A small police presence was pictured among the crowd and a TV reporter was forced off air but the rumoured rally never took place, as a Cllr said the community would ‘not be divided’
A huge crowd gathered in Bordesley Green this evening following rumours that a ‘far right rally’ was going to take place. It followed far-right protests that have swept parts of the country in recent days, bringing large scale disorder to the UK’s streets.
In response to the rumoured rally, hundreds of mostly young men in balaclavas and face masks gathered outside the McDonald’s at the junction of Bordesley Green and Belchers Lane. One member of the crowd said they were there to protect the area from violence and thugs.
A West Midlands Police car and an officer were pictured amongst the crowd. A Sky News reporter was forced off air after she was sworn at, with one man on a bike riding towards the camera before saying: “Free Palestine, f*** EDL.”
There had been calls for calm in the wake of the rumoured protest today by community leaders. Despite the rumours circulating today, there was no rally and the crowd was seen later dispersing, with some young men using the opportunity to show off on motorbikes.
A 45-year-old from Bordesley Green said he was there to stand up against fascism and show solidarity. He said: “Nigel Farage is trying to make out he’s all for peace – people like him need to speak up now and end this violence not stoke the fires”.
He added: “We don’t want this portrayed as Muslim men causing trouble. There are hundreds of us here and we want to send a message – racists and fascists are not welcome here.”
Another person told BirminghamLive that they didn’t believe any trouble would happen. He said: “It’s just empty threats. We’re just here and standing up for our community.”
Yardley West and Stechford Cllr Baber Baz was among the crowd this evening and said there was a “strong response from the community”. Cllr Baz added: “As long as it remains peaceful which I am sure it will we are sending a strong message to the EDL that they are not welcome here and will not divide our community.”
The rumoured ‘far right rally’ in Birmingham followed riots that have swept the country in recent days. Large-scale disorder has been taking place after stabbings in Southport on July 29, in which three children were killed and 10 other people injured.
The Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer, said today that an “army of riot police” is being mobilised to deal with further protests.