I don’t like photographing the EDL, and they certainly don’t like being photographed, but I think it is important that their activities are recorded, and I try to do so with care and accuracy. If they emerge from my pictures or text looking bad, it isn’t because of how I photograph them, but because of what they say and do.
I didn’t set this picture up, but just started taking pictures of the group drinking in the beer garden of the pub in Chelmsford a couple of weeks ago from the street outside. When one of the other people I was taking pictures of complained to a police officer about me photographing him without his consent, I was pleased that the officer told him that I have every right to photograph, whether he wanted to have his picture taken or not. Though after I had taken a few pictures he did ask me very politely if I would mind moving away as it was getting them worked up (I could be wrong when I remember him saying I was disturbing the animals.) I’d taken several pictures like the above, and didn’t think I would get anything more so I was happy to oblige.
As I walked past the small group of EDL around the pub door, one of them pointed me out to the others and said “He’s OK” while pointing out another photographer walking with me as someone who should be chased away. It isn’t up to them to decide who should and shouldn’t be allowed to photograph them.
But perhaps because of this, later, when I moved close to the banner at the front of the march I wasn’t asked to move away, although other photographers had been cleared across the road by the police. Though I think it was really more my ability to merge with the background and be unobtrusive when I want to.
Eventually the march moved off, and I photographed as it went past me. One rather large man walked towards me, though I wasn’t too worried as there were several police within a couple of yards. He moved in close and said “I hope all your family die of cancer.”
I stopped to note down his exact words and then continued to photograph. Unlike most marches where I like to get in the middle of things, I had to work largely from the pavement, as I was getting some pretty hostile comments as I was working. Fortunately their was some good lighting and I think some of the pictures work well.
I didn’t have my voice recorder running during the event, but what I heard from many on the protest seemed to me to be full of hate against Muslims (and photographers!)
As the front of the march reached the turning for their rally outside the town hall I went back to the centre of the shopping district where ‘Essex Unite Against Fascism’ had been holding their rally, noticing on my way that the police had sealed off the area with some high fencing and large cordons. The counter-march was all ready to go, but was being held until the EDL were safely surrounded by police.
There were just over three times as many people, and a huge difference in atmosphere. Rather than hate it was a welcome that came out from the crowd, with everyone pleased to talk and be photographed and looking so much happier. And everyone was entirely sober. It was a pleasure to photograph them rather than a duty.
Of course there was some anger expressed in some of the Essex UAF’s chants, such as “E-D-L go to hell! Take your Nazi mates as well!” and “Follow your leader, shoot yourself like Adolf Hitler!” but the second at least was shouted with a certain humour, with some breaking into laughter afterwards. Other chants were more affirmative, such as “We’re black, white, Asian and we’re Jew!”
I think my text and pictures on EDL Outnumbered in Chelmsford portray both groups accurately, although the view of the EDL is perhaps too kind to them, and I perhaps did a better job of making good images. Sometimes a little of a challenge helps.
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My London Diary : Buildings of London : River Lea/Lee Valley : London’s Industrial Heritage
All photographs on this and my other sites, unless otherwise stated are by Peter Marshall and are available for reproduction or can be bought as prints.
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