UAF opposed the EDL march on London

On Friday around 350 anti-facists confronted the racist EDL who marched on London to 'greet' Islamaphobe Geert Wilders at the Houses of Parliament, who was showing his film 'Fitna'.

Black and white, students, workers and trade unions came out to oppose the EDL, who were allowed to protest at Paliament by the police - despite a ban for all other groups. Anti-facists groups managed to mobilise 350 people at one day's notice and held the road for over two hours stalling the EDL. However, the police picked off the protest one by one and used dogs and horses to keep anti-facists kettled in, whilst they allowed the racist EDL to march.

The EDL chanted "Muslim bombers off our streets" and some were seen raising Nazi salutes as they passed UAF protesters. Members of the Nazi BNP were photographed on the protest, including Chris Renton from Weston Super Mare.

Anti-facists protesters continued to oppose the EDL until the end and were addresed by a number of union delegates and MPs. Steve Hedley of the RMT union said “The BNP have put on suits in an effort to get elected. But the EDL is their street fighting faction. These are our streets, they not going to be the Nazis’ streets.”

Jeremy Corbyn MP told anti-racists, “If we want a decent and democratic society free of racism then we have to stop the BNP and the EDL.”

The EDL cannot be allowed to march. All anti-racists and anti-facists must attend Bolton on Saturday 20th March to prevent the EDL terrorising ethnic minorites and whipping up race hatred.

Contact uafnorthlondon@googlemail.com to book your caoch ticket from Finsbury Park.

Picture by Guy Smallman - http://www.guysmallman.com/ - brilliant photos of the demo on Friday among others.

Emergency protest this Friday 11am!

UAF demo against the rally called by the EDL to greet and support Gert Wilders, the Islamaphobic Dutch MP. Wilders has been invted to the House of Lords by Malcolm Everard MacLaren Pearson, Leader of UKIP, to show his racist film Fitna.

Wilders was banned from coming to the UK before due to his racist remarks. He has described the Netherlands as facing a “tsunami of Islamification” - the Netherlands Musilim population is 6%. Also, he has said that a “head rag tax” should be issued on Muslim women who wear headscarves.

Protest against this racist coming to whip up race hatred and bolster the BNP. The EDL have arranged coaches to bring people in and the police are allowing the EDL to march. It is crucial that we do not let the EDL march in London - we need a big crowd to stand up and show that these racist and thugs are not allowed on our streets.

It is vital that we get as many people down as possible - please tell all your friends/colleagues etc.

Say No to the EDL in Bolton! Saturday 20th March

The racist hooligans of the English Defence League plan to descend on Bolton to terrorise ethnic minorities. Unite Against Fascism has called a national counter demonstration for all those who want to defend our multiracial society against the EDL's thuggery and violence.

The EDL visited Manchester in October and desecrated Muslim graves in the area. Then in January the EDL went to Stoke-on-Trent and the words "Islam scum" and "EDL" were daubed on a local mosque.

However, the Scottish Defence League tried to march on Edinburgh (Saturday 20th Feb 2010) and were stopped by a large gathering of 2000 anti-facists, trade unionists, students, lgbt groups and religious groups. Weyman Bennett, chair of UAF, said, “Today marks a turning point. The EDL and their sister organisations in Scotland and Wales said they could march anywhere. Well, today, we showed them that they can’t.”

If we stand united in large numbers we can stop the EDL threatening our community's. We have beaten the facists before and can do it again.

A coach will be leaving Finsbury Park to take all those who want to oppose the facists and want to protect our society. Email uafnorthlondon@googlemail.com to buy your ticket - only £16 return!

Full story plus the Bolton Unity Statement - http://www.uaf.org.uk/news.asp?choice=100219

UAF Conference - a big success!

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."

Get in contact now to get involved!

UAF Conference this Saturday!

Remember sign up for the UAF Conference this Saturday. The day starts at 9.30am at the TUC Congress Centre in Central London, closest tube station is Tottenham Court Road. It is set to be a great day with a wide range of brilliant speakers attending.

UAF North London will have a caucus during the lunch break so that we can organise what we will do together over the next few months.

Book your place now at http://www.uaf.org.uk/news.asp?choice=91217

Stop Nazi Nick in Barking this Saturday 6th February

This Saturday, UAF are holding a Day of Action in Barking to help stop Nazi Nick who is trying to gain a seat in Barking & Dagenham.

Our last day of action in Dagenham saw some 200 anti-facist turn up. Caroline from the Barking Says No campaign. "We're really grateful that so many people came to support to support our efforts in fighting the far right and their political agenda in this borough. I'd urge everyone to come along next time to help the local community in Barking say no to the BNP".

We are meeting at 1pm sharp at Barking tube station - come along for a couple of hours and help do your bit to knock back the Nazi BNP!

Sign up for the UAF Conference 2010

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 last year has seen the rise of the BNP - gaining 2 MEP's, Griffin on Question Time and now Griffin is standing to be an MP in Barking. BUT the BNP have not gone unopposed - UAF have mobilised large, high-profile demonstrations to fight the BNP. Also UAF groups across the country have regularly opposed the EDL in cities such as Manchester, Birmingham 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. Come along to our conference and find out how to join the movement.

More info http://www.uaf.org.uk/news.asp?choice=91217