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'''Unite Against Fascism''' is an anti-fascist organisation in the [[United Kingdom]] that campaigns against [[far right]] wing and [[fascist]] parties and groups in Britain, primarily the [[British National Party]] (BNP), which it identifies as the principal threat. Its aim is to "campaign with the aim of alerting British society to the rising threat of the extreme right, in particular the BNP, gaining an electoral foothold in this country."<ref>UAF website, [http://www.uaf.org.uk/aboutUAF.asp?choice=1 "What is the UAF?"]</ref> It has also recently taken demonstrations against the [[English Defence League]] in their demonstrations against the Islamification of the West.
'''Unite Against Fascism''' is an anti-fascist organisation in the [[United Kingdom]] that campaigns against [[far right]] wing and [[fascist]] parties and groups in Britain, primarily the [[British National Party]] (BNP), which it identifies as the principal threat. Its aim is to "campaign with the aim of alerting British society to the rising threat of the extreme right, in particular the BNP, gaining an electoral foothold in this country."<ref>UAF website, [http://www.uaf.org.uk/aboutUAF.asp?choice=1 "What is the UAF?"]</ref> It has also recently taken demonstrations against the [[English Defence League]] in their demonstrations against the Islamification of the West.

The organisation is on the [[far-left]] of British politics and according to the [[Red Pepper (magazine)|Red Pepper]] magazine, it was set up by the Trotskyite [[Socialist Workers Party of Britain]] and the "[[National Assembly Against Racism]]", which also has some union and other backing.<ref>{{cite web| title = Unite Against Fascism | publisher = [[Red Pepper (magazine)|Red Pepper]]| url = http://www.redpepper.org.uk/Anti-fascism-isn-t-working| accessdate = 2009-09-12 }}</ref>


==History==
==History==

Revision as of 15:34, 12 September 2009

Unite Against Fascism
Formation2003
TypePressure group
HeadquartersLondon
Chairman
Ken Livingstone
Key people
Weyman Bennett
(Joint Secretary)
Sabby Dhalu
(Joint Secretary)
Billy Hayes
(Treasurer)
Lee Jasper
Websitewww.uaf.org.uk/

Unite Against Fascism is an anti-fascist organisation in the United Kingdom that campaigns against far right wing and fascist parties and groups in Britain, primarily the British National Party (BNP), which it identifies as the principal threat. Its aim is to "campaign with the aim of alerting British society to the rising threat of the extreme right, in particular the BNP, gaining an electoral foothold in this country."[1] It has also recently taken demonstrations against the English Defence League in their demonstrations against the Islamification of the West.

The organisation is on the far-left of British politics and according to the Red Pepper magazine, it was set up by the Trotskyite Socialist Workers Party of Britain and the "National Assembly Against Racism", which also has some union and other backing.[2]

History

The group was formed in late 2003 as part of a coalition between the Anti-Nazi League and the National Assembly Against Racism, the TUC and leading British unions such as T&G (now Unite) and UNISON in response to electoral successes by the BNP.[3]

Its chairman is the former Labour Party mayor of London, Ken Livingstone, and its joint secretaryship is shared by Weyman Bennett, the national organiser of the Anti-Nazi League and a member of the central committee of the Socialist Workers Party, and Sabby Dhalu, formerly of the National Assembly Against Racism (NAAR).

Members and supporters

The organisation has signatories and members from across the political spectrum including MPs from all of Britain’s leading political parties and a number of members of the Labour cabinet. Other notable signatories include Holocaust survivor Henry Guterman.[4]

At Unite Against Fascism's 2007 national conference, speakers ranged from cabinet minister Peter Hain to Edie Friedman of the Jewish Council for Racial Equality (JCORE)[5] and Dr. Muhammad Abdul Bari from the Muslim Council of Britain, as well as figures from the major UK trade unions.[6] Right-wing members include Conservative Party leader David Cameron and former Conservative MP Sir Teddy Taylor.[7]

Activities

Unite Against Fascism often organises large protests against the BNP including outside the trial of BNP leader Nick Griffin and Mark Collett on race hate charges at Leeds Crown Court. Unite Against Fascism also jointly called the rally of over 1,000 people when Nick Griffin and holocaust denier David Irving spoke at the Oxford Union in November 2007.[8] In 2005 the anti-fascist magazine Searchlight disaffiliated from UAF after an argument over tactics to defeat the BNP.[9][10]

Westminster demonstration

On 9 June 2009, the UAF demonstrated against a press conference given by Nick Griffin and Andrew Brons outside the Houses of Parliament, following their election as MEPs. Demonstrators marched towards the group with placards, chanting anti-nazi slogans and then threw eggs at Griffin forcing the abandonment of the press conference. Members of the press were also hit.[11] The protesters also kicked Griffin's car and beat it with placards as he was led away from the scene.[11] Two members of the public were hospitalized as a result the demonstration.[12] Nick Griffin claims that the attack was carried out with the backing of the Labour Party.[13][14]

The UAF demonstrated once again at the BNP's next attempt to hold a press conference at a pub in Miles Platting, north of Manchester the following day.[15] They chanted anti-fascist sentiments and tried to drown out Nick Griffin, the party's leader, by playing Bob Marley songs at high volume[16]. One protester was arrested after spitting in the direction of one of the BNP's car.[17]

Red, White and Blue Festival demonstrations

Police arrested 19 protesters[18] during Unite Against Fascism demonstration against the British National Party's Red, White and Blue festival in Codnor, Derbyshire on Saturday August 15, 2009. The BNP said one of its members had been arrested.

Four people have been charged: three with public order offences and one with unlawfully obstructing the highway.[19][20][21][22]

English Defence League

Not only has the UAF demonstrated against the BNP, but also the EDL which has declared no support to the BNP and has condemned racism as well but on August 2009 the EDL clashed with Unite Against Fascism at a protest in Birmingham, resulting in 35 arrests.[23] Later that month the EDL, Casuals United (a closely linked group), and two other groups were banned for three months from marching in Luton (the site, in March 2009, of an Islamist protest against British troops recently returned from Afghanistan[24]).[25] Further violent clashes between the EDL and anti-fascist counterprotesters occurred on September 5, again in Birmingham, resulting in ninety arrests.[26][27]

See also

References

  1. ^ UAF website, "What is the UAF?"
  2. ^ "Unite Against Fascism". Red Pepper. Retrieved 2009-09-12.
  3. ^ "Unite Against Fascism". Socialist Worker. 2003-12-06. Retrieved 2009-06-12.
  4. ^ UAF website,"UAF supporters include:"
  5. ^ See Jewish Council for Racial Equality website
  6. ^ UAF website, "Hundreds gathered to launch campaign against the fascist BNP's May election offensive" 23 Feb 2007
  7. ^ UAF website,"UAF supporters include:"
  8. ^ Matthew Taylor, "Irving and Griffin spark fury at Oxford Union debate", The Guardian, 27 Nov 2007
  9. ^ Editorial in Searchlight, July 2005
  10. ^ Letter of resignation to UAF in Searchlight, July 2005
  11. ^ a b "Egg attack on BNP leader Griffin". bbc.co.uk. 2009-06-09. Retrieved 2009-06-09.
  12. ^ "Two People In Hospital After BNP Protest". BSkyB. 2009-06-09. Retrieved 2007-06-11. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  13. ^ "BNP leader Nick Griffin pelted with eggs by protesters". The Daily Telegraph. 2009-06-09. Retrieved 2007-06-12. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  14. ^ "Why we threw eggs at the BNP". BBC. 2009-06-09. Retrieved 2007-06-11. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  15. ^ [1]
  16. ^ [2]
  17. ^ [3]
  18. ^ http://www.socialistworker.co.uk/art.php?id=18806
  19. ^ http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2009/aug/16/bnp-fiore-red-white-blue-protest
  20. ^ http://uk.reuters.com/article/idUKTRE57G3EI20090817
  21. ^ http://www.etaiwannews.com/etn/news_content.php?id=1033178&lang=eng_news
  22. ^ http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/top-stories/2009/08/16/protest-clash-at-bnp-festival-115875-21599848/
  23. ^ http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/politics/lawandorder/6067813/Luton-bans-marches-amid-fears-of-protests.html
  24. ^ http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/4976105/Luton-parade-protesters-were-members-of-extremist-group.html
  25. ^ http://www.lutontoday.co.uk/lut-news/Fears-of-further-violence-prompt.5577389.jp
  26. ^ British Broadcasting Corporation "Rival protesters clash on streets," (September 5th, 2009 - retrieved on September 7th, 2009).
  27. ^ http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/west_midlands/8240414.stm

External links

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Unite_Against_Fascism&oldid=313382032"