London United Against the Fascist BNP

Last night people from all over London attended a public rally, called by Unite Against Fascism and sponsored by the National Union of Teachers, to stop the fascist BNP gaining a electoral foothold in Britain. Hundreds of people from across London heard from trade unionists, Steve Chandra Savale (aka Chandrasonic from Asian Dub Foundation), Weyman Bennet (Joint Secretary of UAF), Wes Street (President of NUS), Martin Smith (Love Music Hate Racism), Glynn Ford MEP and Dr Abdul Bari (Muslim Council of Britain).

The rally begun on poignant note with the 30^th Anniversary of the death of Blair Peach , with Jo Lang a close friend of Blair Peach describing the day he was murdered, and how police violence continue today. She fully endorsed the campaign to fight BNP and is actively doing so with The Friends of Blair Peach Committee.

The rally continued with stirring speeches from all members of the teaching trade unions including the acting General Secretary of NUT, Christine Blower. She encouraged local groups to seek funds from their local NUT branches, as the NUT now has a national political fund which is being used to fight the BNP.

Martin Smith from LMHR reminded the rally, that the next six weeks is crucial in the fight against fascists in this country, people need to be reminded that it is now immigrants that cause job losses and deprivation in their communities, but it is the incompetent bankers and businesses that continue to leave people destitute across the country. To rapturous applause, he also reminded the rally that fight against right wing media such as the Daily Express, The Mail, The Telegraph and the BBC that all offer a platform to the BNP, should be challenged.

Overall, the message was clear we have a lot of work to do over the next six weeks if we want to stop the BNP from gaining seats in the European parliament, an emphasis was placed on exposing the BNP for what they really are - Nazi thugs.

The rally was a chance for UAF groups across London to come together to share ideas, and to co-ordinate efforts for Unity Friday, 1^st May, which will see local groups leaflet tube and train stations across London to raise awareness of the very serious threat the BNP poses in the forthcoming election. The electoral system used for European elections favours smaller parties and BNP need around 8.5% to get elected – so every vote counts. We must encourage people to register before 19^th May and use their vote on June 4^th.

The task ahead is monumental, all UAF groups and people who want to stop the BNP need to mobilise now in their workplaces, trade unions and local communities. To get involved in the campaign at this crucial time, please contact: uafnorthlondon@gmail.com or for people in different areas contact www.uaf.org.uk direct.

Peter Hain warns BNP could get £2m EU funds

The British National party could transform British politics and get up to £2m from the EU if the main political parties fail to prevent the far right organisation from winning six seats in the European elections in June, Peter Hain, the former cabinet minister and founder member of the Anti-Nazi League, warns today.

Hain also urges his own party to get its act together at the grass roots to fight the BNP in the elections. Some close allies of Gordon Brown, such as his former parliamentary aide and current government whip, Ian Austin, argue that the best way to combat the BNP is not to predict its success, but to tell the truth about its extremism, and to combat it at local level.

But Labour acknowledges at the highest levels that the elections could transform the BNP from a fringe party at local elections to a national party with European funding. There is also a debate on whether leaders of established political parties should steer clear of leading the fight against the BNP. Campaign groups such as Searchlight, the anti-fascist magazine, believe that attacks from mainstream Westminster figures will only add to the BNP's anti-establishment credentials.

In an article for the Guardian, Hain warns: "Winning European seats would secure an unprecedented platform, and entitle the BNP to draw down hundreds of thousands of euros from Brussels indirectly to buttress their full-time personnel and organisation. With unemployment and job insecurity rising, with some major construction sites appearing to bar local unionised labour, and affordable housing in short supply, these are classic conditions for the BNP's racist and fascist politics to thrive."

Austin, one of Labour's most respected anti-BNP campaigners, said: "The BNP are not a mainstream political party and we won't beat them by saying how many seats they could win."

Taken from Guardian.co.uk

MP for Hornsey and Wood Green adds her support to our campaign

I Lynne Featherstone MP for Hornsey and Wood Green sign the UAF statement:

‘For evil to triumph all that is necessary is that good people do nothing.’

We call, as a matter of the greatest urgency, for the broadest unity against the alarming rise in racism and fascism in Britain today. The fascist British National Party now has a record 54 councillors across Britain. They are poised to field candidates in the 2009 European parliament and local government elections in what they hope will be the biggest electoral assault ever mounted by the far right in this country. The BNP is now trying to present itself as a “respectable” political party. In fact it is a fascist party.

Currently they seek to attract votes on the basis of racism, Islamophobia, anti-Semitism and the vilification of refugees and asylum seekers. But fascists also stand for the expulsion of black and Asian people from this country, the destruction of the trade unions and the elimination of basic democratic rights. We believe that this dangerous situation requires a new and united response from all those dedicated to freedom and democracy. Now is the time for all of us to combine our forces and unite in a broad and common front against this common threat.’

I would like to add the following: The hideous bile of the far right must never rise again. I will do all I can to ensure that the BNP or any others who seek to perpetrate a racist agenda find no place in Hornsey & Wood Green or anywhere.

London united against the fascist BNP

Public rally, Wednesday 29 April, 7pm, Conway Hall, Red Lion Square, London WC1R 4RL

Speakers include: Christine Blower (NUT), Jerry Bartlett (NASUWT), Glyn Ford MEP, Dr Abdul Bari (MCB), Steve Hart (Unite), Martin Smith (LMHR), Weyman Bennett (UAF). Rally called by Unite Against Fascism, sponsored by the National Union of Teachers

The BNP is trying to get its first MEPs elected on Thursday 4 June. And London is one of its targets.

There is a real danger that the BNP could grab enough votes to grab a London MEP at the European elections on Thursday 4 June. They could get in with as little as 8 percent of the vote. London is a multiracial city and the vast majority of Londoners are opposed to the fascist politics of the BNP. We can come together to stop the prospect of a BNP MEP in London. But we need to act now.

Remembering Blair Peach

Blair Peach was a teacher, an NUT member and a committed anti-fascist who campaigned against the National Front in the 1970s. He was on a demonstration in Southall against the NF on 23 April 1979 when he was killed by a blow to the head from a police officer. Thirty years on we still remember him – but we also have to continue his fight by campaigning against the BNP, today’s equivalent of the Nazi NF.

www.uaf.org.uk

Raising Awareness in Enfield

Today we held a stall in Enfield, to raise awareness of the threat the BNP pose in the forthcoming European elections and to promote our Love music Hate Racism open mic night in Palmers Green on May 15th.

The overwhelming response was good, but we must continue to fight against the fascist BNP. We must continue to raise awareness and get people out to vote. As the European election operate under a proportional representation system, the BNP could be elected with only 8% of the vote. We not want fascists representing us in Europe or recieving our money under the expenses system, which would undoubtedly fund the spread racial hatred and division.

If you would like to get invovled in our campaign contact us at uafnorthlondon@gmail.com or call 07794 690091

The BNP is trying to get its first MEPs elected on Thursday 4 June. We have 50 days left to stop them

The BNP is a fascist party that wants an all-white Britain. Its leader Nick Griffin was convicted of incitement to racial hatred for publishing a BNP magazine that denied the reality of the Holocaust. Mark Collett, another leading BNP activist, was caught on camera praising Adolf Hitler and the Nazis. Griffin's right hand man Simon Darby was recently photographed attending a fascist rally in Italy, surrounded by thugs making the 'sieg heil' Nazi salute.

Five ways YOU can help stop the BNP

1: Get involved with your local Unite Against Fascism group. You can find details at www.uaf.org.uk or by phoning the UAF office on 020 7833 4916

2: Join UAF or make a donation at www.uaf.org.uk or using the form below. Your money will help pay for leaflets, adverts, posters and public meetings around the country.

3: Order an activist’s pack to leaflet your street, workplace or town centre.

4: Forward this email to your friends and workmates and warn them about the BNP threat. Make sure they get registered to vote by Tuesday 19 May.

5: Make sure you vote on Thursday 4 June. The European elections work by proportional representation, so any vote against the BNP wil help stop them.

JOIN AND DONATE

Not already a member of UAF? Then join or donate today, by phoning 020 7801 2782 or by visiting our website at www.uaf.org.uk

Financial Appeal for the June elections 2009

We need to act urgently to stop the Nazi BNP. Please donate now!

The British National Party (BNP) is planning to stand in the European elections in June 2009 and will be organising activities across the country.

The BNP is a fascist organisation, and its leader Nick Griffin was convicted in 1998 of incitement to racial hatred after denying that the Holocaust - the murder of 6 million Jews and millions of others – took place. Recent votes received in several regions, including the North West (where Nick Griffin is heading the BNP list), Yorkshire and Midlands, indicate a real danger of the BNP gaining seats to the European Parliament. This would represent a major electoral breakthrough and would allow them huge resources, influence, greater respectability, and the ability to work with other far right and fascist parties in Europe.

Please donate funds now to help stop the BNP gaining seats in the European elections. This will help fund days of action, rallies, large events and press adverts to reach millions in the run-up to these elections.

To donate click here

www.uaf.org.uk

Celebrate Hope with the Hope Not Hate Campaign T Shirt

Celebrating Hope not Hate' is the T-shirted campaign message from www.philosophyfootball.com as the BNP mount their hateful challenge to be elected as MEPs in the 4 June Euro elections. 70 years after Britain went to war to keep the Nazis out why on earth allow one to represent us in Europe? Profits from the shirt help fund the Hope not Hate campaign (see www.hopenothate.org.uk) .

Shirt available in yellow or white, sizes small-XXL plus women's skinny rib, special campaign low-price JUST £14.99. Available from www.philosophyfootball.com

Harriet Harman: 'The BNP are now a bigger threat than ever'

Labour is facing its biggest threat from the BNP, Harriet Harman admits today, as the party gears up to prevent the far right group from winning its first seats in nationwide elections this June for the European Parliament.

Independent article here

Green MEP adds her support to our campaign

I Jean Lambert MEP for London sign the UAF statement:

‘For evil to triumph all that is necessary is that good people do nothing.’

We call, as a matter of the greatest urgency, for the broadest unity against the alarming rise in racism and fascism in Britain today. The fascist British National Party now has a record 54 councillors across Britain. They are poised to field candidates in the 2009 European parliament and local government elections in what they hope will be the biggest electoral assault ever mounted by the far right in this country. The BNP is now trying to present itself as a “respectable” political party. In fact it is a fascist party.

Currently they seek to attract votes on the basis of racism, Islamophobia, anti-Semitism and the vilification of refugees and asylum seekers. But fascists also stand for the expulsion of black and Asian people from this country, the destruction of the trade unions and the elimination of basic democratic rights. We believe that this dangerous situation requires a new and united response from all those dedicated to freedom and democracy. Now is the time for all of us to combine our forces and unite in a broad and common front against this common threat.’

I would like to add the following: I urge people to use their vote in the European elections on June 4th to vote for any Party with a progressive agenda on equality and human rights. I believe it would be shameful for London to be represented on the international level by any Party preaching division, hatred and bigotry. We are a global city: people need to accept that and work for our mutual well-being.

Office of Jean Lambert, Green MEP for London

European Parliament 8G107

Rue Wiertz 60

B 1047 Brussels

Love Music Hate Racism - Live Music Event

UAF North London is holding the first of our live music events in Palmers Green. The open mic night is taking place on 15th May at 8 pm in the The Fox.

The gig is one element of our campaign to raise awareness in the local community about the rising threat posed by the BNP, with a particluar focus on the upcoming European elections.

Please come along and support this worthy cause, oh the people already confirmed to play are awesome and the pub is cool and sells cheap booze, so no excuse really?

For further information, or if you would like to get invovled in our campaign please contact us:

uafnorthlondon@gmail.com or call 07794690091

www.lovemusichateracism.com

North London campaign - 4th April National Day of Action

Our campaign is now in full swing, we will be holding a stall to promote our campaign and the two live music events we have planned for May this Saturday in Enfield town, to conincide with the UAF National day of Action.

If you would like to get involved with our campaign, drop us a line. Anything you can do will help to keep the fascist BNP out of our communities.

Scottish parties unite against the BNP

SCOTLAND'S four main political parties have agreed a united stance against the far-right British National Party at this year's European Parliament elections.
Labour, SNP, Conservative and Liberal Democrat candidates will refuse to appear alongside the BNP during the campaign for the June 4 poll.

Scottish Conservative MEP Struan Stevenson said: "We learned the BNP will be running a full slate of six candidates in Scotland and we have all agreed we will not share a hustings with them. We will not share a platform with fascists and racists.

"If there is anyone who thinks they should invite a BNP candidate to a hustings or TV debate, they won't get the rest of us."

Lothians-based Labour MEP David Martin said: "Politics is about disagreement and competing visions and I'm happy to share a platform with people whom I don't agree 100 per cent with.

"But the BNP is different because they would deny other people such a platform.

"They are an anti-democratic party and a pure racist party."

Original article here