Birmingham police were commended for the way they handled the EDL demonstration which took place on Broad Street last week. Unlike last year's abysmal protest which saw mass violence and numerous arrests on the grounds of public order, this year's protest was calm and controlled with police making only 5 arrests.
Broad Street boss Mr Olley said Saturday’s rally had a “minimal” impact on businesses and said that 'it was down to the way the police handled the protest (…) I have to credit them for a having a brilliant plan in place – although it wasn’t utilised as there were only around 400 protesters (…) I also credit the council for the way they handled the operation.' Interestingly the EDL turnout was indeed lower than last year's. Supt Rich Baker, of West Midlands Police, stated: 'the force has no power to ban protest groups from exercising their democratic right to express their opinions (…) but we have been planning for weeks to minimise disruption to those who live, work or were visiting the city on the day.'
Adil Ray who is star of the BBC's popular sitcom 'Citizen Khan' which celebrates the city of Birmingham and the area of Solihull where it is based, tweeted “I might go and join the EDL rally and shout ‘itoes’ after each time they chant ‘no more mosques’– turn it into an anti-malaria demo.”
