I have my disagreements with the English Defence League, but have tried despite these to cover their London events as objectively as I can. Some of them at least realise this and so I was able to cover the event with relatively little harassment compared to some of the other photographers present. Several of the EDL stewards were supportive, and I only had a couple of minor problems, which were soon resolved. At one point a woman did start shouting at me, telling me to get on the other side of the road, but I simply walked away into the crowd of EDL and I think one of the stewards had a brief word with her.
Handing out placards to the marchers
The meeting place for the march had to be changed at the last minute as the pub they had planned to use had decided to remain closed when it learnt they were coming there. Perhaps this was why I arrived at the event rather earlier than the other photographers and for around twenty minutes or so was the only photographer on the pavement with the protesters drinking outside the pub. Of course we all like to get pictures that other people don’t but there are also times when you welcome the support of colleagues.
Rabbi Nachum Shifren with EDL supporters
Much of that time I was talking to the EDL members, and although most were happy to be photographed (and quite a few insisted on posing for me) I spent much of the time being questioned about the way that the press in general treats the EDL, concentrating on acts of violence and pictures showing some of their more extreme members. I tried to suggest to them that rather than blaming or attacking the photographers they should make sure there was no violence or other extremism to be photographed.
The EDL supports gay rights
The EDL are also pained at being labelled racists and were keen to point out that they will not allow racism and that they support gay rights, and there were several placards making this clear.
Later some of the same people I’d been talking fairly sensibly with were among those baiting several of my colleagues and were making threats at another photographer until a police officer came and stood between them.
It was the speeches which upset me most on this occasion. I find the stand they have taken over Israel and their opposition to the Palestinian people hard to understand, and they seem to me to go deeply against our British traditions of fair play and support for the underdog. There really does seem to be a failure to distinguish between opposition to extremist Muslims – which I share – and opposition to all Muslims, particularly those who live in this country and most of whom are now our citizens. One of the guys I talked to outside the pub told me that Muslims may live here but they are not and never can be English. I had to disagree.
You can read my account of the march and rally opposite the Israeli embassy in London on 14 October – with many more pictures – on My London Diary.
