We Serve Notice on the Nazis!
Nobody who was building for this weeks Unite Against Fascism Rally could have anticipated the success it finally became.
At 7.10.only a handful had arrived and people were getting tense.People were worried about the press attacking the UAf over the protest against the EDL in Bolton.Would this drive people away?Over the three previous days the UAF organising committee had been putting out frantic last minute emails and phoning people up.Hopefully there would be over 50 people attending the event.
By 7.20 the meeting room was full and people had been roped in to hurriedly move more chairs in.Five minutes later Gareth Edwards, Portsmouth Uaf chair pointed out that people were still coming up the stairs and we were about to be in flagrant breach of the fire regulations.
We hurriedly got permission to use the main room-The Yehudi Menhuin room-the largest space in the guildhall library.Quickly stalls were set up,and people settled down.A group from PCS,fresh from the picket lines came in and put there placards down the front to join the Unison and Nas/uwt banners.
At 7.40 the rally started.As we looked around every chair was taken .There were people of all ages, black and white, gay and straight and representatives of all the main parties.Every seat was taken along the sides, it was standing room only and people were crowded all the way along the walls and around our stalls selling t-shirts and badges.There were also representatives in the room from the local student body,GMB,NUT,UNITE,UCU and CWU amongst others.
There were in excess of 150 people there when we gave up counting.
It was packed.
Portsmouth Uafs convenor Simon Magorian opened the meeting by reminding people how we had defeated the Nazis in the seventies with the Anti-Nazi League.They had attempted to march through Portsmouth unopposed and were stopped."They wanted to march to the war memorial but we stopped them.They ended up having to make their speech outside a municipal lavatory.Thats not what you sign up to the Nazis for .It's so you can strut through the streets like the master race .We humiliated them and they never really recovered from it.We stoppped them once we can do it again."
It was excellent to see both of Portsmouths MPs on the platform,both of them committed anti-racists.
Mike Hancock the Liberal Democrat MP for Portsmouth South was the first speaker.He recently helped to organise a major civic reception for Portsmouths large Bangladeshi community for the huge contribution they have made to the city.Speaking about the BNP,
"its manifesto is about dividing communities.We stand together against them.We love our city-it's all about our diverse community.
"we will stand up for that,and for each other in the face of these bullies.We will include clear messages in on our communication that we oppose these Fascists."
Sarah McCarthy-Fry Labour MP for Portsmouth North nailed it,
"They pretend not to be racists,but very quickly their concern about crime turns to blaming it on Asylum sseekers." She also reiterated her lifelong stance of never sharing a platform with Fascists.
Sion Reynolds spoke on behalf of Nas/Uwt about the importance of keeping the Fascists out of our classrooms and how the BNPs politics of hatred ond division were antithetical to all the values and traditions of the teaching profession.He also worryingly reminded us that the last time the nazis stood in Portsmouth North schools were broken into and daubed with swastikas.
Weyman Bennett was the last to speak and in an uncompromising and occasionally humorous speech pointed out the inherent violence of the BNP and how unity can stop them and that Anti-Fascists are the overwhelming majority.
"The BNP is a Fascist Party attempting to win respectability,but we've already won an important battle.
"It's policies are racist but they fear to admit it in public.That's because people don't want to be associated with racism.Together we can build on that."
He also pointed out that The English Defence League were the BNPs foot soldiers and where they have marched unopposed violence and criminal damage had been targetted towards the Muslim Community,and the crucial importance of mobilising against them.
Following the invited speakers Gareth Edwards addressed the meeting on behalf of the UAF committee.
"We have a massive task ahead of us.We have to get leaflets through 40,000 doors.We don't have any Billionaire backers or Press magnates stumping up cash, we have to rely on donations from local trade unions and people like you.We need an army of volunteers to get the message through peoples doors to counter the Nazi lies of the BNP.Please sign up to help us smash the Nazis.Please give us your support and please give genorously!"
Clipboards were passed around and dozens signed up for the campaign,whilst a collecting bag went around at the same time for donations,which was quickly filled.
There was a wide ranging discussion from the floor ,interestingly not one single person raised criticism of Uaf for opposing the EDL on the streets.
It seems that the attempted witch hunt against UAF by the police and sections of the media- in Portsmouth at least- has fallen on deaf ears.
At the end of the meeting all the representatives of the three main parties pledged to put anti-Nazi and Anti-BNP statements on their campaign materials.
Closing the meeting Simon Magorian thanked all the speakers,pointing out the huge symbolic effect of having both the local MPS on the platform.He also asked people to sign the Portsmouth Unity Statement against the BNP.
"This is the largest Anti Nazi meeting in many years,I was at the launch meeting of Portsmouth Anti-Nazi League in 1977 and this is much bigger.Actually this is the biggest Anti Fascist meeting in Portsmouth ever!We have pushed the Nazis back before by uniting against them and we can do it again.We are now declaring Portsmouth a Nazi Free Zone!"
This was a massive boost to the Anti-Fascist movement in portsmouth.
Petitions were filled declarations signed and T shirts and badges bought.All well and good, but this time committments were made and the main Parties made public declarations to oppose the Nazis. For the first time in over 20 years the Nazis are contesting parliamentary seats in Portsmouth.
The phoney war is over.
We will keep Portsmouth Nazi Free!
Friday, 26 March 2010
Sunday, 7 March 2010
Portsmouth Rally Against the Nazis
Guildhall Library March 25th
7.30 PM
Hosted by Portsmouth Unite Against Fascism
Principal Sponsor National Association of Schoolmasters /Union of women Teachers.
Speakers:
Sarah McCarthy Fry.MP Portsnouth North
Mike Hancock. MP portsmouth South
Martin Smith.National spokesperson Love Music Hate Racism.
Jerry Bartlett Deputy general secretary National Association of Schoolmasters/Union of women Teachers.
The British National Party is hoping to make a breakthrough at the next election ,they hope that the generalised cynicism with established politics will make for a more conducive environment for their Fascist-lite politics.
Nick Griffin once said that people Voted BNP because they saw ,"what they percieved to be a strong disciplined organisation with the ability to back up its slogan "rights for whites" with well directed boots and fists.When the crunch comes,power is the product of force and will and not of rational debate."
The recent attack on Dominic Kennedy of The Times by official BNP stewards at a press conference shows that beneath the veneer of faux respectability
they are still the same Nazi thugs and are outside our tradition of pluralist democracy.
We are hoping people will use the rally as a focus for opposing the BNP and that people will take away copies of the unity charter to sign and circulate amongst their communities.
We are urging trade unions and community groups to sponsor the rally and to bring their banners/emblems to the meeting.
This is the first major Anti-Fascist rally in portsmouth for years.
Please join with us and help to build it.
If you want to help please contact:Simon Magorian at simonmagorian@gmail.com
Tel:07528839223
7.30 PM
Hosted by Portsmouth Unite Against Fascism
Principal Sponsor National Association of Schoolmasters /Union of women Teachers.
Speakers:
Sarah McCarthy Fry.MP Portsnouth North
Mike Hancock. MP portsmouth South
Martin Smith.National spokesperson Love Music Hate Racism.
Jerry Bartlett Deputy general secretary National Association of Schoolmasters/Union of women Teachers.
The British National Party is hoping to make a breakthrough at the next election ,they hope that the generalised cynicism with established politics will make for a more conducive environment for their Fascist-lite politics.
Nick Griffin once said that people Voted BNP because they saw ,"what they percieved to be a strong disciplined organisation with the ability to back up its slogan "rights for whites" with well directed boots and fists.When the crunch comes,power is the product of force and will and not of rational debate."
The recent attack on Dominic Kennedy of The Times by official BNP stewards at a press conference shows that beneath the veneer of faux respectability
they are still the same Nazi thugs and are outside our tradition of pluralist democracy.
We are hoping people will use the rally as a focus for opposing the BNP and that people will take away copies of the unity charter to sign and circulate amongst their communities.
We are urging trade unions and community groups to sponsor the rally and to bring their banners/emblems to the meeting.
This is the first major Anti-Fascist rally in portsmouth for years.
Please join with us and help to build it.
If you want to help please contact:Simon Magorian at simonmagorian@gmail.com
Tel:07528839223
Meet the new Nazi. Just like the old Nazi.
"What's good enough for Hitler's good enough for me"
Introducing Barry Bennett.The Nazi BNPs chosen candidate for Portsmouth.
His candidature was announced with much fanfare by Andrew Brons on the BNP website.Brons along with Nick Griffin is one of the two Euro MPs that the BNP have. Those of you with long memories will remember his conviction for a breach of the peace and using insulting language.The offending language in this instance was shouting during a street meeting "White Power" and "Death to the Jews".
Then again of course ,he was co-editor with Richard Vernall of the National Front journal New Nation.Vernall was notorious as the author a work of Holocaust denial called Did six million really die?
Which was the bible of Nazi Holocaust deniers for many years,it has now been usurped by the insane ramblings of David Irving.
But enough of his colleagues.Let Mr Bennett speak for himself.
When The Guardian did an expose of the Nazi views of prominent members of the BNP last year Bennett was a prominent example.
According to The Guardian he posted an article on a white supremacist website the bizarre comment,
"David Beckham is not white he's a black man."
He was just getting warmed up,he continued,"Beckham is an insult to Britishness and i'm glad he's not here".
He further added,
"I know perfectly respectable half-jews in the BNP...even Hitler had honorary Aryans who were of jewish descent...so whatever's good enough for Hitler's good enough for me.
God Rest his soul."
God rest his soul!
The electors of portsmouth will have no truck with Mr Bennett and his Nazi friends and will resoundingly reject him at the ballot box.
.
Introducing Barry Bennett.The Nazi BNPs chosen candidate for Portsmouth.
His candidature was announced with much fanfare by Andrew Brons on the BNP website.Brons along with Nick Griffin is one of the two Euro MPs that the BNP have. Those of you with long memories will remember his conviction for a breach of the peace and using insulting language.The offending language in this instance was shouting during a street meeting "White Power" and "Death to the Jews".
Then again of course ,he was co-editor with Richard Vernall of the National Front journal New Nation.Vernall was notorious as the author a work of Holocaust denial called Did six million really die?
Which was the bible of Nazi Holocaust deniers for many years,it has now been usurped by the insane ramblings of David Irving.
But enough of his colleagues.Let Mr Bennett speak for himself.
When The Guardian did an expose of the Nazi views of prominent members of the BNP last year Bennett was a prominent example.
According to The Guardian he posted an article on a white supremacist website the bizarre comment,
"David Beckham is not white he's a black man."
He was just getting warmed up,he continued,"Beckham is an insult to Britishness and i'm glad he's not here".
He further added,
"I know perfectly respectable half-jews in the BNP...even Hitler had honorary Aryans who were of jewish descent...so whatever's good enough for Hitler's good enough for me.
God Rest his soul."
God rest his soul!
The electors of portsmouth will have no truck with Mr Bennett and his Nazi friends and will resoundingly reject him at the ballot box.
.
BNP standing in portsmouth.
The British National party have announced they are standing for elections in Portsmouth. Therefore it is imperative that all anti fascists are campaigning to prevent them from establishing a base in our town.in the1970s they tried establishing a presence in the city.They were fought back by a militant campaign led by the Ant-Nazi-League.
The British National party is probably the most successful fascist organisation in Britain since the British union of Fascists in the 1930s. Them campaigning in Portsmouth means racist leaflets going through doors and racist graffiti are In our community. Everywhere they campaign racist attacks go up we must not tolerate this. It means we must build an effective campaign against the BNP in Portsmouth. We will be leafleting against their poison and division . We will hold meetings and be doing outreach work with trade unions and voluntary groups to prevent them from establishing a base in Portsmouth.
They will not simply disappear,the old bromide still rings true all that is necessary for evil to prevail is that good men and women do nothing
Unite against Fascism in Portsmouth will be running a co-ordinated campaign and leafleting and holding public meetings to expose the BNP for the Nazis that they are.
A public meeting will be held with local MPs and two National speakers to draw people together. We will be initiating a new campaign and a new unity statement. Further details will be published on this blog and released to the press in the next few days.
The British National party is probably the most successful fascist organisation in Britain since the British union of Fascists in the 1930s. Them campaigning in Portsmouth means racist leaflets going through doors and racist graffiti are In our community. Everywhere they campaign racist attacks go up we must not tolerate this. It means we must build an effective campaign against the BNP in Portsmouth. We will be leafleting against their poison and division . We will hold meetings and be doing outreach work with trade unions and voluntary groups to prevent them from establishing a base in Portsmouth.
They will not simply disappear,the old bromide still rings true all that is necessary for evil to prevail is that good men and women do nothing
Unite against Fascism in Portsmouth will be running a co-ordinated campaign and leafleting and holding public meetings to expose the BNP for the Nazis that they are.
A public meeting will be held with local MPs and two National speakers to draw people together. We will be initiating a new campaign and a new unity statement. Further details will be published on this blog and released to the press in the next few days.
Thursday, 4 March 2010
EDL London March
All out to stop the EDL in London
Assemble 11am, Friday 5 March
Houses of Parliament, London
Londoners will be gathering at 11am outside the Houses of Parliament on Friday to protest against the racist English Defence League. The EDL is a group of violent hooligans with links to the fascist British National Party. It wants to march through London to intimidate and harass Muslims and other ethnic minorities.
It is many years since a fascist or racist organisation has openly tried to march in London. That is why it is vital to get as large a turnout of anti-fascists as possible tomorrow to tell the EDL's thugs that their brand of race hate is not wanted here. If they do not meet any opposition, they may go on the rampage against Asians and others, as they did in Stoke-on-Trent in January.
Peter Hain MP, veteran anti-racist and founder of the Anti Nazi League, said today: "The English Defence League, together with their allies the BNP, represent a racist and fascist threat – not just to Muslims but to our Black, Asian and Jewish citizens too. I hope there will be a big mobilisation to oppose their march on Parliament." He is one of several MPs, trade unionists and campaigners to have signed an open letter against the EDL (click here to read).
Tell everyone you know to try and get to the Houses of Parliament for 11am. We will be gathering outside the main entrance to the Parliament buildings. Further decisions wil be made on the day, depending on what the EDL tries to do. If you can't get there for 11am, please come along later if you can. We should be there for a few hours at the very least. Updates on the day will appear on the UAF Twitter feed – go to twitter.com/uaf or check the box on this website.
Anybody wanting to come from Portsmouth we should be getting the 9.20 train from Portsmouth and Southsea.
Tel:07528839223
Assemble 11am, Friday 5 March
Houses of Parliament, London
Londoners will be gathering at 11am outside the Houses of Parliament on Friday to protest against the racist English Defence League. The EDL is a group of violent hooligans with links to the fascist British National Party. It wants to march through London to intimidate and harass Muslims and other ethnic minorities.
It is many years since a fascist or racist organisation has openly tried to march in London. That is why it is vital to get as large a turnout of anti-fascists as possible tomorrow to tell the EDL's thugs that their brand of race hate is not wanted here. If they do not meet any opposition, they may go on the rampage against Asians and others, as they did in Stoke-on-Trent in January.
Peter Hain MP, veteran anti-racist and founder of the Anti Nazi League, said today: "The English Defence League, together with their allies the BNP, represent a racist and fascist threat – not just to Muslims but to our Black, Asian and Jewish citizens too. I hope there will be a big mobilisation to oppose their march on Parliament." He is one of several MPs, trade unionists and campaigners to have signed an open letter against the EDL (click here to read).
Tell everyone you know to try and get to the Houses of Parliament for 11am. We will be gathering outside the main entrance to the Parliament buildings. Further decisions wil be made on the day, depending on what the EDL tries to do. If you can't get there for 11am, please come along later if you can. We should be there for a few hours at the very least. Updates on the day will appear on the UAF Twitter feed – go to twitter.com/uaf or check the box on this website.
Anybody wanting to come from Portsmouth we should be getting the 9.20 train from Portsmouth and Southsea.
Tel:07528839223
Love Music Hate Racism at The Edge of the Wedge.
Last Nights gig was an enormous success with many people signed up and £115 pounds raised.
Many people signed up for the campaign against the BNP in the forthcoming elections.
Thanks:
Particuar thanks for Gareth Edwards for his tireless efforts in organising the gig.
Richie Moran for compereing the event.
All the staff for their hardwork.
The bands and the djs for the great music.
The people of Portsmouth for supportiing a great Anti-Fascist cultural event.
Many people signed up for the campaign against the BNP in the forthcoming elections.
Thanks:
Particuar thanks for Gareth Edwards for his tireless efforts in organising the gig.
Richie Moran for compereing the event.
All the staff for their hardwork.
The bands and the djs for the great music.
The people of Portsmouth for supportiing a great Anti-Fascist cultural event.
UAF CONFERENCE
Over 600 attend UAF national conference
Thanks to everyone who came to Unite Against Fascism national conference. It was a great success with over 600 attendees gathering to discuss how to take forward the campaign against the British National Party at the local and general elections this year.
Workshop sessions covered topics such as stopping the English Defence League, tackling racism and Islamophobia, and building anti-fascist campaigns in the workplace. The Love Music Hate Racism session unveiled plans for a series of anti-racist music festivals to take place across the country later this year.
Speakers at the conference included Margaret Hodge MP, Ken Livingstone, Dawn Butler MP, as well as Sabby Dhalu and Weyman Bennett from Unite Against Fascism. They stressed the importance of campaigning against the BNP in Barking, Stoke and other areas targeted by the fascists, while also mobilising to stop the threat of the English Defence League and other racist hooligan groups.
Margaret Hodge is MP for Barking, where BNP leader Nick Griffin is running for parliament. She told the conference: "The BNP is a vicious and evil party. They are bringing fear into the borough. The battle is on in Barking & Dagenham – but this is also a once in a lifetime opportunity to take them on and show that there is no place for the BNP in this country."
Ken Livingstone said: "We need to recognise there has been a surge in racism as result of the BNP electoral breakthrough last June. The EDL demonstration in Stoke last month was a fascist riot. We cannot let mainstream parties pander to prejudice and use dogwhistle politics. Don't give an inch to Islamophobia or racism."
Weyman Bennett said: "We face a fight on two fronts – against the Nazi BNP at the ballot box and against the EDL's racist thugs on our streets. We need to get everyone who opposes the racists and fascists to come to Bolton on 20 March to stop the EDL, and to Barking and Stoke in coming weeks to stop the BNP at the elections."
Local reportbacks:
notes on Fighting Racism and Fascism in the Media workshop:
Unfortunately both speakers, Michael Rosen and Yasmin Alibhai-Brown were unable to attend. Chair, David crouch of the Financial Times and NUJ member became the speaker.
the session was aimed at people working in the media.
Issues: Historical racist press; loss of workers power in the Thatcher years; failure of media to be critical of BNP; especially the BBC whose bosses claim they should simply report and not comment in the interests of impartiality; strict editorial control and workers being told what they must write or include/exclude.
conclusion: workers to unite and refuse to report biased articles. encourage fellow workers to do the same as they may gain confidence if supported.
A new group has formed called Expose. They will be leafletting White City stadium tube (opposite entrance to BBC) on Wednesday and volunteers were gathered for that. There will be an official launch on Tueday 23rd February 7.00 pm at the Amnesty Centre in London. A facebook group has been created:
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=265717011709
Frances Pilling.
Report on workshop on "Bringing Anti-Fascism into the workplace"
This had speakers from the NAS/UWT, NUT, Unite, and the TUC training organisation.
The NASUWT speaker talked about what they have done to proscribe BNP membersfrom working for the NAS, and developing a campaign to ban teachers from being members of the BNP. The NUT spoke about how the new Political fund is being used to fund campaigning against the BNP in Barking and other key places. A key idea from several speakers and the audience was that we need well organised workplaces, which fight for better pay and conditions, but which will also keep fascists out of the workplace. It will then be easier to argue for support for other anti fascist activities.
Penny Foskett NUT
Thanks to everyone who came to Unite Against Fascism national conference. It was a great success with over 600 attendees gathering to discuss how to take forward the campaign against the British National Party at the local and general elections this year.
Workshop sessions covered topics such as stopping the English Defence League, tackling racism and Islamophobia, and building anti-fascist campaigns in the workplace. The Love Music Hate Racism session unveiled plans for a series of anti-racist music festivals to take place across the country later this year.
Speakers at the conference included Margaret Hodge MP, Ken Livingstone, Dawn Butler MP, as well as Sabby Dhalu and Weyman Bennett from Unite Against Fascism. They stressed the importance of campaigning against the BNP in Barking, Stoke and other areas targeted by the fascists, while also mobilising to stop the threat of the English Defence League and other racist hooligan groups.
Margaret Hodge is MP for Barking, where BNP leader Nick Griffin is running for parliament. She told the conference: "The BNP is a vicious and evil party. They are bringing fear into the borough. The battle is on in Barking & Dagenham – but this is also a once in a lifetime opportunity to take them on and show that there is no place for the BNP in this country."
Ken Livingstone said: "We need to recognise there has been a surge in racism as result of the BNP electoral breakthrough last June. The EDL demonstration in Stoke last month was a fascist riot. We cannot let mainstream parties pander to prejudice and use dogwhistle politics. Don't give an inch to Islamophobia or racism."
Weyman Bennett said: "We face a fight on two fronts – against the Nazi BNP at the ballot box and against the EDL's racist thugs on our streets. We need to get everyone who opposes the racists and fascists to come to Bolton on 20 March to stop the EDL, and to Barking and Stoke in coming weeks to stop the BNP at the elections."
Local reportbacks:
notes on Fighting Racism and Fascism in the Media workshop:
Unfortunately both speakers, Michael Rosen and Yasmin Alibhai-Brown were unable to attend. Chair, David crouch of the Financial Times and NUJ member became the speaker.
the session was aimed at people working in the media.
Issues: Historical racist press; loss of workers power in the Thatcher years; failure of media to be critical of BNP; especially the BBC whose bosses claim they should simply report and not comment in the interests of impartiality; strict editorial control and workers being told what they must write or include/exclude.
conclusion: workers to unite and refuse to report biased articles. encourage fellow workers to do the same as they may gain confidence if supported.
A new group has formed called Expose. They will be leafletting White City stadium tube (opposite entrance to BBC) on Wednesday and volunteers were gathered for that. There will be an official launch on Tueday 23rd February 7.00 pm at the Amnesty Centre in London. A facebook group has been created:
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=265717011709
Frances Pilling.
Report on workshop on "Bringing Anti-Fascism into the workplace"
This had speakers from the NAS/UWT, NUT, Unite, and the TUC training organisation.
The NASUWT speaker talked about what they have done to proscribe BNP membersfrom working for the NAS, and developing a campaign to ban teachers from being members of the BNP. The NUT spoke about how the new Political fund is being used to fund campaigning against the BNP in Barking and other key places. A key idea from several speakers and the audience was that we need well organised workplaces, which fight for better pay and conditions, but which will also keep fascists out of the workplace. It will then be easier to argue for support for other anti fascist activities.
Penny Foskett NUT
Monday, 1 February 2010
UAF Annual Conference.Building the Fightback against the BNP and EDL.
Stopping the Nazis in 2010: come to UAF’s national conference on Saturday 13 February
UAF national conference 2010
Saturday 13 February, 9.30am to 5pm
TUC Congress Centre, London WC1B 3LS
Speakers include: Ken Livingstone, Margaret Hodge MP, Dawn Butler MP, Kay Carberry (TUC), Billy Hayes (CWU), Yasmin Alibhai-Brown (journalist), Michael Rosen (writer and broadcaster), Wes Streeting (NUS), Edie Friedman (Jewish Council for Racial Equality), Dr Abdul Bari (Muslim Council of Britain), Weyman Bennett (UAF & Anti Nazi League), Sabby Dhalu (UAF & National Assembly Against Racism), Martin Smith (Love Music Hate Racism), Riz Ahmed (actor and MC), Jerry Dammers (The Specials), Itch (King Blues), Kid British... and many more
Unite Against Fascism is holding its annual national conference on Saturday 13 February at the TUC Congress Centre in central London.
This will be a crucial event for everyone who opposes the fascist British National Party and wants to prevent it from making gains at the next general and local elections. It will also be a focus for all those resisting the rise of racist anti-Muslim groups such as the English Defence League.
The climate of racism against immigrants and Muslims, together with harsh and uncertain economic circumstances, have created conditions that have allowed the Nazis to grow.
The BNP has been steadily building support over the past few years, culminating them gaining two MEP seats at the last European elections. Now BNP leader Nick Griffin intends to stand for parliament in Barking, a constituency where the fascists already have 11 councillors.
But the BNP has not gone unopposed. In the past year Unite Against Fascism has organised dozens of high-profile protests, rallies and campaigns against the Nazis. We helped disrupt Griffin's press conference, blockade the BNP's annual rally in Derbyshire, and most recently organised a huge protest outside the BBC studios when Griffin appeared on Question Time.
UAF groups around the country have also regularly opposed the EDL in cities such as Birmingham, Manchester and Leeds.
The next six months will be vital for turning the tide against the fascists. UAF stands for uniting everyone who wants to fight back against the BNP and EDL - black and white, gay and straight, people of all religions and none.
If we stand together we we can defeat the Nazis just as we defeated the National Front in the 1970s and the British Union of Fascists in the 1930s. Come along to our conference and find out how you can join the movement.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Register now! Fees are £25 for organisation delegates, £10 for individuals, or £5 for unwaged/students. Make cheques payable to Unite Against Fascism, or use our secure online donation facility at www.tinyurl.com/UAFdonate and write "Conference Registration" in the comment box. Please include your name, address, email and phone number. Cheques should be sent to UAF, PO Box 36871, London WC1X 9XT
Contact UAF - email: unite@ucu.org.uk tel: 020 7801 2782
Local contact details Simon Magorian Tel:07528839223
UAF national conference 2010
Saturday 13 February, 9.30am to 5pm
TUC Congress Centre, London WC1B 3LS
Speakers include: Ken Livingstone, Margaret Hodge MP, Dawn Butler MP, Kay Carberry (TUC), Billy Hayes (CWU), Yasmin Alibhai-Brown (journalist), Michael Rosen (writer and broadcaster), Wes Streeting (NUS), Edie Friedman (Jewish Council for Racial Equality), Dr Abdul Bari (Muslim Council of Britain), Weyman Bennett (UAF & Anti Nazi League), Sabby Dhalu (UAF & National Assembly Against Racism), Martin Smith (Love Music Hate Racism), Riz Ahmed (actor and MC), Jerry Dammers (The Specials), Itch (King Blues), Kid British... and many more
Unite Against Fascism is holding its annual national conference on Saturday 13 February at the TUC Congress Centre in central London.
This will be a crucial event for everyone who opposes the fascist British National Party and wants to prevent it from making gains at the next general and local elections. It will also be a focus for all those resisting the rise of racist anti-Muslim groups such as the English Defence League.
The climate of racism against immigrants and Muslims, together with harsh and uncertain economic circumstances, have created conditions that have allowed the Nazis to grow.
The BNP has been steadily building support over the past few years, culminating them gaining two MEP seats at the last European elections. Now BNP leader Nick Griffin intends to stand for parliament in Barking, a constituency where the fascists already have 11 councillors.
But the BNP has not gone unopposed. In the past year Unite Against Fascism has organised dozens of high-profile protests, rallies and campaigns against the Nazis. We helped disrupt Griffin's press conference, blockade the BNP's annual rally in Derbyshire, and most recently organised a huge protest outside the BBC studios when Griffin appeared on Question Time.
UAF groups around the country have also regularly opposed the EDL in cities such as Birmingham, Manchester and Leeds.
The next six months will be vital for turning the tide against the fascists. UAF stands for uniting everyone who wants to fight back against the BNP and EDL - black and white, gay and straight, people of all religions and none.
If we stand together we we can defeat the Nazis just as we defeated the National Front in the 1970s and the British Union of Fascists in the 1930s. Come along to our conference and find out how you can join the movement.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Register now! Fees are £25 for organisation delegates, £10 for individuals, or £5 for unwaged/students. Make cheques payable to Unite Against Fascism, or use our secure online donation facility at www.tinyurl.com/UAFdonate and write "Conference Registration" in the comment box. Please include your name, address, email and phone number. Cheques should be sent to UAF, PO Box 36871, London WC1X 9XT
Contact UAF - email: unite@ucu.org.uk tel: 020 7801 2782
Local contact details Simon Magorian Tel:07528839223
Monday, 7 December 2009
Southampton Against the Nazis
As people are probably aware according to the southampton Echo The English Defence League are planning a march in the city, below is Southampton Uafs unity statement .
The most up to date version,with all the most recent signatories can be obtained by clicking the Southampton Uaf link on the right.
Please circulate and sign.
Southampton Unity Statement
We the undersigned strongly oppose plans by the “English Defence League” —a racist group with links
to the fascist British National Party —to hold a demonstration in Southampton in January.
The EDL has a track record ofwhipping up race hatred against Muslims and against Asian people in
general. Its members have been filmed making Nazi “seig heil” salutes and shouting disgusting racist
slogans at previous demonstrations.
Islamphobia—bigotry against Muslims —is as unacceptable as any other form of racism. It divides and
weakens our society by making scapegoats of one community, just as Hitler’s Nazis did by targeting Jews
in the 1 930s. Today the EDL threatens Muslims, tomorrow it could be Jews, Hindus, Sikhs, black people,
lesbians and gay men, travellers or Eastern Europeans.
Southampton has a proud history of helping with most of the major refugee movements of the 20th
century including refugees from Nazism in the 30s and children fleeing the horrors of the Spanish Civil
War in 1 937. Many have remained here and contribute to the cultural and religious diversity of our city.
There is no place for racists or fascists in Southampton's multi-racial, multi-cultural and mutli-religious
community. That is why we stand in solidarity with Southampton's Muslim community and against the
poisonous bigotry of the EDL.
Signatories include,
Adnan Chaudry, Dorset Race Equality Council
Bob Cox, Southampton Unite against Fascism
Bobby Noyes, President, Southampton Trades
Union Council
Glyn Oliver, NUT Representative
Steve Squibbs, Secretary, Hampshire UNISON
Library Shop stewards cttee.
The most up to date version,with all the most recent signatories can be obtained by clicking the Southampton Uaf link on the right.
Please circulate and sign.
Southampton Unity Statement
We the undersigned strongly oppose plans by the “English Defence League” —a racist group with links
to the fascist British National Party —to hold a demonstration in Southampton in January.
The EDL has a track record ofwhipping up race hatred against Muslims and against Asian people in
general. Its members have been filmed making Nazi “seig heil” salutes and shouting disgusting racist
slogans at previous demonstrations.
Islamphobia—bigotry against Muslims —is as unacceptable as any other form of racism. It divides and
weakens our society by making scapegoats of one community, just as Hitler’s Nazis did by targeting Jews
in the 1 930s. Today the EDL threatens Muslims, tomorrow it could be Jews, Hindus, Sikhs, black people,
lesbians and gay men, travellers or Eastern Europeans.
Southampton has a proud history of helping with most of the major refugee movements of the 20th
century including refugees from Nazism in the 30s and children fleeing the horrors of the Spanish Civil
War in 1 937. Many have remained here and contribute to the cultural and religious diversity of our city.
There is no place for racists or fascists in Southampton's multi-racial, multi-cultural and mutli-religious
community. That is why we stand in solidarity with Southampton's Muslim community and against the
poisonous bigotry of the EDL.
Signatories include,
Adnan Chaudry, Dorset Race Equality Council
Bob Cox, Southampton Unite against Fascism
Bobby Noyes, President, Southampton Trades
Union Council
Glyn Oliver, NUT Representative
Steve Squibbs, Secretary, Hampshire UNISON
Library Shop stewards cttee.
Friday, 4 December 2009
No Platform for Nazis
The recent appearance of BNP leader, Nick Griffin, has generated much discussion over the question of his right to a platform on the BBC and, more generally, over the issue of free speech for fascists. For me this is an old question about which I made up my mind in the course of the struggle against the National Front in the seventies. At that time we, Anti- Nazi League supporters and the left generally argued the case for no platform in every student union and trade union we could and pretty much won the argument throughout the labour and student movement. Today there is a new generation of fascists (the BNP, EDL etc) and anti- fascists and we need to have, and win, the argument again. This is my contribution.
The first reason for refusing Nick Griffin and other BNPers a platform on the BBC and elsewhere in public life is simply that they are NAZIS. I am not opposed to giving them a platform because I don’t agree with them or don’t like them. I don’t agree with (and actively dislike) Tories, and indeed Blairites, but I don’t want to no platform them. Its because they are NAZIS i.e. fascist followers of Adolf Hitler. Some people don’t realise this because it has long been Nick Griffin’s strategy to present the BNP as just British Patriots, but in fact Griffin and other BNP leaders, like fellow Euro MP Andrew Brons, are long standing hard core Nazis who go back to John Tyndall, the NF and Oswald Mosley of the British Union of Fascists (Hitler’s main supporter in Britain). Moreover Griffin is surrounded by hardcore Nazi thugs, like Tony Lecomber, with numerous convictions for racist violence and terrorism.
Nick Griffin
John Tyndall on left
Oswald Mosley in the 30s
Tony Lecomber (5 convictions under Explosives Act, 12 convictions total)
Some people who know the BNP are Nazis don’t realise what this means. Nazis are not just people with unpleasant views. They are a political movement bent on winning power with the aim of destroying democracy (and freedom of speech), destroying the labour movement (who are all ‘Communists’ in their eyes) and driving out, by intimidation and force, non- white ethnic minorities. Whatever Griffin may say in public, the BNP aim of achieving a white only, non- multicultural Britain could ONLY be achieved by smashing the trade unions and socialist organisations and violent intimidation and persecution of people of colour, and Griffin knows this.
The second main reason for not giving the BNP a platform is that we are not just talking about words here. Every time and everywhere the BNP gets a foothold or an airing of its views there is an increase in racist violence and attacks. This is what happened in SE London when the BNP had its headquarters in Welling, culminating in the racist murder of Steven Lawrence. Its what happened with former BNP member, David Copeland , the nail bomber who bombed Brixton, Brick Lane and Soho. Griffin will not go on TV and openly urge violence but that’s what his thug sympathisers on the street will hear and act on.
Stopping the BNP (and other fascists) from growing and building influence, including by stopping their marches, and denying them public platforms is therefore both a political duty, a necessary act of solidarity with all vulnerable minorities AND, for everyone of colour, LGBT people, Jews, Muslims, trade unionists, socialists etc a matter of self preservation. To put it personally, if the BNP were in power I, and people like me, would be in prison at best and most likely dead. In a town or community where they were dominant I and people like me would not be safe to walk the streets. Anyone who doubts this should check the historical record and see what the fascists did to Rosa Luxemburg and Karl Liebknecht in Germany, to Antonio Gramsci in Italy, to Andreu Nin in Spain and to hundreds of thousands of rank and file socialists across Europe, long before they started on the Holocaust.
Some Common, but Mistaken, Arguments for giving the BNP a Platform
1. Put Griffin on TV, he’ll only make a fool of himself. Griffin was bad on Question Time, but the publicity he received enabled the BNP to get 3000 enquiries for membership. Every time Griffin or other BNP leaders get these platforms they get more publicity, become more accepted as part of the ‘mainstream’ and gain support.
2. The way to defeat the BNP is by rational argument. Rational argument will work for some people (mostly people who wouldn’t join or vote BNP anyway) but it will not work for many of those the BNP is trying to attract. The BNP’s essential appeal is not rational but emotive. Their appeal is to bigotry and hatred, to people who are fearful and want scapegoats and ‘strong leadership’. Gaining public platforms, such as on the BBC, increases that appearance of strength, as does successfully marching in the streets. Denying them a platform and driving them off our streets shatters that image of strength. The ‘master race’ doesn’t look very masterful when it is forced to flee with its tail between its legs.
3. The BNP are not Nazis because they British not German. This is an argument based on historical ignorance. The German Nazis are the best known example of fascism, but fascism was and is an international phenomenon and movement, which took power in Italy, Austria, Spain, Portugal, Rumania, Japan and elsewhere, and struggled for power in other countries including France and Britain. Today there are neo-nazi movements across Europe including in Russia and outside Europe, in the USA and India.
4. The British people have too much sense to be won over by the BNP. This argument can seem plausible and hard to answer without attacking ‘the British people’ but it is wrong on a number of grounds. Try out, for example, ‘The British people have too much sense to vote for Margaret Thatcher’. Or ‘The British people have too much sense to interested in trashy nonsense like Big Brother or I’m a Celebrity- Get me Out of Here.’ It is not true that the British have some special gene of common sense, unlike Germans, Italians etc , which makes them immune to fascism. What stopped Mosley in the thirties was not ‘British’ common sense but anti-fascist militancy at the Battle of Cable St. and elsewhere. Also the BNP does not have to win over all, or even most, of the British people (and the same applies to fascist movements in other countries). The fascists in Germany, Italy, Spain etc did not gain power by winning majority support but by being put in power in situations of extreme economic or political crisis by the ruling class of those countries in order to smash the left and the workers movement. For that they did not need to achieve a majority only a credible sixe and strength. This can certainly be achieved by the BNP in the future IF we let them.
5. Freedom of speech is an absolute principle, which must be granted even to Nazis. No, it is not an ABSOLUTE principle in this or any other society and cannot be. I do not have an absolute, or any kind, of right to turn up at the BBC and be allowed to speak on Question Time or any other programme, I have to be invited and so does Nick Griffin. Even elected MPs cant demand the right to be on TV, much as they’d like to. Try exercising absolute freedom of speech at the Tory Party Conference or the Labour Party Conference (remember Walter Wolfgang who shouted ‘Rubbish!’ at Jack Straw and was manhandled out by heavies.) Try exercising any kind of freedom of speech in a court of law when the judge tells you not to and you will end up in jail for contempt. In fact there thousands of such restrictions on freedom of speech, in the armed forces, in many jobs, on schools, in the police, and so on. You do not have, and should not have, a right to stand in the street and yell racist abuse at people (indeed you can be arrested for behaviour likely to cause a breach of the peace for a lot less than this). Yet, although the BNP may choose its words carefully this is essentially what the BNP does. They should be stopped before they get too strong for them to be stopped.
What all the above arguments have in common is that they treat the struggle against fascism as if it were some kind of reasoned debate with victory going to the side that presents the most logical arguments ( ‘Now is mass unemployment in Germany really caused by the Jews ? Let’s examine the evidence’) It is not. History shows that it is a social and political struggle ( an aspect of the class struggle) which if the fascists get strong enough will culminate in civil and world war. Defeating Hitler cost 50 million lives. I say ‘ Never Again! Stop them now – by any means necessary!’
Written by John Molyneux
November 30, 2009
The first reason for refusing Nick Griffin and other BNPers a platform on the BBC and elsewhere in public life is simply that they are NAZIS. I am not opposed to giving them a platform because I don’t agree with them or don’t like them. I don’t agree with (and actively dislike) Tories, and indeed Blairites, but I don’t want to no platform them. Its because they are NAZIS i.e. fascist followers of Adolf Hitler. Some people don’t realise this because it has long been Nick Griffin’s strategy to present the BNP as just British Patriots, but in fact Griffin and other BNP leaders, like fellow Euro MP Andrew Brons, are long standing hard core Nazis who go back to John Tyndall, the NF and Oswald Mosley of the British Union of Fascists (Hitler’s main supporter in Britain). Moreover Griffin is surrounded by hardcore Nazi thugs, like Tony Lecomber, with numerous convictions for racist violence and terrorism.
Some people who know the BNP are Nazis don’t realise what this means. Nazis are not just people with unpleasant views. They are a political movement bent on winning power with the aim of destroying democracy (and freedom of speech), destroying the labour movement (who are all ‘Communists’ in their eyes) and driving out, by intimidation and force, non- white ethnic minorities. Whatever Griffin may say in public, the BNP aim of achieving a white only, non- multicultural Britain could ONLY be achieved by smashing the trade unions and socialist organisations and violent intimidation and persecution of people of colour, and Griffin knows this.
The second main reason for not giving the BNP a platform is that we are not just talking about words here. Every time and everywhere the BNP gets a foothold or an airing of its views there is an increase in racist violence and attacks. This is what happened in SE London when the BNP had its headquarters in Welling, culminating in the racist murder of Steven Lawrence. Its what happened with former BNP member, David Copeland , the nail bomber who bombed Brixton, Brick Lane and Soho. Griffin will not go on TV and openly urge violence but that’s what his thug sympathisers on the street will hear and act on.
Stopping the BNP (and other fascists) from growing and building influence, including by stopping their marches, and denying them public platforms is therefore both a political duty, a necessary act of solidarity with all vulnerable minorities AND, for everyone of colour, LGBT people, Jews, Muslims, trade unionists, socialists etc a matter of self preservation. To put it personally, if the BNP were in power I, and people like me, would be in prison at best and most likely dead. In a town or community where they were dominant I and people like me would not be safe to walk the streets. Anyone who doubts this should check the historical record and see what the fascists did to Rosa Luxemburg and Karl Liebknecht in Germany, to Antonio Gramsci in Italy, to Andreu Nin in Spain and to hundreds of thousands of rank and file socialists across Europe, long before they started on the Holocaust.
Some Common, but Mistaken, Arguments for giving the BNP a Platform
1. Put Griffin on TV, he’ll only make a fool of himself. Griffin was bad on Question Time, but the publicity he received enabled the BNP to get 3000 enquiries for membership. Every time Griffin or other BNP leaders get these platforms they get more publicity, become more accepted as part of the ‘mainstream’ and gain support.
2. The way to defeat the BNP is by rational argument. Rational argument will work for some people (mostly people who wouldn’t join or vote BNP anyway) but it will not work for many of those the BNP is trying to attract. The BNP’s essential appeal is not rational but emotive. Their appeal is to bigotry and hatred, to people who are fearful and want scapegoats and ‘strong leadership’. Gaining public platforms, such as on the BBC, increases that appearance of strength, as does successfully marching in the streets. Denying them a platform and driving them off our streets shatters that image of strength. The ‘master race’ doesn’t look very masterful when it is forced to flee with its tail between its legs.
3. The BNP are not Nazis because they British not German. This is an argument based on historical ignorance. The German Nazis are the best known example of fascism, but fascism was and is an international phenomenon and movement, which took power in Italy, Austria, Spain, Portugal, Rumania, Japan and elsewhere, and struggled for power in other countries including France and Britain. Today there are neo-nazi movements across Europe including in Russia and outside Europe, in the USA and India.
4. The British people have too much sense to be won over by the BNP. This argument can seem plausible and hard to answer without attacking ‘the British people’ but it is wrong on a number of grounds. Try out, for example, ‘The British people have too much sense to vote for Margaret Thatcher’. Or ‘The British people have too much sense to interested in trashy nonsense like Big Brother or I’m a Celebrity- Get me Out of Here.’ It is not true that the British have some special gene of common sense, unlike Germans, Italians etc , which makes them immune to fascism. What stopped Mosley in the thirties was not ‘British’ common sense but anti-fascist militancy at the Battle of Cable St. and elsewhere. Also the BNP does not have to win over all, or even most, of the British people (and the same applies to fascist movements in other countries). The fascists in Germany, Italy, Spain etc did not gain power by winning majority support but by being put in power in situations of extreme economic or political crisis by the ruling class of those countries in order to smash the left and the workers movement. For that they did not need to achieve a majority only a credible sixe and strength. This can certainly be achieved by the BNP in the future IF we let them.
5. Freedom of speech is an absolute principle, which must be granted even to Nazis. No, it is not an ABSOLUTE principle in this or any other society and cannot be. I do not have an absolute, or any kind, of right to turn up at the BBC and be allowed to speak on Question Time or any other programme, I have to be invited and so does Nick Griffin. Even elected MPs cant demand the right to be on TV, much as they’d like to. Try exercising absolute freedom of speech at the Tory Party Conference or the Labour Party Conference (remember Walter Wolfgang who shouted ‘Rubbish!’ at Jack Straw and was manhandled out by heavies.) Try exercising any kind of freedom of speech in a court of law when the judge tells you not to and you will end up in jail for contempt. In fact there thousands of such restrictions on freedom of speech, in the armed forces, in many jobs, on schools, in the police, and so on. You do not have, and should not have, a right to stand in the street and yell racist abuse at people (indeed you can be arrested for behaviour likely to cause a breach of the peace for a lot less than this). Yet, although the BNP may choose its words carefully this is essentially what the BNP does. They should be stopped before they get too strong for them to be stopped.
What all the above arguments have in common is that they treat the struggle against fascism as if it were some kind of reasoned debate with victory going to the side that presents the most logical arguments ( ‘Now is mass unemployment in Germany really caused by the Jews ? Let’s examine the evidence’) It is not. History shows that it is a social and political struggle ( an aspect of the class struggle) which if the fascists get strong enough will culminate in civil and world war. Defeating Hitler cost 50 million lives. I say ‘ Never Again! Stop them now – by any means necessary!’
Written by John Molyneux
November 30, 2009
Monday, 23 November 2009
Zero Tolerance to Nazi Graffiti in Portsmouth
We recently had a complaint about Racist graffiti in one of the blocks in portsmouth.This was reported to one of the council officers in portsmouth.It appears that the offending graffiti has now been removed.
We approached the council for a clarification of what its policy is.The situation is that any graffiti which is felt to constitute hate speech will be cleaned off promptly,within 24-48 hours after a complaint has been lodged.
If a complaint is made on a duty phone over the weekend then council workers have to use their own judgment as to whether to take action over it.
The days when anti-racists had to spend an evening doing a"paint-out" with a look-out are over.This is another area where progressive politics have gone mainstream.
However it requires somebody to make the complaint.
Don't assume that somebody else has made the call.
Ring up and complain!
Graffiti Removal:
02392834092
cityhelpdesk@portsmouthcc.gov.uk
We approached the council for a clarification of what its policy is.The situation is that any graffiti which is felt to constitute hate speech will be cleaned off promptly,within 24-48 hours after a complaint has been lodged.
If a complaint is made on a duty phone over the weekend then council workers have to use their own judgment as to whether to take action over it.
The days when anti-racists had to spend an evening doing a"paint-out" with a look-out are over.This is another area where progressive politics have gone mainstream.
However it requires somebody to make the complaint.
Don't assume that somebody else has made the call.
Ring up and complain!
Graffiti Removal:
02392834092
cityhelpdesk@portsmouthcc.gov.uk
Love Music Hate Racism gig reportback.
Uaf Portsmouth would like to thank all those,as they say,who made it possible.Firstly many thanks to Ben the events manager at little johnny Russells and all the staff who did such a great job.
Harri who got the whole thing staged.
Gareth for making a pointed speech .
Chris for getting the publicity around town and Sam and Hannah for doing all the work around the students union.
Nobody of course would have turned up at all if it weren't for the talent.
Thanks to Joe Wells for compering the evening.
Thanks to the performers, Liver and Lungs,Joey Tu, Tommy Comstock and Rob Moore.
The gig was a huge success on many fronts.It was a great evening and we managed to sign several people up for future activism and sold heaps of badges and T shirts.
In all £200 was raised for pompey Uaf.
None of this money will be spent on perks for the commitee it will all go on building the campaign against the BNP in portsmouth,on rallies leaflets etc.
Many thanks to everyone who organised and supported the event.
There are two future Love Music Hate Racism events being organised.
If you want to help organise them or are in a band etc please contact Gareth on 07968417429.
Harri who got the whole thing staged.
Gareth for making a pointed speech .
Chris for getting the publicity around town and Sam and Hannah for doing all the work around the students union.
Nobody of course would have turned up at all if it weren't for the talent.
Thanks to Joe Wells for compering the evening.
Thanks to the performers, Liver and Lungs,Joey Tu, Tommy Comstock and Rob Moore.
The gig was a huge success on many fronts.It was a great evening and we managed to sign several people up for future activism and sold heaps of badges and T shirts.
In all £200 was raised for pompey Uaf.
None of this money will be spent on perks for the commitee it will all go on building the campaign against the BNP in portsmouth,on rallies leaflets etc.
Many thanks to everyone who organised and supported the event.
There are two future Love Music Hate Racism events being organised.
If you want to help organise them or are in a band etc please contact Gareth on 07968417429.
Sunday, 8 November 2009
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)