abuse people on the Dignity for Asylum Seekers march a few weekends ago.