Boss of city right-wing group Exeter's English Defence League quits
THE chairman of Exeter's English Defence League has resigned after being caught up in violent clashes between police and right-wing protesters.
Jim Myers, 43, a door supervisor in the city, sparked controversy by saying Britain needed to follow the French lead and ban the burka.
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SWITCH: Jim Myers has resigned as chairman of Exeter English Defence League
But he has decided to stand down after last weekend's protest over a planned £18million mosque which left the people of Dudley, West Midlands, with a damage bill for £150,000.
Mr Myers, who lives in St Thomas, had, along with 13 other Exeter EDL members, taken a minibus from Cowick Street to join about 600 EDL protesters from across the country.
They were corralled in a car park but a group of about 200 protesters broke through the gates and clashed with lines of police and vans.
Bricks and cans were thrown at officers, forcing them to change into riot gear, and police dogs were brought in as a back-up. After a ten-minute stand-off with police, the protesters returned to the car park.
Houses and cars were damaged, missiles were hurled at officers and steel fences were pulled down.
Mr Myers, who, along with the Exeter contingent, was not involved in any of the disorder, said: "I was left really disgusted by what I saw in Dudley — from both sides, police and a minority of the protesters.
"There are always troublemakers who will latch on to a protest, whatever it is, and some tempers got heated.
"After what happened, I have decided to resign as Exeter chairman. We will have a meeting in August to see where we go from here."
Mr Myers also revealed that his hopes of holding a 9/11 memorial march through Exeter on September 11 had been dropped.
"I have spoken to the police, with whom I have a good relationship, and I have been told they would oppose such a march," he said. "We had hoped to remember those killed in the 9/11 tragedy."
He also indicated that he would not support a protest at the city's York Road mosque, which he admitted was being considered by EDL members.
The Muslim community in Exeter is said to be frightened at talk that the group — which has seen several of its demonstrations across the country end in violence — would target the mosque in York Road.
Formed just over a year ago, the EDL claims to be against "Islamic fundamentalists" but its opponents said targeting a mosque with no recognised link to terrorism was proof of the group's overall anti-Muslim agenda.
A South West division member says in a posting on the group's Facebook site: "I think a protest is due in Exeter at the mosque."
He then incorrectly states: "The council have given £3million to refurbish it and extremists use this mosque as it's out of the public eye.
"Exeter has had an attempted bomb attack and we don't want another. So please let's make this happen."
In fact, the mosque relies on public donations and the bomber who targeted the Giraffe restaurant in Exeter, Nicky Reilly, was influenced by extremists in Plymouth.
Lizi Allnatt, of the Exeter division of the Unite Against Fascism group, said: "Why have a demonstration at the mosque? It is like a church and is not a place that fundamentalists go to use. It is for everyday, ordinary Muslims. The Muslim community is quite rightly frightened at such a prospect."
46 Comments
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by bert, dawlish
Wednesday, August 11 2010, 9:42PM
“Bert says dont quit”
by Kevin Neil, Plymouth
Friday, July 30 2010, 9:34PM
“Intersting article that helps reveal the true face of the EDL, who nationally are full of violent racists. I'm sure that some are not and are merely misguided but the majority are a stain on decent society. Your reference to Nicky Reilly is dangerous however and gives the impression Plymouth is a breeding ground for terrorism. Reilly was a young man who sufferred from mental illness. He converted to Islam but obtained his bomb making ideas on the Internet not in plymouuth. Our Moslem brothers and sisters in Plymouth are decent law abiding people who add value to our community.”
by Jen, Exeter
Wednesday, July 28 2010, 5:54PM
“I seriously dont know how you people can defend anyone or anything that thinks child marriage is fine, yet alone some of the other crap they believe....
goggle 'thighing' too, let me know your thoughts please”
by TREVOR BOLT, HAVERFORDWEST
Wednesday, July 28 2010, 4:39PM
“Me think¬ doormen getting above there station¬s
what with myers head of edl @ choules
being the mayor
yet not one brain between them”
by Will, Mid Devon
Wednesday, July 28 2010, 3:57PM
“There are too many people about who are really just looking for someone to hate. Why this is I'm not sure. Some say it is because of deep-seated feelings of inadequacy within themselves that causes resentment against those whom they perceive as different to themselves or whose views they take as some kind of slight against them and those like them. This theory seems a better fit for racists or those anti some other form of minority. At the other end of the scale I think there are those for whom indignation and a feeling of righteousness - the feeling that their cause is right and just - boils over into extreme anger, although the deeper source of hate within them, if it exists, is not so easy to define. In both cases, these feelings are stoked up by a feeling of camaraderie and a shared cause which becomes intoxicating - and leads to trouble on the streets.
It is not surprising that many of those who cause trouble at EDL or BNP rallies have a history of football hooliganism, because these are the ones for whom the intoxication of common-cause and "membership", coupled with an underlying tendency towards violence, is over-powering - and that's before the alcohol has been consumed!
It's a theory, anyway!”
by Rufus, Exeter
Wednesday, July 28 2010, 1:33PM
“Steve,
I agree that radicals exist in all major world religions, the problem is that groups like the EDL don't (and can't possibly) target extremists, but all Muslims. I don't think anyone calling the EDL racists or fascists are siding with extremists or terrorists, but rather see that forming a hate group to combat hate is a childish and archaic ritual perpetuated throughout history, seemingly without anyone learning the lesson.
Religious leaders of the Muslim world and its communities regularly denounce extremists as false followers of the faith, yet they're still targeted because people buy in to the Daily Mail sensationalism that Islam is some radical ideology, ignoring its shared heritage with the other Abrahamic religions.”
by steve, Exwick
Wednesday, July 28 2010, 12:08PM
“Hi Rufus
The problem is of course is that some people do take the meaning of religious text quite literally - and this includes people at the radical extremes of both Islam and Christianity, and lots of other belief systems.
Which is how we end up with the proclamations of the "Jesus hates Fags" end of right-wing christianity along with the "death to the infidels" end of Islam.
....with non-believers and moderates stuck in the middle and out of the limelight.
Will made a really valid point about those with strong beliefs on both sides of this issue assuming that:
....anyone who criticises radical interpretations of Islam is a fascist and a racist
....anyone who criticises the BNP/EDF is a left-wing commie do-gooder
We badly need a debate - but everyone needs to calm down a whole lot before that can happen.
By the way - Ingrid's offer to come and "look me up" reminds me a little of those radical muslims who threaten death to anyone who calls Islam violent.”
by Rufus, Exeter
Wednesday, July 28 2010, 11:33AM
“How many people who make the claim that the Qur'an promotes the subjugation of women will immediately hand wave and dismiss the Bible doing the exact same thing?
Look at this texts in the context of the time they were written. Modern day religion only interprets these texts, not follow them word for word. How utterly ridiculous that people believe Muslims follow the text strictly yet Christians do not.”
by GEMMA WEEKS, ST THOMAS
Wednesday, July 28 2010, 8:55AM
“Ingrid
why dont you shut up you are a disgusting creature. and giving Melbourne a bad name.
as for spending 12 months in Exeter,
are you sure its not channings wood or dartmoor ?”
by steve, Exwick
Wednesday, July 28 2010, 7:08AM
“Ingrid - if your analysis of Islam is as accurate as your analysis of my post, and based on as little evidence, then you make my point rather nicely.
If indeed you are a DOCTOR, I hope you are not a medical one. If so I'd suggest you get some help that that temper of yours, and your delightful offer to come and visit me could well be of interest to your regulatory body no?”