And the authorities think this is peaceful and legitimate?

posted by: Nick Lowles | on: Sunday, 15 August 2010, 09:11

As the police ponder whether to ignore the will of the people of Bradford and allow the English Defence League to parade their hatred through the streets of the city perhaps Assistant Chief Constable Mark Gilmore, who is making the decision, should watch the latest EDL video, posted yesterday.

In a rallying call for supporters to descend on Bradford, the EDL video makes it plain that the racist hooligans are seeking a confrontation.

“The Battle for Britain is about to begin” announces the opening frame of the film, before zeroing in on a map of Bradford. There then follows still images from the 2001 Bradford riots, accompanied by the words “As we march into the lion’s den”.

The police insist that they cannot act against the EDL when they have static demos but the next minute or two or the film depicts EDL supporters marching ‘under police escort’ at different events across the country during what are supposed to be static protests.

We are then told: “Make no mistake, this is no walk in the park. We will be outnumbered and in unfriendly territory but we shall prove ourselves once again to defend our island home to ride out the storm of war, and to outlive the menace of tyranny.”

This video comes only days after the EDL leadership issued an instruction to local groups to not bring women to Bradford because of the likelihood of trouble.

The film ends with a scene of the confrontation from the Crusades and the words “No Surrender.”

So this is the peaceful, law-abiding EDL that the police seem to think have a right to march ahead of the will of the people of Bradford who they are supposed to protect and serve.