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A quiet day in Luton and a mark of hope.

We were due to have another riot in Luton today. Or at least that is what the English Defence League (EDL) said a month or two ago. For once nothing happened. It feels strangely good. But is that news? Yes, but the media don't seem to be on to it nearly as quickly as they we had a riot three weeks ago. And somehow I am not sure they will tell this story.

(The history goes something like this.

Harrow & John Denham's quest to understand the EDL

The Harrow anti-Islamic demonstrations (mob, riots, whatever) were bad news for those who live there, for the nation, and especially for those of us who work in interfaith relations. Once again the English Defence League (EDL) and its partner for the day, Stop the Islamification of Europe (SIOE) did not really have to be there for the damage to have been done; the combination of a massive police presence, a Unite Against Facism (UAF) counter-demo, a lot of angry young Muslim men and the rumour of the EDL was an explosive mix.  Street fights erupt as Muslims try to defend North London mosque in The Times tells it as good as anywhere. I have ranted at what has been happening in Luton and Birmingham the past two weeks, so don't propose to say much here.

The good news as far as I can see is

Luton & Birmingham: Freedom of speech or freedom to riot?

I have just watched the riots in Birmingham unfold - on Twitter. As ever I am disheartened. We saw the same old story that we have had in Luton, as there has been before in Birmingham, as we have seen elsewhere, and as we will likely see in Harrow on Friday next week.  Protests by Islamic extremists against the war in Iraq (and alleged extreme actions of British soldiers there),  provoke protests by the EDL (English Defence League) against Islamic extremists, provoke protests against the EDL by the UAF (Unite Against Fascism) and Muslim young men. And the police are in there, doing there best to keep the sides apart, prevent the escalation of the provocations, doing a very difficult job in ever changing situations, occasionally getting it wrong in the heat of the moment, and very occasionally with officers demonstrating their own vulnerability to provocation.

Last week in Luton

Luton. Lets take time out to talk. PLEASE.

Its very hard to get down to talk about the real issues that are troubling our community when all the time the problems around are escalating. The latest bout of trouble here this weekend (see Times - Luton police quell disturbance by Asian youths and my own coverage:  Luton: Riot police break up mob and Luton troubles - the action and some first thoughts) only adds to the challenges we have been facing since anger errupted on the streets during the now infamous Royal Anglian Homecoming Parade in March this year.