Statement from UAF

The prospect of the English Defence League [EDL] coming to Bradford on Saturday 28 August demands a sober and effective response from the anti fascist movement as whole. We wish to explain why we believe it is vital that there is a peaceful multicultural celebration in Bradford city centre on the day of the EDL action.

This is in contrast to the view expressed in the August edition of Searchlight magazine and in the Morning Star newspaper, by Hope Not Hate organiser Nick Lowles, where he argues that banning the EDL march in Bradford “….is our only option and sole focus.”

UAF supports the call made by Bradford trade unions, local community and faith groups for a ban of the proposed EDL demonstration in Bradford on Saturday 28. But we do not agree that this is the ‘only option’, nor that if “thousands of EDL supporters manage to get into Bradford then we have already lost”, as Lowles’s argument continues. On the contrary, the experience of Stoke and Luton tells us that the EDL are more likely to go on the rampage when there is no public opposition to them on the day of their actions.

Firstly, on the call for a ban. In the view of UAF and many others, section 12 and section 13 of the Public Order Act, allow the police to ban both marches and static demonstrations. However to date, apart from one in Luton, the authorities have refused to ban EDL demonstrations. Therefore, in our view, the response to the EDL planned mobilisation in Bradford has to be to campaign for a ban, and at the same time take the necessary steps to put in place a peaceful celebration of multicultural Bradford in the event that the EDL are allowed to assemble there.

UAF has been engaged in serious discussion over many months, with the communities targeted by the EDL, other faith communities, local and national trade unions and many others, to consider the most effective way to respond to these EDL actions where they are allowed to go ahead. From these discussions, clear support has been expressed for ensuring that the EDL are not allowed to go unopposed, and that there should be events held that assert the positive local support for their multicultural, diverse and united communities.

Accordingly, Bradford Unite Against Fascism is organising with trade unionists, faith groups, community groups and others a “We are Bradford” peaceful, multicultural celebration of unity to show that the overwhelming majority of the people of the city reject the EDL’s poisonous message. The event being organised is not a “counter demonstration”.

It will be held in the city centre, and there will be transparent arrangements made with the police, with whom the ‘We Are Bradford’ event is co-operating fully to ensure that there is no confrontation with the EDL. This will demonstrate that Bradford does not welcome the attempts by the EDL to whip up hostility between communities, strengthen the solidarity of all Bradford’s communities against racism, and will also provide the media with a focal point to profile the breadth of support for multicultural Bradford, rather than allowing the agenda to be dominated by the EDL.

In the framework of both mobilizing support for a ban and preparing for the eventuality that this call is ignored, Unite Against Fascism invites Hope not Hate to jointly organise with us a peaceful multicultural celebration on Saturday 28 August in the city centre.

Unite Against Fascism is acutely aware of the huge responsibilities facing the anti fascist movement in Bradford given the experience of the 2001 riots and the electoral breakthrough by the BNP in 2004 in the wake of the racist myth about so called ‘Asian grooming’ of young white girls for sex.

But we believe that a disorganised and chaotic response to the EDL coming to Bradford is more likely if the anti fascist movement does not fulfill its duty on the 28 August to organise a safe place for all those people who will undoubtedly wish to make their voices heard against the threat of the EDL and in support of our multicultural society. The issue is whether the response to the EDL’s presence is properly stewarded and channeled to a peaceful, positive event - not whether there will be a response. Failure to organise such a response would also send a signal to the EDL that they are free to escalate their actions against the Muslim and other communities without any expression of the breadth of opposition to their message of hate.

We are also concerned at the possible implication of Nick Lowles’ comment that “The EDL is coming to Bradford to provoke another riot. Let’s not give them one.” [Searchlight August 2010] We must be very clear that experience tells us that the EDL does not need an excuse to start a racist riot.

In Dudley the EDL attacked a Mosque, and Hindu & Sikh temples. We also have to emphasise that the responsibility for violence in the town rests with the EDL and not the peaceful gathering organised by the local Interfaith Forum, Unite Against Fascism and others.

We should not give any ground to the myth that the EDL is a legitimate, peaceful movement which is ‘provoked’ into violence. Nor is it acceptable for anyone to imply that people supporting a peaceful celebration of our multicultural society on the same day as an EDL action are in any way responsible for provoking the EDL.

If the anti-fascist movement is to deal effectively with the threat posed by the EDL it is necessary for it to understand the causes of its growth and its relationship to the British National Party.

In the context of a rise of Islamophobia across society the EDL has been allowed to make gross attacks on the freedom of conscience, thought, religion and cultural expression of Muslims including actions outside mosques. If there were demonstrations against Christian churches or Jewish people and synagogues there would quite rightly be widespread outrage and condemnation.

Unite Against Fascism consistently argued, both before and after the 2009 European election, that the election of even one BNP MEP would represent an historic breakthrough for British fascism with serious negative consequences. We now see in Britain an embryonic pogrom movement in the form of the EDL which is a direct product of that BNP breakthrough. There is a de facto far right division of labour: the BNP does the electoral politics whilst the EDL intimidates on the streets.

The UAF has been clear that both these threats must be countered, and was central to the local campaigns against the BNP in Barking, Stoke-on-Trent and other areas of the country where the BNP were successfully driven back electorally.

But, in developing our strategy and tactics we must never forget that the fascists are not primarily a parliamentary party. They seek to impose their views by force – intimidating communities and if they ever come to power eradicating their opponents. Therefore, alongside the campaign of mass action to oppose them electorally, it is also vital to develop a movement that comes to the defence of communities under attack, demonstrating to the fascists that these communities are not isolated and will not be left to stand alone.

We have to reply to the EDL by demonstrating that the labour movement, other faiths, those of goodwill, will celebrate our multicultural society in the face of the fascists’ attempts to whip up hatred, prejudice and fear. We only need to look at other European countries to see what happens when movements akin to the EDL are allowed to grow without this type of broad response. It leads to an increase in racist violence directed against whole communities, including arson and murder.

The EDL is a racist organisation that concentrates on anti-Muslim prejudice as a focal point for racism. It will seek to organise any anti-Muslim current but starts with those, such as football ‘casuals’ most prepared to ‘take to the streets’. Contrary to the media’s portrayal of the EDL as being opposed to ‘extreme Islam’, in reality it seeks to create a street force capable of intimidating and attacking the Muslim communities, and further down the line to pose a physical threat to other black and Asian communities and to the labour movement.

Over the last year the anti-fascist movement has learned many lessons about how we can successfully celebrate and defend our multicultural society against the attacks of the EDL. In Dudley, UAF worked closely with local communities to peacefully celebrate ‘one society, many cultures’. This was such a broad and united response that dismay at its success has been publicly voiced by leaders of the EDL. The effectiveness of this campaign, and the support it won locally, was also reflected in a dramatic decline in the BNP vote in the General election in the town and the warm support it received from the local media.

More recently, the march celebrating Tower Hamlets, on the day of the planned EDL demonstration, brought together the breadth of the anti-fascist movement, including local elected politicians, faith communities, trade unionists, lesbian and gay activists and all those who oppose fascism. It was the largest anti-fascist mobilisation for a decade. It was a peaceful, focused and vibrant expression of unity.

We believe that the anti-fascist movement has a duty to stand in unity with all those in Bradford and beyond who wish to publicly show their support for our multicultural society and their opposition to Islamophobia in the face of a national mobilisation of the EDL. The anti-fascist movement will not be forgiven if it abandons those people to their fate on 28 August.

For details of the coach from Leeds to Bradford please call 0788 6387361.

Regional UAF statement on the Leeds UAF rally on October 31st

The English Defence League [EDL] action in Leeds on Saturday 31 October is the latest manifestation of the rise of racism and Islamophobia over the last two decades.

The 'Celebrate and Defend Multicultural Leeds' rally called by Leeds Unite Against Fascism attracted over 1200 people from communities across the city. The rally had widespread backing - from the trade union movement including Yorkshire & the Humber TUC and Leeds Trades Council, the Muslim and Jewish communities, faith groups, students, LGBT campaigns amongst many others.

It succeeded in demonstrating that the vast majority of Leeds people support their multicultural city and ensuring that the 400 racists from the EDL were unable to achieve their goal of dominating the city centre on Saturday.

Unite Against Fascism remains firm in its belief that anti Muslim prejudice continues to be the cutting edge of the fascist BNP and groups like the EDL – in the same way as anti Semitism was in the 1930’s and racism directed at black people was in the 1950’s and 1960’s.

Contrary to the media’s portrayal of the EDL as being opposed to ‘Extreme Islam’ in reality it seeks to create a street force capable of intimidating and attacking the Muslim community, and further down the line to pose a physical threat to other black and Asian communities and to the labour movement.

The most overt example of this to date was the demonstration called by the EDL outside the Harrow Mosque on 11 September. This was all the more provocative because it was called on a Friday, the main day for Muslim prayers. Yet there was no advance condemnation of this from the government or national media.

The Harrow events show how dangerous the situation has become. One only has to think of the national outcry which would rightly greet a call for a demonstration against Jews outside a Synagogue or against Christians outside a Church on a Sunday.

The EDL is a racist organisation that concentrates on anti-Muslim prejudice as focal point for racism. It will seek to organise any anti-Muslim current but starts with those, such as football ‘casuals’ most prepared to 'take to the streets'.

The EDL has grown on the back of the increasing legitimisation of Islamophobia and the breakthrough by the BNP in June. As predicted by UAF, every racist thug in the country has been emboldened and encouraged to make their particular contribution to the ‘cause’ of racism.

We must remind people that the lesson of history is that democracy and the multicultural society cannot defend themselves. We have to manifest in words and deeds that the overwhelming majority of society rejects racism, Islamophobia and fascism. To not oppose the EDL would lead to even larger actions by them, the creation of no go zones for black and Asian people and direct attacks on communities as in Oldham in 2001. The recent EDL action outside the Harrow mosque is a taste of what is to come.

The ability of the EDL to attract over 500 people to its Manchester rally and 400 in Leeds is further evidence that the problem is not going to disappear without a mobilisation of everyone who supports our multicultural society and who rejects the EDL’s racism and Islamophobia, with the labour movement and all those immediately threatened by the EDL and the rise of racism at the centre of the campaign.

We only need to look at other European countries to see what happens when movements akin to the EDL are allowed to grow. It leads to the creation of pogrom movements with an increase in racist violence directed against whole communities, including arson and murder.

Last Saturday’s events in Leeds are further proof that only a united anti fascist movement which consistently challenges racism, discusses what works and is led by the labour movement and those under immediate threat from the BNP & groups like the EDL, will have the capacity to succeed.

UAF will ensure that diversity and multiculturalism will be celebrated and defended whenever the EDL attempts to gather in our towns and cities - their racism cannot go unopposed.

Protest in Leeds: Sat 31 October, 12 midday, outside the Art Gallery on the Headrow

Anti-racists, politicians, faith leaders, trade unions and community leaders and have signed the statement opposing the EDL marching in Leeds and calling for unity to celebrate and defend multicultural Leeds.

The statement reads:

"We the undersigned strongly oppose plans by the 'English Defence League' - a group linked to the fascist BNP - to demonstrate in Leeds city centre. The EDL is a racist group dedicated to attacking Asian people and Muslims. Islamophobia - bigotry against Muslims - is as unacceptable as any other form of racism. Its aim is to divide us by making scapegoats of one community, just as the Nazis did with the Jews in the 1930s.

Today they threaten the mosque, tomorrow it could be a synagogue, temple or church. Today they threaten Muslims, tomorrow it could be Jewish people, Hindus, Sikhs, black people, lesbians & gay men, travellers or Eastern Europeans. There is no place for Nazis, racists or the BNP in Leeds multi-racial, multi-cultural and multi-religious community.

We call on the Home Secretary and the police to ban the EDL action.

We also urge people to attend the peaceful ‘Celebrate and defend multicultural Leeds’ rally to be held outside the Art Gallery on Saturday 31st October at midday."

Signatories so far include:

Organisations:

Yorkshire and Humberside TUC, Yorkshire and Humberside UCU, Leeds TUC, Yorkshire and Humberside UAF.

Individuals: Fabian Hamilton MP, Councillor Richard Brett (Leader of Leeds City Council), Bill Adams (Regional Secretary, TUC), Sue Dorsey (President of the Leeds Jewish Representative Council), Right Reverend John Packer (Bishop of Ripon and Leeds), Paul Clays (Regional secretary of the CWU), Tim Roache (Regional Secretary of the GMB), Ian Stephenson (Regional Secretary of the NUT), Councillor Arif Hussain, Councillor Josephine Jarosz, Councillor Mohammed Iqbal, Councillor Adam Ogilvie, Asghar Khan (Prospective councillor), Zubeda Arshad (Armley Mosque), Revd Ashley Hardingham (Minister Chapel Allerton Baptist Church), Gill Goodswen (Vice President, NUT), Tony Stanley (Leeds REC), Mick Hooson (NAPO - West Yorkshire Branch Chair), Keith Allen (Actor), Tony Walsh (PCS Negotiations officer), Patrick Murphy (Leeds NUT secretary), Prof Malcolm Povey (President Leeds Uni UCU) Andy Brammer (Wakefield TUC secretary), Brian Mulvey (Leeds City Council UNISON Branch secretary), Bill Chard (GMB Regional Organiser), Sally Kincaid (NUT - Wakefield and District Divisional Secretary), Ken Cridland Lancashire Secretary (National Union of Teachers), Ian Murch (National Treasurer of the NUT and Bradford divisional secretary), Alex Kenny (NUT National Executive member), Andy Lee (Central Sec, CWU Leeds #1 branch), Geoff Lockyer (Organiser, PCS Leeds & District Revenue Branch) and many others.

For more information, or to add your name to the unity statement send an email to info@leedsuaf.org.uk

UAF National Response

Demonstrate in London outside the BBC on Thursday 22 October! The BBC has confirmed that it is inviting Nick Griffin, leader of the fascist British National Party and a man with a criminal conviction for denying Hitler's Holocaust, onto its flagship Question Time programme on Thursday 22 October in London.

Unite Against Fascism condemns the BBC for extending an invitation to a Nazi. We are calling a demonstration outside Question Time to show our opposition to Griffin and to the BBC's shameful decision to grant him a platform.

We encourage all anti-fascists in the London area to come to the demonstration and to apply for tickets to the Question Time audience. We are also encouraging people around the country to organise protests on the day outside their local BBC offices.

Weyman Bennett, joint secretary of UAF, said: "The BNP is not a normal, democratic party. It is a Nazi party whose political agenda is to destroy democracy and wipe out ethnic minorities in Britain. By granting Griffin a primetime platform the BBC is in practice helping to legitimise the BNP and its politics of race hatred."

Sabby Dhalu, joint secretary of UAF, said: "We unequivocally oppose the BBC's decision to invite the fascist BNP onto Question Time. Giving fascists a prominent platform simply encourages their thugs on the streets to engage in racist, Islamophobic and homophobic violence."

Leeds UAF will shortly post details about a protest in Leeds against the decision of the BBC.

Anti-fascists were jubilant after over 2,000 protesters marched and rallied in Codnor, Derbyshire, against the British National Party's "Red, White & Blue" rally being held in area that weekend. A full coach travelled from Leeds to join other UAF groups from around the country in Codnar.

The main body of the protests involved a 1,500 strong march from Codnor Market Place up to the site of the BNP's festival of race hate. A separate group of 500 anti-fascists occupied road a junction in the nearby village of Denby, causing severe disruption to the fascist event and at some points blockading it completely.

The two groups of demonstrators joined together in the afternoon outside Crosshill Church in Codnor for a united march back to the market place.

One of the favourite chants on the day captured the spirit of unity against the BNP: "We are black, white, Asian and we're Jew / And they're many, many more of us than you."

Earlier in the day there were sets of protesters occupying both ends of Codnor-Denby Lane, thereby "kettling" the BNP rally and preventing any BNP members or their guests from getting to the event. Protesters came in coaches from across the country, from Glasgow to Portsmouth.

There were angry scenes at the entrance to the "Red, White & Blue" as the anti-fascist march was prevented from marching past the site by lines of police vans, officers and horses. But by and large the protesters were confident and good-humoured but resolute in their opposition to the fascists.

Unite Against Fascism is aware of around a dozen anti-fascists arrested on the day, mostly those involved in occupying road junctions. We believe that such tactics of non-violent direct action are a legitimate response to the BNP's racist thuggery and we do not believe anyone should be arrested for such actions.

Weyman Bennett, joint secretary of Unite Against Fascism, said: "This was a great day for anti-fascists. We brought more protesters to Codnor this year than the numbers the BNP managed to attract to its 'festival' of race hatred. They had fewer people attending this year because the protests drove away their softer supporters.

"Protesters also managed to cause real disruption to the event by making it difficult if not impossible for the BNP's supporters and guest speakers to get into the event.

"Today we saw what can happen when black and white, young and old, Muslim and Jew, gay and straight, come together in unity to fight the fascist BNP. We now need to build this anti-fascist movement in every locality where the Nazis are active – and drive the BNP out of town."

Anti-fascists show the people of Leeds and Yorkshire reject the fascist politics of the BNP

Six hundred people attended the Unite Against Fascism regional rally and march in Leeds on Saturday June 13.

The event demonstrated the breadth of opposition to the breakthrough by the BNP in the Euro elections. The day also saw an impressive contingent of trade unionists and young people.

Speakers included trade unionists, local councillors and representatives from the student movement, as well as disability and LGBT campaigns.

All the speakers emphasised that the BNP is not a normal political party - but a fascist party dedicated to trying to create an 'all white Britain' - something which can only be achieved by violence and the destruction of democracy. If we are to succeed in isolating and defeating the BNP it will require a mass campaign which unites all those opposed to the BNP and challenges the racism it attempts to feed on.

At the end of the rally we marched down the Headrow also avoiding a potential conflict with the Orange Order who had booked the space outside the art gallery later in the afternoon.

It was great to see the very positive response we received from passers-by, including some joining the march, as we headed through the city centre towards the BBC studios.

The march ended and dispersed after a short rally outside the BBC. Speakers voiced their opposition to the fascists being given legitimacy and an 'easy ride' by the BBC.

Since the Euro election last week UAF protests in our region have seen hundreds of new people joining the anti fascist movement.

Over the coming weeks and months Leeds UAF will be launching a broad range of initiatives across the city to maximize the opposition to the BNP and celebrate our multicultural society.

Unite to Stop The BNP - assemble outside the Art Gallery, The Headrow Saturday 13 June at 11 am

Yorkshire & Humber Unite Against Fascism will be holding a protest on Saturday June 13 outside The Art Gallery, The Headrow at 11 am.

Last night saw the fascist British National Party (BNP) gain its first two seats in the European parliament. BNP candidate Andrew Brons, a former stalwart of the National Front and a lifelong Nazi, narrowly took the final MEP place in the Yorkshire & the Humber region. The fascists polled 120,139 votes, representing 9.8% of the vote as compared to 8.0% in 2004.

BNP leader Nick Griffin took the final MEP place in North West England in the early hours of today. Griffin, who has a criminal conviction for incitement to racial hatred, polled 132,094 across the region, or 8.0% of the vote as compared to 6.4% in 2004.

John Campbell, Chair, Yorkshire & the Humber Unite Against Fascism said: "This is a major turning point in British politics. This breakthrough by the BNP threatens to normalise the presence of a fascist party on the British political scene in a similar manner to Jean-Marie Le Pen's Front National in France. We cannot allow this to happen. Yorkshire & Humber Unite Against Fascism is committed to mobilising the largest possible mass movement across every walk of life to stop the fascist BNP and drive them out of the political mainstream - linking all democrats, trade unions, minority communities and the great majority of society against racism and fascism."

Abdul Gooljar, Islamic Society of Britain said: “The BNP are 21st century Nazis who threaten all our democratic freedoms. They try to take advantage of people's anxieties in an economic crisis to scapegoat minorities. We will not allow them to divide the people of Yorkshire.”

Dan Cohen, President Beth Hamidrash Hagadol Synagogue in Leeds said: “A British National Party MEP is a disaster and a tragedy for Yorkshire. A disaster as the BNP has nothing to offer other than its outdated message of intolerance and hate. A tragedy as we have just commemorated 65 years since the D-Day landings, where our grandparents literally risked and in some cases gave up their lives to fight against fascism. The BNP may wear a mask of respectability, but they are no different to any those we fought 65 years ago."

Bill Adams TUC Regional Secretary said, “a day of shame for democracy in Yorkshire and the Humber. Over the very weekend we have celebrated the start of the defeat of Fascism on D-Day 1944, the electorate return to the European Parliament an admirer of Adolf Hitler to represent us in Europe. We must continue to campaign against the fascists who seek to divide our communities, spread hate and fear with racist policies, and who are committed anti Europeans. Their success comes from people not voting in the election, not from some mandate they claim to have across the region”

Fiona Edwards, Woman’s Officer, Sheffield University Students’ Union said: “We must all rededicate ourselves to uniting all those who reject the fascist BNP’s poisonous messages. We will not allow the BNP to abuse democracy in order to destroy it.”

Leeds UAF urges all those who oppose racism and fascism to join us on Saturday 13 June at 11am to show the majority of the people of Yorkshire will not allow the fascist BNP to spread their racist lies.

Large groups of anti-fascists have given out tens of thousands of leaflets across Leeds as the campaign to stop the BNP intensifies.

Leeds Unite Against Fascism (UAF) has organised stalls and door to door leafleting across Leeds in Harehills, Hyde Park, Beeston, Temple Newsom, Leeds city centre and at Leeds United and Leeds Rhinos matches. Further leafleting is planned in the above areas as well as Headingley, Meanwood, Chapel Allerton, Moortown and other areas.

Leeds UAF has also been contacted by individuals and small groups as part of the "Not In My Street, Not In My City" campaign. Leaflets have been delivered to anti-fascists who want to leaflet their own street and local area to encourage their community to use their votes to stop the BNP gaining an MEP.

Leeds UAF encourages all those who oppose fascism to use their vote to defeat the BNP.

Leeds UAF leaflets Temple Newsam

Leeds UAF has leafletted a large part of the ward and plan further activities over the next few weeks.

The BNP is planning to cynically use the Temple Newsam by-election to spread racist myths to divide our communities.

Leeds UAF encourages all those who oppose fascism to use their vote to defeat the BNP.

Anti fascist activists encourage people of Chapeltown to use their votes to stop the BNP

Leeds UAF is organising mass leafleting sessions accross Leeds to ensure the anti-fascist majority use their votes to stop the BNP getting an MEP in the European elections in June.

Leeds UAF plans to organise many events in the next few months to encourage the people of Leeds to vote to stop the BNP.

Please email info@leedsuaf.org.uk if you would like to help the campaign to defeat the BNP.