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Blackpool demonstration against the BNP conference

Lancaster UAF | 15.11.2006 03:58 | Anti-racism | Culture | Social Struggles | Liverpool

North West Region UAF together with Blackpool Fylde and Wyre TUC have called a demonstration against the British National Party holding their badly-named Annual Conference in Blackpool.

The demonstration is an opportunity to show the people of Blackpool that there are antifascists out there who will support those who oppose the BNP and similar fascist organisations, and to show the BNP that there is opposition out here that is prepared to stand up and be counted. We need a BIG turnout for this one - it's likely to be the only large demonstration that will take place in the region between now and the council elections next May.

* Please note venue change *

Plan: If we discover the location of the BNP conference, we will relocate the demo on the day. If not, we'll have a number of speakers followed by a mass-leaflet of the shopping centre - particularly around where the BNP usually have their stall.
Location: Following discussions with the police, the demo has been moved to a better location at the square at the top of Victoria Street at the side entrance to the Winter Gardens. A map that clearly shows the location (marked by an asterisk) is here:  http://82.69.12.18/lancasteruafblog/media/1/mapofdemolocation.jpg
Directions: If you're coming from the prom, aim for Blackpool Tower and Victoria Street is just a few metres to the North of it. Victoria Street is pedestrianised so walk to the other end of it and you'll find us in the big square next to the Winter Gardens. For drivers, the best way is to park up in the Hounds Hill shopping centre multi-storey car park, go out through the shopping centre and you're in Victoria Street. Turn right and the demo is a fifty metre stroll.
Time: 12 noon
Date: Saturday November 25th
Notes: Some speakers have to be confirmed but we'll cover that in updates over the next few days.

Dress up warm. It's chilly in Blackpool in November.

This is our one and only opportunity to show Blackpool BNP that we are here and we are opposing them. It's vital to stop the growth of the BNP in the region and this is our opportunity to make a great start on that. Let's make it big and noisy. Please spread the word about the demo as far and wide as you can.

Amicus Fylde Coast Branch supports the planned anti-fascist demonstration in Blackpool - more here...  http://82.69.12.18/lancasteruafblog/index.php?itemid=541

Lancaster UAF
- e-mail: lancaster.uaf@zen.co.uk
- Homepage: http://82.69.12.18/lancasteruafblog/

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Additions

Grass Roots to stop BNP

16.11.2006 15:30


Anti-fascist campaigners reacted with outrage on Friday of last week as Nick Griffin, leader of the British National Party (BNP), and his sidekick Mark Collett were cleared of charges of incitement to racial hatred.

Griffin and Collett had been prosecuted over speeches at a BNP meeting in Keighley, West Yorkshire, that was secretly filmed by the BBC.

Griffin claimed that gangs of Asian men were drugging and raping white girls as part of an Islamic plot to take over Britain.

He spoke of “Muslim thugs and perverts”, “young paki street thugs” and Britain being “mongrelised out of existence”. Collett made similar allegations about “gangs of Asian males”.

In court Griffin argued that his comments were intended as criticism of Islam, rather than being directed at Asians in general.

“This isn’t a racial thing. It’s not an Asian thing. It’s a cultural and religious thing,” he said.

His defence team argued that Griffin’s views on Islam, expressed in 2004, had since become more acceptable. They cited recent comments by Jack Straw and other senior politicians to argue that such views were now legitimate public debate.

These kind of arguments regularly appear in both the right wing press and its “liberal” counterpart. They have directly fuelled the atmosphere of anti-Muslim racism around this case.

Jon Cruddas, Labour MP for Dagenham, east London, was quite right to say that the government’s “tough” stance on race and Muslims had played into the hands of the BNP.

He said, “We have to be honest in saying that the debate over the veil, talking tough on immigration and race or the language used in the ‘war on terror’ does not reassure people but actually makes the situation worse.”

Weyman Bennett, joint national secretary of Unite Against Fascism, said it was “tragic that a fascist organisation can hide behind free speech”.

But the verdict highlighted the need to build a united grassroots movement against the BNP that could challenge the fascists politically, he added.

“We need to be campaigning against the fascists in our workplaces and communities. The vast majority of people are opposed to the BNP - and we need to mobilise that force against them.”

Anti-fascists cannot rely on the judicial system to stop the BNP. The case underlines the importance of supporting Unite activity on the ground.

Anti-fascists from the north west of England will be travelling to Blackpool on 25 November to demonstrate against a conference the BNP plans to hold there.

Unite and the local TUC will hold a rally in the town centre, followed by a mass leafleting.

Campaigners against the BNP in Barking, east London, will be out on the streets this Saturday to oppose a planned BNP demonstration in the town centre that day.

A broad spectrum of trade unionists, anti-racist activists and faith groups has signed a statement condemning an organised and violent attack by BNP supporters on Unite campaigners in Morley, West Yorkshire recently.

Demonstrate against the BNP in Blackpool—assemble at 12 noon on Saturday 25 November opposite the main entrance to the Winter Gardens on Winstanley Grove.


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Comments

Hide the following 13 comments

yawn

15.11.2006 10:43

go and make yourself look all silly like you did last week!! Why don't you all protest about Muslim extremism? oh i forgot, thats who most of you are......

Very tired


Excellent

15.11.2006 15:04

It'll be a great demo. Looking forward to it.

Keef


We are too

15.11.2006 16:05

Yes we are too. considering our conference will have over 500 delegates attending, we are looking forward to having our lunch break to come and see your silly dirty dozen lol.

Lol


Thanks for the invite

15.11.2006 19:25


See you there then Fasc'




Combat Combat 18


Great

15.11.2006 19:48

We'll follow you back and have a demo at the hotel then. 500 - yeah, right.

Sheesh


See you there

15.11.2006 21:55

I hope to see more of you pathetic moronic losers at Blackpool. You red shites really piss me off. Let's see how tough you are. I willl be in the Manchester Hotel on the saturday night. Anyone fancy their chances?

BNP supporter


You forgot

15.11.2006 22:22

supporter - you forgot to mention your name - who should we ask for at the desk?

Ret Marut


Free speech

16.11.2006 00:12

If the BNP have such an evil message for the public, why bother to protest against it? Surely the public will reject such an evil message without the help of demonstators.

Or could it be that the demonstrators will be the usual lower middle class students who think they are the only ones who stand between the proletatriat and fascism? How arrogant of them. What a petty, studenty ego trip they are all on. Grow up.

simon


Morley Action Against Marxism

16.11.2006 02:45

We're well looking forward to this! This is likely to be the only opportunity between now and the May elections to get out and ambush and do some Reds with ease; it’ll be a bit like fishing with dynamite, so much scum in one place. Get ready.

Anti-Red Action


Beware

16.11.2006 09:42

Beware of Griffin he has friends in high places. If the late John Tyndall had made similar comments about Jews that Griffin made about Muslims he would have been thrown in the deepest dungeon in the land with zero publicity. Very convenient that the head of MI5 makes a big warning about muslim extremists in Britain, which is lead story on every News programme, Radio programme and Newspaper on the day that the jury are deliberating Griffin's fate. Has Griffin has become part of the establishment acceptable face of muslim bashing, joining the likes of Rupert Murdoch and the rest of the Neo-cons???

Stuart


Prick Griffin - Friends in high places

16.11.2006 18:10


Prick Griffin hasn't even got friends in the BNP!!

And 500 delegates my arse - what will you do advertise it as a a free seminar for bald tossers who can't hold their sacks?


Combat Combat 18


Watch this man move

23.11.2006 12:25

Griffin IS government!
In a nutshell, he is bought and paid for by the sate as a frustration buffer and is used as a 'thought machine' tool against the British people as B-liar and Bush push forward in their war against Islam and Lebanon.

It is also interesting that while we protest against Griffin's Nazi party front group in the streets, NewLabour plot and plan with their little MP gimp's without so much as a demonstrator in sight? Also, isn't it strange that the 'UAF' are so heavily supported and funded by them as they do their bidding? What a huge joke.

Dave S


500 delegates - hahaha where were they???

25.11.2006 21:41

Where were your 500 delegates? Only 50 fascists managed to join nick griffin and local organiser roy greenwood at the shameful Kimberley Hotel in Blackpool. You had to lock the doors, and hide inside!! So much for taking on the reds!

Blackpool Dave


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