Community work at demos "brought the town together"

Farooq Ahmed

Volunteers from across the borough of Rochdale gave up their day on Saturday to act as community mediators at the town centre demonstrations involving the English Defence League and Unite against Fascism.

One of the community mediators was Councillor Farooq Ahmed, Rochdale Online reporter Laura Wild caught up with Councillor Ahmed to find out more…

Councillor Ahmed explained that on Saturday morning the mediators, along with the police and police community support officers visited various communities/areas within Rochdale. The groups were briefed and their aim was to make sure people in Rochdale knew what was happening, were kept safe and in some instances kept away.

Councillor Ahmed was assigned to the Drake Street/John Street/Molesworth Street area of Rochdale. He said he was able to speak with people he knew and tell them what was happening – people that maybe out of town police officers didn’t know.

“On maybe three or four occasions there were groups of young people heading towards town and I told them to go home – I told them it’s not worth going to the protests,” said Councillor Ahmed.

Many ‘events’ had been set up on social networking sites for counter demonstrations – which Councillor Ahmed described as “sad” he said: “I think it can be a double edge sword, its like an anti-social network.”

Councillor Ahmed said there were lots of “curious” young people in the town on Saturday. “We were making sure the kids knew what was going on and the vast majority did stay away.”

“The message to the community was to not get involved.

“Legally the demonstrations can’t be stopped and I don’t think anyone really wanted them.”

Councillor Ahmed said he volunteered to be a community mediator because he felt it was “important” to have people there who know the community.

“The community mediators were a very big help,” said Councillor Ahmed, “They were all over the borough and it was important that they were there. Mediators were some of the key support on the day and it showed the community working together.”

“The community safety team organised this and they delivered,” he added.

Councillor Ahmed said: “Saturday showed how Rochdale is united.”

Speaking about the protest as a whole, Councillor Ahmed said he thought it was “upsetting” that the demonstrations took place at the war memorial. He said he didn’t know the full reason why that was the chosen location but he thought it was so the demonstrators would be contained.

He added: “We should respect the people that fought for our country and they should be able to rest in peace.

“I thought it was disrespectful.”

After the protestors left the town Councillor Ahmed said the mediators “hung around” to ensure people were safe.

“On the day we proved how united the borough is. The vast majority of people listened. The community mediators, the council, the police and the schools delivered the message not to get involved.

“I take my hat off to the youngsters.”

In conclusion, Councillor Ahmed said: “The agency work was very good and I hope to maintain that. All of the agencies involved were pleased at how the day turned out.

“Everyone played their part and that brought the town together even more.

“We showed community spirit.

“Special thanks go to Chief Superintendent John O’Hare he was one of the key players and he came out to all the meetings the time he took really showed something.”