Saturday’s EDL demonstration in Birmingham saw a new dawn of working together in our City.
It was refreshing to see West Midlands Police, Community Activists/Members and indeed City Council Director’s namely in this case Mashuq Alley who did not have an obligation to be present, not forgetting a few City Councillors working together in order to keep calm especially amongst those who did not clearly welcome the EDL’s presence in Birmingham and wanted to possibly escalate the situation.
Despite it all, the resilience of the people of this City was at the forefront and it was great to see all of these people working together and this could really indicate a way forward for all communities in our super diverse City working together, with the authorities on an equal footing.
Although there have been substantial cost to our City in terms of the cost of policing and the clean up operation, also loss of trade, on a positive note the Communities coming and working together signifies progress.
There is however another issue and that is what is a static peaceful protest ?
Was what we saw in our City on Saturday an example of this?
What is the definition of a static protest?
How many participants are expected to be in a static protest?
How much mobility is allowed in a static protest?
Should there not be mechanisms in place should it be demonstrated that there is a clear danger to public safety and or other events,that are taking place in the same vicinity as was the case on Saturday?
I have written to all ten Birmingham MP’s about this and would suggest that as a concerned Citizen that you write to your local MP in order to seek a review of the legislation in this matter.
Clearly on a positive note when we come together we do stand tall.
Desmond Jaddoo
It was refreshing to see West Midlands Police, Community Activists/Members and indeed City Council Director’s namely in this case Mashuq Alley who did not have an obligation to be present, not forgetting a few City Councillors working together in order to keep calm especially amongst those who did not clearly welcome the EDL’s presence in Birmingham and wanted to possibly escalate the situation.
Despite it all, the resilience of the people of this City was at the forefront and it was great to see all of these people working together and this could really indicate a way forward for all communities in our super diverse City working together, with the authorities on an equal footing.
Although there have been substantial cost to our City in terms of the cost of policing and the clean up operation, also loss of trade, on a positive note the Communities coming and working together signifies progress.
There is however another issue and that is what is a static peaceful protest ?
Was what we saw in our City on Saturday an example of this?
What is the definition of a static protest?
How many participants are expected to be in a static protest?
How much mobility is allowed in a static protest?
Should there not be mechanisms in place should it be demonstrated that there is a clear danger to public safety and or other events,that are taking place in the same vicinity as was the case on Saturday?
I have written to all ten Birmingham MP’s about this and would suggest that as a concerned Citizen that you write to your local MP in order to seek a review of the legislation in this matter.
Clearly on a positive note when we come together we do stand tall.
Desmond Jaddoo