The Life and Times of an EDL activist
Name: Bernard Martin Holmes
Position: EDL Blackburn Regional Organiser (RO)
Pseudonyms
- Bernard;
- Big B;
- Mr.B.
- Mrr-Bee
Tommy Robinson on Bernard Holmes:
"The legal fund was set up for all the right intentions. Now, there's a couple of things - if people agree - anyone who doesn't agree can contact - I think there was £3000 donated - anyone who doesn't agree can contact and ask for their money back. But I'm just trying to find out. I've heard we've got a lad, Big B, up in Blackburn, Lancashire who's in jail. I heard - just trying to get to the bottom of it - there may be a chance of getting the lad bail for £5,000. Now if there is, then that £3000 will be put towards getting the lad bail. He's one of our top lads. One of our main activists across the country. He's a good lad, and there's no doubt he's in there, he's purely in prison because of his involvement in the English Defence League. I know there's a lot of people getting penalised across the country, so we can't do all of them, but I'd like to put that £3000 from the legal fund plus another £2000 from the EDL fund into that."
September Video Diary, 3:31m - 4:26m
"So once again with regards to the legal fund. [...] There is £3000 there. We'll now discuss what we do with it. If anyone wants the money back [...] you can have a refund. As I said, if Bernard, if Big B, needs it, we'll give the money up for him in bail, if not, we'll look at something we can use it for constructive in the EDL. "
September Video Diary, 10:45m - 11:24m
History
October 2007 - Sword wielding man "purple in the face with anger"
A man who came out of a house wielding a sword was described as "purple in the face with anger." Blackburn magistrates heard that a woman looked out of her window and saw Bernard Martin Holmes remonstrating with some other people.
http://bitly.com/x974zM
January 2010 - Blackburn men left for dead in road with fractured skull after unprovoked attack
A Blackburn man was left lying by the side of the road with a fractured skull after an unprovoked town centre attack.
http://bitly.com/A2BMoE
February 2010 - Blackburn family hits out at 'atrocious' sentence given to attacker
Maggie Garth, sister of Shaun Baxendale who suffered catastrophic injuries LAST month the Lancashire Telegraph launched the Consequences campaign to raise awareness of the devastating effects of spontaneous violence.
http://bitly.com/xp9tqi
October 2010 - Blackburn EDL KFC demo ‘chicken’ man is attack thug
A ‘dangerous' man who left his victim with a permanent brain injury has been released from jail early and is taking part in English Defence League protests.
http://bitly.com/n1Q57p
April 2011 - EDL Blackburn demo; Bernard Holmes make speech on stage at end
Mr.B's Blackburn demo speech:"[Unintelligible] ... Christopher Fawlkes, a 36 year old Blackburn man who got attacked in Queen's Park, a predominently Asian area of Blackburn almost 2 years ago. He was chased and bullied and kicked like a football. At which event he died. The Police and Telegraph said it was not a racially aggravated assault. Obviously, it was. Christopher had never had a fight in his life. He was placid and had a calm attitude and approach to life. Mohsin Mohammad was called a coward by the judge, who said it was a vicious attack. Mohammad ... to try to wriggle out of it, although there was great evidence against him. The judge was right to call him a coward. People have been asking me why in the English Defence League are you? Because if nobody had stood up to this, who would? These are our streets and we should take them back. [Leads chant] Whose streets? [...] Whose streets? [...]"
July 2011 - Ribble Valley Conservative MEP's home targetted by EDL protestors
CONSERVATIVE North West Euro MP said he was left fearing for his safety after a large group of English Defence League protesters descended on his family home.
http://bitly.com/xK0nca
Jul 2011 - MEP and family 'threatened' over EDL protest outside home
An MEP has said he and his family felt threatened when a group of people carrying English Defence League banners protested outside his Lancashire home. Sajjad Karim, who represents the North West in the European Parliament, said up to 40 demonstrators arrived outside his house on Saturday lunchtime.
http://bbc.in/yIXzGv
Police search Mr.B's flat
December 2011 - Full court listing for Mr. Bernard Holmes from Sep 2011 to March 2012
