MEN journalists reported live from the scene as a demonstration by the English Defence League was met by protesters from Unite Against Fascism.
Read what happened as the protests unfolded by launching the event below.
EDL protest in Manchester as it happened
October 07, 2009
Read what happened as the protests unfolded by launching the event below.
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We live an a democrocy and whilst we might not like what people say we must stand by the right of people to say it, you start playing a very risky game when you start picking and choosing who can and cant protest. But sadly im sure this is going to turn out badly on both sides as this is going to turn in to a fight between to groups of young men looking for a fight.
We must tell Manchester that their racism is not welcome
Weyman UAF,
Your comment is labelling 'Manchester' as racist. I, and I am sure many others, take offence at that. We live in Manchester, the majority of us are NOT racist. There are sadly racists in many part of the UK, but to say that you have to 'Tell Manchester that their racism is not welcome' just shows you're either naive or arrogant, or a bit of both.
Please don't label Manchester and it's residents as being racist.
Your comment is labelling 'Manchester' as racist. I, and I am sure many others, take offence at that. We live in Manchester, the majority of us are NOT racist. There are sadly racists in many part of the UK, but to say that you have to 'Tell Manchester that their racism is not welcome' just shows you're either naive or arrogant, or a bit of both.
Please don't label Manchester and it's residents as being racist.
i dont even know why they have allowed a protest like this to go ahead..this just shows that RACIST people are allowed to do what they want and when they want..RACIST PEOPLE ARE NOTHING BUT SCUM.,..they need to be chucked OUT!!!
Manchester is all about PEACE not war...
A even minded person, like me would say that racists should not be tolarated at all and I would also say the same about islamic fudametalism both of these things are almost oposite sides of the same coin, both are intolorant narrow minded, homophobic, and often violant and this country would be better of without both!
As a non-resident and, therefore, a complete outsider I'd like to postulate the following:
England permits demonstrations?
EDL organises and advertises a demo?
Seems completely lawful to me, so far.
UAF then pitch-up to stop this lawful demonstration?
Who's breaking the law here?
Let me take it a stage further. If I were an EDL supporter at this demo and I was forcefully restrained by UAF members from engaging in a lawful pursuit, why would I be subject to arrest for resisting intimidation and assualt?
Prima facie, seems there is no doubt that UAF are the troublemakers.
So why aren't police arresting them, removing the cause and permitting EDL to continue with their lawful purpose?
Perhaps police should be reminded that 'political correctness' does not override law.
England permits demonstrations?
EDL organises and advertises a demo?
Seems completely lawful to me, so far.
UAF then pitch-up to stop this lawful demonstration?
Who's breaking the law here?
Let me take it a stage further. If I were an EDL supporter at this demo and I was forcefully restrained by UAF members from engaging in a lawful pursuit, why would I be subject to arrest for resisting intimidation and assualt?
Prima facie, seems there is no doubt that UAF are the troublemakers.
So why aren't police arresting them, removing the cause and permitting EDL to continue with their lawful purpose?
Perhaps police should be reminded that 'political correctness' does not override law.
Giving a rabble of football hooligans the right to free speech makes a mockery of the whole idea.
The trouble is caused by the yobs from the so called Unite Against Fascism. If they stayed away this would be a nonevent. In the '70's and '80's they where known as Rent A Mob. anywhere and any cause so long as there is a fight. The UAF are the real nazis. Total scum
K-man, wilmslow road, Manchester
What is this going to achieve,mosques are still going to get built anyway EDL are just sad narrow minded people who have no lifes, i am muslim and we are also against extremism its just a very small minority who are extreme minded, England can have their own law and we respect that, sharia law is whithin our religion and only for muslims to follow.
What is this going to achieve,mosques are still going to get built anyway EDL are just sad narrow minded people who have no lifes, i am muslim and we are also against extremism its just a very small minority who are extreme minded, England can have their own law and we respect that, sharia law is whithin our religion and only for muslims to follow.
K-man, wilmslow road, Manchester
What is this going to achieve,mosques are still going to get built anyway EDL are just sad narrow minded people who have no lifes, i am muslim and we are also against extremism its just a very small minority who are extreme minded, England can have their own law and we respect that, sharia law is whithin our religion and only for muslims to follow.
What is this going to achieve,mosques are still going to get built anyway EDL are just sad narrow minded people who have no lifes, i am muslim and we are also against extremism its just a very small minority who are extreme minded, England can have their own law and we respect that, sharia law is whithin our religion and only for muslims to follow.
Weyman. We must tell Manchester that terrorism isn't welcome!
Weyman, UAF
I'm not sure how old you are but freedom of speech has long been valued in this country.
What the UAF have done today is inflammatory and insulting to that freedom of speech we hold so dear.
I do not agree with the EDL but I also think Sharia law has no place in this country. I also think that muslim extremism needs to be tackled more publicy, rather than politicians avoiding the subject like the plague.
It is not for you and your group, may of whom are the hobby protesters you see at all the left of centre events, to decree what is suitable for public consumption and what is not.
We have laws for that and any racist chanting would result in arrests. The people of Manchester did not need protecting by you today, we have a long history in this city of democracy, starting at Peterloo (Google it)and we don't need our minds protecting as we are very capable of coming to our own conclusions.
Your action today has cost the people of Manchester many thousands of pounds at a time when we can least afford it.
The EDL protest should have been allowed to go ahead unchallenged, it is for the public to make their own minds up. The majority of the public would ignore them.
I am also confused as a major aspect of facism is suppression of dissent and anyone or anything who doesn't agree with the state. Facism takes away freedom of speech.
As you are a member of United Against Facism (UAF) and today your group have displayed facist qualities, perhaps you care to explain this?
Perhaps you care to explain why your group concludes the people of Manchester are not able to come to their own conclusions?
And please don't bring out the racist chanting, as however distastful that is - it is for the police to deal with and not you.
I'm not sure how old you are but freedom of speech has long been valued in this country.
What the UAF have done today is inflammatory and insulting to that freedom of speech we hold so dear.
I do not agree with the EDL but I also think Sharia law has no place in this country. I also think that muslim extremism needs to be tackled more publicy, rather than politicians avoiding the subject like the plague.
It is not for you and your group, may of whom are the hobby protesters you see at all the left of centre events, to decree what is suitable for public consumption and what is not.
We have laws for that and any racist chanting would result in arrests. The people of Manchester did not need protecting by you today, we have a long history in this city of democracy, starting at Peterloo (Google it)and we don't need our minds protecting as we are very capable of coming to our own conclusions.
Your action today has cost the people of Manchester many thousands of pounds at a time when we can least afford it.
The EDL protest should have been allowed to go ahead unchallenged, it is for the public to make their own minds up. The majority of the public would ignore them.
I am also confused as a major aspect of facism is suppression of dissent and anyone or anything who doesn't agree with the state. Facism takes away freedom of speech.
As you are a member of United Against Facism (UAF) and today your group have displayed facist qualities, perhaps you care to explain this?
Perhaps you care to explain why your group concludes the people of Manchester are not able to come to their own conclusions?
And please don't bring out the racist chanting, as however distastful that is - it is for the police to deal with and not you.
Having witnessed the EDL march through Manchester today, I witnessed several EDL members giving nazi salutes.
Comical behaviour from a group supposedly claiming English pride.
My Grandad fought the Nazis. So did yours.
Idiots.
Comical behaviour from a group supposedly claiming English pride.
My Grandad fought the Nazis. So did yours.
Idiots.
In the first photo the protester looks as though he is deliberately taunting the dog. Note his stance and the way the dog is warning the man with teeth bared but no hackles up and held securely back by the handler. Some people just want to cause trouble but that dog is very clearly under control and being pushed to react. If the man was bitten on his finger it was his own fault. What idiot taunts a police dog who is working...gets what he asked for then whinges. No sympathy here.
We must tell Manchester that their racism is not welcome
Weyman UAF
You became a spokesman for Manchester when exactly? I'll tell you what we pride ourselves on and thats freedom to express ourselves. We don't need some scruffy lot such as yourself and your group coming to Manchester under the false guise of superhero's and then kicking off because people don't agree with you!
Weyman UAF
You became a spokesman for Manchester when exactly? I'll tell you what we pride ourselves on and thats freedom to express ourselves. We don't need some scruffy lot such as yourself and your group coming to Manchester under the false guise of superhero's and then kicking off because people don't agree with you!
Lets play football with this....MEN
Celebratory 9/11 T-Shirts weren't exactly tasteful. Both sides are vulgar.
I think the UAF have made the situation a lot worse.
At the end of the day the EDL are a bunch of football hooligans who have latched on to a controversial subject that they know certain groups of people feel strongly enough about it to fight. Anyone who is genuinely up for defeating extremism would know that doing stunts like this will cause communities to become even more isolated and disconnected with English life than they are already. This isolation is what causes extremism.
The UAF have brought legitimacy to their argument in condemning them. I think the British people are smart enough to see through their actions and make up their own mind. This is a democracy after all.
At the end of the day the EDL are a bunch of football hooligans who have latched on to a controversial subject that they know certain groups of people feel strongly enough about it to fight. Anyone who is genuinely up for defeating extremism would know that doing stunts like this will cause communities to become even more isolated and disconnected with English life than they are already. This isolation is what causes extremism.
The UAF have brought legitimacy to their argument in condemning them. I think the British people are smart enough to see through their actions and make up their own mind. This is a democracy after all.
@theincredibledrunk - your grandad fought for freedom of speech, democracy, and choice, as did mine (killed in North Africa 1942). Who are really the Nazis these days?
i am muslim we are also against what the EDL is against
This supposed 'English Defence League' are nothing more than criminals and hooligans looking to start a fight.
People go to Manchester on a Saturday afternoon to go shopping, go to the cinema and have a good time. They should not have to be victims of abuse from these Nazi thugs.
My message to the EDL: Clear off and don't come back.
Greater Manchester Police shouldn't even allow them to bring the city centre to a halt at all.
People go to Manchester on a Saturday afternoon to go shopping, go to the cinema and have a good time. They should not have to be victims of abuse from these Nazi thugs.
My message to the EDL: Clear off and don't come back.
Greater Manchester Police shouldn't even allow them to bring the city centre to a halt at all.
K-man, Wilmslow road, Manchester
Manchester is nothing but peaceful its people from out of manchester that come here and give it a bad name
Manchester is nothing but peaceful its people from out of manchester that come here and give it a bad name
French football...MEN.
Poison is poison. A strange fish.
Poison is poison. A strange fish.
George Kane, Stretford (10/10/2009 at 14:09)