The summer of 2021 has been marred by shameful riots and the resurgence of the English Defence League (EDL), bringing back memories of an unpleasant encounter I had with the group back in 2010. It was late at night, and I found myself on a bus replacement service at Royston when five beer-soaked men dressed in faux-paramilitary gear boarded the coach. Their presence was immediately intimidating, as they filled the air with obscenities and hateful chants of “Muslims out!”.
What struck me as odd was the banners they carried, proclaiming the EDL’s support for Israel and their alleged solidarity with gay pride. These seemed like strange bedfellows for the thuggish behavior I was witnessing. The atmosphere on the bus grew tense as they targeted a young woman, trying to coerce her into reading a crude joke aloud from a phone. A middle-aged man attempted to intervene, only to be met with threats of violence from the ringleader.
Fueled by a mix of anger and grief (it was the anniversary of my mother’s death), I found the courage to stand up to the bullies. I confronted them, questioning their behavior and appealing to their sense of decency by mentioning their mothers. Surprisingly, this tactic worked, and the ringleader began to open up about their motivations. They were former football hooligans from King’s Lynn who had found a new outlet for their aggression in the EDL, led by Tommy Robinson.
It was revealed that they had been funded to travel to London for an anti-Muslim protest, orchestrated by controversial figures with ties to extremist groups. This revelation prompted me to reach out to a friend working in Prevent, the government body tasked with combating homegrown terrorism. She assured me that the security forces were monitoring the situation closely.
Reflecting on this encounter, I am reminded that protests and riots are not always the result of genuine grievances from ordinary people. There are often bad actors manipulating vulnerable individuals to further their own agendas. However, there is hope in the form of unexpected heroes – like middle-aged women who refuse to back down in the face of injustice.
In conclusion, my encounter with the EDL serves as a stark reminder of the dangers posed by extremist groups and the importance of vigilance in combating hate and violence. It also highlights the power of individuals, regardless of age or gender, to stand up against injustice and make a difference in their communities.
