As I hear of an EDL march taking place on a Saturday in Walsall town, I am eager to attend and to document my first hand experience of something I hear a lot of in the news. With individuals such as Tommy Robinson, Former EDL leader, hitting the headlines as often as a weather report, I am curious to discover what an EDL rally is all about.
Before the arrival of the English Defence League, the crowd of people are filled with individuals of all races and ages carrying an army of signs displaying comments such as 'No To Racism' being followed by the welcoming of Refugees.
Anti-Racism group
It wasn't long before the arrival of the infamous EDL as they came storming through with their barbaric and cocky attitude to be met by the opposition , which I now know are an anti-racism campaign. Shouting and chanting their name infectious within the group, flying their flags high as the group grows into a wall of noise being confronted by the Walsall Police Force and Liaison Officers, splitting the groups into two.
Arrival of the EDL
The Anti-Racism Campaign stood strong although being faced with verbal abuse and vulgar hand gestures. As I am stood between the two groups, trying to capture both sides I am also faced with abuse from certain members of the EDL, not shy to tell me what they thought of my camera.
Both sides, flying their opinions and shouting their opinions across a wall of banners and police officers, were thought to be split 50/50. An EDL member had sneaked through the oppositions crowd to jump on a bench, grab hold of a banner and shout the EDL chant before viciously Ripping down the banner apposing his ideology.
EDL 'member'
After seeing the attitude of the group compared to their calm and collected leader Tommy Robinson, It was this that made me realise that maybe the EDL aren't who they try to be. Instead are just a group of thugs, looking for an excuse for an argument.
Both sides use megaphones to passionately convey the reasons behind why they are here. Many comments are against Islam and the recent child sex abuse cases that have occurred in places like Telford and past incidences in Rotherham. The majority, maybe even the whole EDL argument was against Islam and so called 'Terror Enablers'. With comments from certain members going as far as to yell " You all want to suck Islamic c**k", Which left the majority shocked and disgusted.
The day quickly turned heated as the two groups consistently threw comments back and forth, purposely offending the other. I felt the anger from the EDL as a full can of beer was thrown into the air, landing on myself, covering me and my camera.
As the time passed the EDL moved on, with a once again aggressive chant of their own name as they passed through Walsall leaving the remains of the alcohol and food they had consumed whilst there.
Words & Images By Connor Walker