Chelmsford Quaker witness
Chelmsford Quakers take part in a protest march
Chelmsford Quakers recently demonstrated their opposition to racism, and in particular to the activities of the English Defence League (EDL), by joining a protest march through the town as part of ‘United Chelmsford’.
United Chelmsford is a loose coalition of trades unions, churches and other groups concerned with racism who, together with Mid-Essex Quakers, are signatories to the Chelmsford Statement Against Racism and Fascism. They met recently in Chelmsford Meeting House to finalise arrangements for a ‘counter march’ on 18 August to oppose one organised by the EDL.
The EDL said that their march was to protest at the redevelopment of a mosque in the town.
Chelmsford Quakers stated in a recent newsletter: ‘We didn’t know how many EDL supporters would be coming to the march, or what to expect.
‘In the event, the EDL turnout was significantly smaller than that for United Chelmsford. The United Chelmsford march was quite a colourful affair, with TUC and anti-racist banners at the front just behind the police horses.
‘The Chelmsford Quaker delegation took up the rear where there was more of a party atmosphere, thanks to a chap with a portable sound system on a sack trolley, who kept us jigging with a musical melange that spanned rap to house. Some police officers, who were walking in a dense column on either side of us, were seen to try out a few disco moves…
‘It is hoped that the EDL will be discouraged from returning to Chelmsford as a result of the United Chelmsford initiative, but we need to be prepared if they do’.
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