Unite Against Fascism: Difference between revisions
| Line 55: | Line 55: | ||
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.<ref>[http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/article6474863.ece]</ref> They chanted anti-fascist sentiments and tried to drown out Nick Griffin, the party's leader, by playing [[Bob Marley]] songs at high volume<ref>[http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/article6474863.ece]</ref>. One protester was arrested after spitting in the direction of Griffin.<ref>[http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/article6474863.ece]</ref> |
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.<ref>[http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/article6474863.ece]</ref> They chanted anti-fascist sentiments and tried to drown out Nick Griffin, the party's leader, by playing [[Bob Marley]] songs at high volume<ref>[http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/article6474863.ece]</ref>. One protester was arrested after spitting in the direction of Griffin.<ref>[http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/article6474863.ece]</ref> |
||
== Recent Accusations of fascism and Anti Semitism == |
|||
Unite Against Fascism came under Public and Journalistic criticism recently following the recent demonstration in which newly elected MEP and British National Party leader Nick Griffin was pelted with eggs and forced to retreat with the help of his body guard to a nearby party vehicle. |
|||
Iain Campbell Dale a British author, journalist and aspirant politician for the Conservative Party reacted to the UAF's recent protest with the blog |
|||
"Fascist is a word which is thrown around a lot by the left, mostly by people who haven't got a clue what the word means. They used to call me a 'fascist' at university. So it's somewhat ironic that a group called Unite Against Fascism uses fascist methods to shout down a press conference of a man who has just been elected by several hundred thousand people in a democratic election. That's what happened to Nick Griffin this morning. I can't abide what Griffin stands for and abhor his divisive rantings. But I would defend his right to utter them. That's what happens in a free, democratic society - we may not agree with what someone says but we will defend to the death their right to say it. Except Unite Against Fascism don't quite see it that way. They are the kind of people who believe in 'no platform' for people they disagree with. One of UAF's members actually said on TV today: " I believe in freedom of speech for everybody but fascists." |
|||
David Cameron has come in for some flak for signing up to their aims when they were formed in 2004. I haven't seen their aims and objectives, but no doubt most reasonable people would agree to sign up to a campaign against fascism - but when it takes the form of denying free speech, that's where lovers of democracy must bow out. On today's evidence Unite Against Fascism is nothing but a left wing front organisation whose belief in democracy is as skin deep as the people they purport to campaign against."<ref>http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/politics/5487426/Nick-Griffin-pelted-with-eggs-at-BNP-press-conference.html</ref> |
|||
Unite against fascism has also been accused of Anti Semitism in a recent Guardian Newspaper article written by David Troube dated Wednesday 18 February 2009 in which it was claimed that one of the groups loyal supporters Rowan Laxton was arrested at his local gym on Holocaust Memorial Day when Mr Laxton was Claimed to have "launched a foul-mouthed anti-Semitic tirade"<ref>http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/feb/18/race-raceandreligion</ref> |
|||
== See also == |
== See also == |
||
| Line 76: | Line 63: | ||
==References== |
==References== |
||
<references /> |
<references /> |
||
Recent Accusations of fascism and Anti Semitism references below |
|||
<references/><references/>http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/politics/5487426/Nick-Griffin-pelted-with-eggs-at-BNP-press-conference.html |
|||
<references/>http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/feb/18/race-raceandreligion |
|||
==External links== |
==External links== |
||
Revision as of 23:11, 13 June 2009
 | |
| Formation | 2003 |
|---|---|
| Type | Pressure group |
| Headquarters | London |
Chairman | Ken Livingstone |
Key people | Weyman Bennett (Joint Secretary) Sabby Dhalu (Joint Secretary) Billy Hayes (Treasurer) Lee Jasper |
| Website | www.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 British National Party (BNP), gaining an electoral foothold in this country."[1]
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.[2]
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.[3]
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)[4] and Dr. Muhammad Abdul Bari from the Muslim Council of Britain, as well as figures from the major UK trade unions.[5]
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.[6]
In 2005 the anti-fascist magazine Searchlight disaffiliated from UAF after an argument over tactics to defeat the BNP.[7][8]
Although the organisation is anti-fascist, this does not mean that it is a left-wing pressure group. Members include Conservative Party leader David Cameron and the right-wing former Conservative MP Sir Teddy Taylor.[9]
European election demonstration
On the 9th June 2009, the UAF demonstrated against a press conference being held by Nick Griffin and Andrew Brons outside the Houses of Parliament. 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.[10] The protesters also kicked Griffin's car and beat it with placards as he was led away from the scene.[10]Two members of the public were hospitalized as a result the demonstration, which was illegal as UK law bans protests near to the houses of parliament.[11] Nick Griffin claims that the attack was carried out with the backing of the Labour Party.[12]who had suffered a massive defeat in the European Elections the previous day. The UAF were also criticized by the mainstream media for an attack on the BNP.[13][failed verification]
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.[14] They chanted anti-fascist sentiments and tried to drown out Nick Griffin, the party's leader, by playing Bob Marley songs at high volume[15]. One protester was arrested after spitting in the direction of Griffin.[16]
See also
References
- ^ UAF website, "What is the UAF?"
- ^ "Unite Against Fascism". Socialist Worker. 2003-12-06. Retrieved 2009-06-12.
- ^ UAF website,"UAF supporters include:"
- ^ See Jewish Council for Racial Equality website
- ^ UAF website, "Hundreds gathered to launch campaign against the fascist BNP's May election offensive" 23 Feb 2007
- ^ Matthew Taylor, "Irving and Griffin spark fury at Oxford Union debate", The Guardian, 27 Nov 2007
- ^ Editorial in Searchlight, July 2005
- ^ Letter of resignation to UAF in Searchlight, July 2005
- ^ UAF website,"UAF supporters include:"
- ^ a b "Egg attack on BNP leader Griffin". bbc.co.uk. 2009-06-09. Retrieved 2009-06-09.
- ^
"Two People In Hospital After BNP Protest". BSkyB. 2009-06-09. Retrieved 2007-06-11.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ "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) - ^
"Why we threw eggs at the BNP". BBC. 2009-06-09. Retrieved 2007-06-11.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ [1]
- ^ [2]
- ^ [3]