Today marks the 10th anniversary of Waltham Forest’s “victory over the most horrendous people in our society” By Victoria Munro
Counter-protestors marching through Walthamstow (credit: Jess Hurd)
Ten years ago today, thousands of Waltham Forest residents took to the streets to fight off a far-right group looking to intimidate the borough’s Muslim population.
The English Defence League (EDL), led by Tommy Robinson, planned to march through Walthamstow and rally outside the town hall on 1st September, 2012.
However, a few hundred EDL supporters from around the country were met by a 4,500-strong counter-protest, organised by We Are Waltham Forest, which chased them out of the borough.
The Echo spoke to “life-long socialist and anti-racist” Roger Huddle, who was 66 at the time of the demonstration, about his memories of the day.
(Credit: Jess Hurd)
He said: “I worked with the Anti-Nazi League and Rock Against Racism [in the 70s] and we always believed that the best way to stop the far-right is to mobilise the largest number of people.
“We had no online presence ten years ago so we had to do it the old-fashioned way, we distributed around 20,000 leaflets.
“We had no idea what was going to happen – it could have been three men and a dog on the day – and we were completely opposed by the Labour council.
“But it was amazing the amount of people that came, particularly the amount of Asian people because it must have been very difficult for them due to the Islamophobia they faced.
“The younger people were furious that the EDL were coming to their borough and I also recognised some older people that I demonstrated alongside against the National Front in 1978.”
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(Credit: Jess Hurd)
Campaigners knew the EDL would take either Hoe Street or Forest Road to the town hall and had scouts watching to report back about their movements. When the EDL chose Forest Road, the counter-rally marched down Hoe Street to Bell Corner, where they sat down to block them off.
Roger said: “The police kettled us but we didn’t really mind because it was where we wanted to be. If they had stopped us getting anywhere near the EDL, then I think violence could have broken out because people were so incensed.
“If there were only a few of us maybe I would have been scared but, when you’ve got your community around, you don’t need to fear.
“The shops along Hoe Street were magnificent, they let the demonstrators use their toilets and one fabric shop brought out water and food, there was fantastic support.”
(Credit: Jess Hurd)
The EDL march was rerouted through back streets but the counter-protestors had a “little stroke of luck” when police parted the barrier to let a woman with a wheelchair out, which allowed others to “break through the cordons” after her.
Roger said: “We went and occupied the town hall, which meant they couldn’t get in to have their rally, and then we just waited them out.
“When they finally marched back down to Blackhorse Road, we had a victory march back up Hoe Street. All the shops were clapping, it’s probably the proudest moment of my life.
“We went back to the town square, had a few speeches and then I went off and got truly drunk. It was a great day and that’s why we’re having the tenth anniversary: to celebrate our multiculturalism and our victory over the most horrendous people in our society.”
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