'The Bystanders' Is a documentary project that focuses on the residents of towns that get caught in the crossfire between The English Defense League and the various groups that oppose them at their demonstrations.
These demonstrations have been a phenomenon that swept the UK and some of Europe and are infamous for their violent nature. This makes the citizens vulnerable. There is a large police presence at the demonstrations, they try to keep both sides of the spectrum under control.
The area that these demonstrations are hosted at comes to a complete standstill; leaving the residents isolated in the homes, cars or in the street. Local business also are closed on the day of the demonstration, because of the risk to the health to the general public.
Since the creation of the group (EDL) in 2009, their demonstrations have been predominantly active in largely populated Islamic communities around the country.
Regardless of the political agenda that either group is trying to push; these bystanders are unwillingly getting caught in the middle of it. The people that are generally negatively affected are the elderly, younger women and children. The ethnic/ religious background of the bystanders varies, but they all share two common denominators, fear and disruption.