I witnessed what happened at an EDL (English Defence League) demonstration a couple of years ago. They came face to face with a mixed assembly of groups, mostly Asian, who were taking an opposite stand. The police did a good job at keeping the two factions a few feet apart, and at one point they called the leaders together to give them a briefing on how the processions were to advance. I was able to see clearly what occurred. These people - the leaders of the two main factions - right-wing skinhead types, and their opponents, the Socialist Worker anti-fascist types were actually on friendly terms - they had that matey, mock insulting manner with each other - the sort of banter you see at any bar in town. The police also seemed to be on the same wavelength - it was as if you could interchange them. I kept this in mind as the demonstration continued. The English yobs started throwing beer cans at the masses of Pakistani marchers - who behaved with restraint. There was a lot of shouting and abuse - but I looked at the leaders, the ones shouting the loudest, and I knew that their anger and rhetoric was synthetic. It was all a game to the leaders and their followers just went along with it - believing what they were told.
Posted on: Tue, 29 Jul 2014 19:21:23 +0000