Hodge: Unite Against Fascism ‘vital’ to beating BNP’s Griffin in Barking

Barking’s MP Margaret Hodge has acknowledged the contribution of campaign group Unite Against Fascism in the resounding election defeat of Nazi BNP leader Nick Griffin and his party’s council candidates.

Hodge said: “Unite Against Fascism was part of the winning strategy in Barking which focused on those areas where the BNP were strongest. Our emphatic victory on 6 May in the local and general elections is a reflection of the support we received from Unite Against Fascism who made a vital contribution to the campaign to drive the BNP out of Barking.”

She added: “UAF put in months of work that began before the elections. They knocked on thousands of doors and distributed many more leaflets. This helped to mobilise to beat the BNP and increase voter turnout which made such a difference in reducing the BNP’s vote.”

Hodge’s comments are cited in a post-election briefing on the UAF campaign.

Longstanding antifascist campaigner Peter Hain MP also praised the UAF campaign, saying: “The BNP's Achilles heel is that they live in the Nazi hinterland. Labelling them as Nazis was a central factor in defeating the BNP. It's great to see UAF organising like the Anti Nazi League.”

Sabby Dhalu, joint secretary of UAF, added: “The BNP has experienced its first defeat since electoral rise from the 2001 general election. It has lost 27 councillors - including 12 in Barking and Dagenham , held only 2 council seats and gained none.

“A big factor in the BNP's defeat was the rise in voter turnout because the local elections coincided with the general election so the BNP's vote was squeezed. However UAF's role was crucial because the BNP suffered a setback in the its key target areas of Barking, Stoke and Dudley where the BNP's vote was reduced from 2005 and UAF prioritised campaigning in these areas.”

Drubbing at the ballot box

In his introduction to the document, UAF joint secretary Weyman Bennett said: “The best news of the election was the drubbing the Nazi BNP received at the ballot box. First came the shattering defeat of Nick Griffin in Barking and Dagenham constituency in East London. In the BNP’s number one target seat and one which they thought they could win, Griffin came third with 6,620 votes (14.6% of the vote). Labour’s Margaret Hodge won with 24,628 votes (54.3% of the vote). Then came the glorious news that the BNP had lost every single seat it held on Barking council.

“This massive set back for the BNP was repeated around the country. It lost the large majority of the 31 council seats they were defending at these elections. They retained a seat in Pendle, but they lost the other 8 seats they stood for in the area. In Stoke, where Griffin bragged the BNP would take control of the council the BNP lost every seat including their three councillors up for re-election. They now have just four councillors on Stoke council. In Burnley the BNP lost all ten seats they were standing in, including the one seat up for re-election. Again in Barnsley they failed to win any seats, and in Sandwell the BNP lost two sitting councillors.

“Over the last two months hundreds of Unite Against Fascism activists campaigned, leafleted and canvassed in Barking. Across the country millions UAF leaflets were distributed, in Barnsley over 8,000 people attended the Love Music Hate Racism carnival and our anti BNP advan toured the country.”

Warning note

But Bennett also sounded a warning note, saying: “We must not be complacent. The BNP still got a worrying 563,743 votes across the country — and the combined vote of the BNP and UKIP was 1.6 million. The BNP are not going to disappear. The election setback for the BNP has seen tensions rise inside the organisation: there are a number of key members of the BNP calling for the head of Nick Griffin. There is also a strong possibility that sections of the BNP will be further drawn towards the racist street thugs of the English Defence League.”

Only 8 days left till the general election!

In the last few days we need one big push to make sure we have done our best to stop the Nazi BNP making any gains in the upcoming general and local elections. Please come along to at least one of the events on the list and send me an email to say what you can come to.

Thursday 29th April - 9.30am "Love Marmite Hate the BNP" at the Royal Courtsof Justice, nearest tube Holborn. Unilever are taking the BNP to court re the Nazis alleged use of the Marmite brand in their recent party political broadcast. The fascist BNP have called for their supporters to attend as Fuhrer Nick Griffin will be heading up the Nazis' 'defence'. Lets join together in a show of unity against them polluting our streets with their hate. Please spread the word and bring banners,

Friday 30th April - 5.30 pm leaflet Finsbury Park tube for gig (if you can do your local tube, I can send you the leaflets to print off)

Saturday 1st May - 11.30am UAF Day of Action in Turkey Street. The BNP are standing an MP for this area, we need to show that they are not welcome. Meet at 11.30 am at Turkey Street station, we will have a stall outside the station where people can help. We will also be leafleting houses Hertford Road.

Saturday 1st May - 8pm Love Music Hate Racism gig at The World's End, Finsbury Park with the Counterfeit Beatles (flyer attached)

Sunday 2nd May - ALL OUT FOR BARKING Unite Against Fascism Day of Action
Stop Nick Griffin's bid to become Barking's MP and the Nazis taking over Barking/Dagenham Council; meet from 11am at Jazzie Jake Restaurant, North St, Barking, 1g11, nearest tube BARKING. for more details call 07969 630056.

Please email uafnorthlondon@gmail.com to confirm what events you can attend.

Dudley celebrates multi-culturalism and rejects the race hatred of the EDL

On Saturday a number of coaches travelled from across the country to show solidarity with Dudley as Unite Against Facism held "One Dudley Many Cultures".

The carnival was brilliant with a wide range of speakers from Trade Unions and the inter-faith forum including David Walker, Bishop of Dudley, Cllr Pete Lowe, Lye & Wollescote, Khushid Ahmed, chair of Dudley Muslim Association, Steve Beardsmore, Unison, Jim Warner, Dudley Trades Council. Also, we were kept entertained with Dj's, drummers and other musicians.

In contrast, the EDL were marched to a disused car park on the edge of town. There were several violent clashes as they attempted to break through police lines to run riot through the town. Witnesses describe hearing several vile anti-Muslim chants from the EDL, including: "If you build your f—king mosque, we'll burn it down."

Weyman Bennett, joint secretary of UAF, said: "Today was a success for anti-racists and anti-fascists. The EDL were forced to huddle in a car park on the edge of town. They showed their true colours when they unsuccessfully tried to break out and run riot. In contrast UAF and local anti-racist groups mounted a powerful show of unity against the EDL and their friends in the Nazi BNP.

"The policing of today's events in Dudley stands in sharp contrast to tactics used in Bolton two weeks ago. There the police marched the EDL into the centre of town and attacked the anti-racist protest. In Dudley the EDL were not allowed into the town centre and the anti-racist protest was allowed to go ahead unmolested. The authorities should take note when policing future such events."

From Dudley news - EDl begin to riot and get out of the police kettle, whilst police stand by: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zf_ttJjxtL0&feature=related

Video of the EDl rioting and the police condemning the EDL, also showing the UAF peaceful demo: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MPUdBArUntw

All who oppose EDL need to take a stand. Join Unite Aganist Facism and get involved.

Victory in Bolton and the upcoming events

On Saturday 50 people from North London travelled up to Bolton to join 3000 UAF protesters from across the country who successfully opposed the racist English Defence League's anti-Muslim rally.

The UAF protest was split up by the police - around 2000 UAF protesters held the north side of Bolton's Victoria Square from early morning and thoughout the day. A further 1,000 anti-racists were prevented from joining the main UAF demo until late afternoon. Once all the UAF supporters were finally allowed to gather together, they took part in an impromptu anti-racist parade through Bolton.

Around 800 EDL racists brandishing anti-Muslim placards were marched into the south side of Victoria Square by police at around 3pm. When a group of local Asian youths joined the UAF protest, the EDL responded with fury, hurling bottles and coins at the counter demonstration. The racists were hustled out of the square by police a short while later, around 4pm.

The scenes in Bolton on Saturday underline the urgent need for the trade union, anti-racist and workers' movement to mobilise against the EDL and the fascist BNP. We cannot stand by and let EDL racist thugs intimidate Muslims and spread terror on our streets.

We need to make sure all anti-racists and anti-facists are at Dudley on Saturday 3rd April to oppose the EDL's next demo. Contact uafnorthlondon@googlemail.com or 078453 291 469 for a coach ticket asap!

A few interesting links:
Analysis of the media coverage of Bolton - http://exposethebnp.com/2010/03/20/the-battle-of-bolton-and-the-media/
Video of the Bolton demo on Saturday 20th March http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=np09fgMgpN4

BOLTON TOMORROW

Only 2 tickets left for the coach to Bolton - get in contact now to get your ticket before they all run out.

It is set to be a good day tomorrow - around 60 coaches from across the country are heading to Bolton to show solidarity with the people of Bolton and to say NO to the racist EDL.

To make sure that it is an absolutely brilliant day, we need to make sure everyone who opposes racism is on a coach to Bolton. To get on the North London bus leaving Finsbury Park - call 07853 291 469.

National Demo against the EDL this Saturday!

Only 3 full days left till Bolton - have you got your ticket yet? We are fast filling up on our second coach, so you must buy your ticket asap!

The racist English Defence League are hoping to march again - this time through Bolton - to whip up race hatred against Muslims. When they were allowed to march through Luton and Stoke recently they smashed cards, attacked shops and assaulted Asians. UAF have called a counter protest in Bolton this Saturday 20th March, meet 11 am at Victoria Square. It is ESSENTIAL that all anti-racists attend this demo - we are the majority and we need to show this to the EDL and BNP.

The coach will leave Finsbury Park at 6am and will bring us back - tickets cost £18 (students and employed can have a lower rate if needed). Please contact if you are interested, we need everyone there.

Email uafnorthlondon@googlemail.com or call 07853 291 469 to get a seat on the North London bus. If you need to catch a bus from somewhere else in London/England there are details of all other coaches on www.uaf.org.uk

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.