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Oldham Riots: Media Hypocrisy & Police Lies

No Platform - Anti-Fascist Network | 29.05.2001 02:32

Asian Youth say -This far and no further!!

For weeks the Asian community of Oldham have waited with patience at the behest of
community ‘leaders’ and police despite far-right provocation. Local racists buoyed up by
media and police lies, electioneering politicians and nazi propaganda thought that
Saturday night was the night to make their mark.

Asian Youth say -This far and no further!!

For weeks the Asian community of Oldham have waited with patience at the behest of
community ‘leaders’ and police despite far-right provocation. Local racists buoyed up by
media and police lies, electioneering politicians and nazi propaganda thought that
Saturday night was the night to make their mark. They got more than they bargained for
after a gang of white youths attacked Asian homes and women in the Glodwick area of the
town. Asians - defending themselves and their communities - were arrested while the racists
walked free. Local Asian youth could not sit by any more.

The police provoked this riot just as they had provoked the original ‘cause’ for grievance
from a layer of the white community in Oldham which the NF have been trying to stoke ever
since. A vicious assault on a white pensioner was presented as a ‘racial attack’ by the police
and their media dupes despite the man and his family saying the incident had nothing to
do with racism.

Yet again any illusions in waiting for state laws - the ‘authorities’ and the ‘law’ to ban nazi
marches and provocation have been shown to be an illusion and a waste of time.

We say Self-Defence is No Offence.

No Platform support the youths who are defending themselves against fascist provocation
and racist / police attack. No Platform supports work towards building a genuine united
self-defence campaign alongside the Asian community to support all those held and to
support the active defence of the local community against further attacks. We call on all
anti-fascists and anti-racists in Oldham to extend their hand to build this.

The kept media will now be spouting off about the need for ‘peace’ and ‘understanding’ and
crudely presenting this as ‘Asians v Police. Maybe they should of thought about that before
spreading the propaganda and lies on which the far-right have been feeding. The Asian
community in Oldham did not want this and did not start this but they have shown that they
are willing to finish the fight if forced to. So the police got a bloody nose – they deserved it.
As Malcolm X would have put it: "The chickens have come home to roost"

No Platform - Anti-Fascist Network
- e-mail: noplatform@antifa.net
- Homepage: http://www.antifa.net/noplatform/

Comments

Hide the following 16 comments

if it were only that simple

29.05.2001 08:33

We have to remember there are two 'sides' that are feeling aggrieved in these confrontations. The arguement is spilling out of control the more people talk about 'asian youths' and 'white youths'. This only breeds the same kind of lazy grouping of people that results in 2000 of us being trapped in oxford circus to prevent the 20 or 30 twats in nike and gap from starting a ruck with anyone they fancy.

Fact is, it's not asian or white youths who are responsible, it is *individual people* and the stories I have been hearing suggest that individual white and asian youths have been carrying on the great british tradition of acting like complete fucking morons, intent on smashing stuff and injuring people because of the colour of their skin.

I expect the vast majority of people involved, from both 'sides' of this dispute, want no trouble at all, but the white population has been wound up by seemingly irresponsible press coverage and police statements. They feel scared to go into certain areas and the less intelligent amongst them probably see the BNP as some sort of guardian force.

There is high unemployment in oldham and a lot of unhappy people. Violence is seemingly bound to happen. I just hope its at the right targets.

Interestingly, smarmy blair said white extremists were to blame for the trouble (maybe he was talking about the police.) Wouldn't it be nice if he could apply the same logic to other situations and blame greedy scumbag corporations when all their windows get smashed.

townie
mail e-mail: cant_cope@hotmail.com


Police comment on vandalism

29.05.2001 11:21

See this comment from a corporate website (I refuse to publicise it here):
"The evening has been more vandalism than violence," a police spokesman told Reuters.

Why do they call it vandalism in this case and violence in the case of anti-capitalist demos and celebrations, when it is the same thing?

ana
mail e-mail: anapena@fsmail.net


Re: Police Comments on Vandalism

29.05.2001 14:21

It's all part of the Spin, a march/protest is Violent as this label discourages people from attending.

When a community stands up to Racists/The police they are vandals - ie they have no political motivation and are really just a bunch of drunken yobs and if they were not in Oldham they would be in any town center at closing time or at a football match. This means they and their grievences ignored.

The aim is to stiffle debate - the Tony starts his comments with support for the police, and then blames mindless thugs or "rent a mob". This means that only protest through the established political parties is allowed, and nothing ever changes

Mark


Re: Police Comments on Vandalism

29.05.2001 14:21

It's all part of the Spin, a march/protest is Violent as this label discourages people from attending.

When a community stands up to Racists/The police they are vandals - ie they have no political motivation and are really just a bunch of drunken yobs and if they were not in Oldham they would be in any town center at closing time or at a football match. This means they and their grievences ignored.

The aim is to stiffle debate - the Tony starts his comments with support for the police, and then blames mindless thugs or "rent a mob". This means that only protest through the established political parties is allowed, and nothing ever changes

Mark


Fight the power!

29.05.2001 19:36

From Montreal, we ARA, Sharps and other anti-racist.. we salute you for your struggle! Keep up the good fight and trash all Nazis!

Leo


Black and white,unite and fight

30.05.2001 11:05

Interesting that Mark says the police will try to make out that those involved in the riots will be labelled thugs who 'would otherwise be in town at closing time or at a football match'.Guess what,Mark?The police have blamed the riots on football fans.As if those 600 Asian youths were stood at the burning barricades chanting 'You're City and you're shit' at the police.Some of the Oldham Athletic hooligan firm were apparently involved in taunting local Asians,doing their best to perpetuate the myth that parts of Oldham,and the football club in particular,are the real 'no-go areas'-for Asians.So if any of them are reading this (and they almost certainly aren't but just in case),I'd like to say,as an Oldham Athletic supporter and an Anti-Nazi League activist:Fuck off you lowlife scum.You're an embarrassment.
As for the Asian Youth and the Anti-Fascist Network:all power to you.Self defence is no offence.

rosa
mail e-mail: staybeautiful68@hotmail.com


Why waste evolution???

30.05.2001 12:03

It just goes to show that you can't actually trust the media or the goverment. The person who knows whats going on is the man bleeding in the gutter, regardless of race.
When people realize that they are not hurting their enemy, they are just hurting the whole of humanity.

Bob
mail e-mail: lorreiro@hotmail.com


Fight the power!

30.05.2001 13:46

We salute the defenders of the Oldam Asian community.

Your determination and bravery in defence of your community is a shinning example to all anti-fascists.

Stop all Fascists and fascist protectors.

Socialist Alliance, Melbourne Australia.

Hamish


You can't ban Nazis

30.05.2001 14:54

And trying to is arse-about-face. Freedom of opinion MUST be preserved, regardless of whether those opinions are odious. By all means, prosecute people who commit violent offences; give them heavy sentences if their crimes are motivated by bigotry. But you cannot outlaw bigotry in and of itself. It is every human being's right to be an ignorant, hate-spewing moron.

Cheers

Evan Morris
mail e-mail: evan_m@hotmail.com


Electioneering

30.05.2001 18:25

The only rascists sit in the House of Commons and orchestrate riots like Oldham, for divide and rule tactics for party political points and an excuse to enforce 'the rule of law.' SUBMISSION TO ORDERS IS THE LAW!

Ann Archy


you r doing just what they want you too.

31.05.2001 16:28


It is perfectly understandable that Asian youth feels revolted with everyday remarks, and provocations, that it reached this point. i am a foreign living in england, and everyday i feel the same. I feel like breaking their faces, but i don't want to go that low. Thats what they want. THe far right movement, are nothing but a bunch of spooty, drunk, skinheads with only one aim.Chaos. and you are giving them what they want. Rebel? yes, absolutly. But not through cheap violence, in your own neiberhood. That's just pointless. They now Asian are ruling britain, and is through imposing your culture and belifs that you are going to defeat them. Far right? It is too late, the global revolution is starting.It is time to unite, not to seperate.

hasta la vitoria, siempre.

unknown soldier
mail e-mail: j0057451@bcuc.co.uk
- Homepage: www.indymedia.org


well done Oldham

01.06.2001 11:52

Well done the youth of Oldham. It shows what a community can do to fight the Nazi/Nasty elements. The fact that there was an alleged 'no white zone' was media hype by those in power who want to keep in power by demonising those who are non-white. At Mayday 2001 there was talk of using plastic bullets, but this did not happen. It did in Oldham and in Toxteth 81 both 'non white'. The only no go areas in Britain are Buckingham palace, Whitehall and any place which the Royal frequent.
Maybe we should take over these?

Well done the Asian Youth of Oldham.

bob
mail e-mail: cudted23@yahoo.co.uk


Solidarity

02.06.2001 15:39

From Nottingham - Solidarity with all those people defending the Asian community in Oldham
against the fascists.

Rich





rich
mail e-mail: coho@krang.f9.co.uk


Understandable but also regrettable

03.06.2001 19:57

All,

The reaction by a number of the asian youth of Oldham to intense provocation by the far-right is understandable but should not be congratulated as it solves nothing.

A riot between asian youths and police was the probable desired outcome for combat-18 et al. How better to incourage hatred and distrust of the asian populace among the white residents of Oldham.

I only hope this will not lead to votes for the BNP in next weeks election.

Phil


Tottaly unjustifed violence

06.06.2001 08:02

The violence in Oldham cannot be blamed on racist thugs. If local Asians have been upset by racism in the area this is no way to solve the problem. Innocent white people have been attacked and a pub destroyed. This violence of theirs does not give people a good impression of the Asian community either and will create further racism.
Local community leaders should condemn the violence and appeal for calm.

FC
mail e-mail: mortonhill@hotmail.com


fucking morons

28.06.2001 10:24

asians v police how much stupider is the world going to get?

shahina
mail e-mail: shahina_aktar@hotmail.com


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