I think the depressing thing in hindsight after today, is that with the governmental system we have at present, the NF/BNP/EDL/ANOther fascist movement are going to recurrently reach points where they have the kind of membership/support to become a threat again. And it must be really fucking boring if you've had to go on these marches every few years or so for decades - the problem hasn't been sorted in any meaningful way, not at all.
And first of all, of course, we have to identify what the problem exactly is, as in why a sizeable number of people attach themselves to such lunatic fascist movements - the answer to which I guess depends upon your view of humanity... :/
Obviously the fact that the EDL has targetted Muslims is not distinct from the Islamophobic discourse that has penetrated a lot of society over the past decade, aided and encouraged by the abject stupidities of the war on terror (and other abstract concepts) and the discourse around it. And that's my starter for ten....
One woman when interviewed as to why she joined the EDL: "I don't want my children growing up under Islamic law". Seriously. She said that.