Over 600 people attended Saturday's conference 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."
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