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|website = http://www.uaf.org.uk www.uaf.org.uk
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[[File:Protesters gathering at the BBC TV Centre 2009-10-22.jpg|right|thumb|UAF members outside the [[BBC Television Centre]] protesting the [[Question Time British National Party controversy|appearance of BNP leader Nick Griffin]] on ''Question Time''.]]
[[File:A few protesters gathering at the BBC TV Centre 2009-10-22.jpg|right|thumb|UAF members outside the [[BBC Television Centre]] protesting the [[Question Time British National Party controversy|appearance of BNP leader Nick Griffin]] on ''Question Time''.]]
'''Unite Against Fascism''' is an [[Anti-fascism|anti-fascist]] pressure group in [[Great Britain]], with support from politicians of all mainstream UK [[political parties]]. It describes itself as a national campaign with the aim of alerting British society to a perceived threat of the [[far right]].
'''Unite Against Fascism''' is an [[Anti-fascism|anti-fascist]] pressure group in [[Great Britain]], with support from politicians of all mainstream UK [[political parties]]. It describes itself as a national campaign with the aim of alerting British society to a perceived threat of the [[far right]]. However, there is no mention in it's stated aims of tackling the question of [[Islamic Fascism]] and the rise of ultra-religious groups in the UK <ref name=UAF1 />. Nor do these aims attempt to confront fundamentalist Muslims from preaching against homosexuality, equal rights for women and secular democracy and imposing these beliefs through [[Sharia Law]].


Its chairman is the former [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour Party]] [[mayor of London]], [[Ken Livingstone]]<ref name=UAF3 /> and its joint secretaries are Weyman Bennett of the [[Socialist Workers Party (Britain)|Socialist Workers Party]] and the [[Anti-Nazi League]], and Sabby Dhalu, formerly of the [[National Assembly Against Racism]] (NAAR).
Its chairman is the former [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour Party]] [[mayor of London]], [[Ken Livingstone]]<ref name=UAF3 /> and its joint secretaries are Weyman Bennett of the [[Socialist Workers Party (Britain)|Socialist Workers Party]] and the [[Anti-Nazi League]], and Sabby Dhalu, formerly of the [[National Assembly Against Racism]] (NAAR).

Revision as of 00:08, 25 May 2011

Unite Against Fascism
Formation2003
TypeAnti-fascist pressure group
HeadquartersLondon
Chairman
Ken Livingstone
Key people
Weyman Bennett
(Joint Secretary)
Sabby Dhalu
(Joint Secretary)
Billy Hayes
(Treasurer)
Lee Jasper
Martin Smith
Websitehttp://www.uaf.org.uk www.uaf.org.uk
File:A few protesters gathering at the BBC TV Centre 2009-10-22.jpg
UAF members outside the BBC Television Centre protesting the appearance of BNP leader Nick Griffin on Question Time.

Unite Against Fascism is an anti-fascist pressure group in Great Britain, with support from politicians of all mainstream UK political parties. It describes itself as a national campaign with the aim of alerting British society to a perceived threat of the far right. However, there is no mention in it's stated aims of tackling the question of Islamic Fascism and the rise of ultra-religious groups in the UK [1]. Nor do these aims attempt to confront fundamentalist Muslims from preaching against homosexuality, equal rights for women and secular democracy and imposing these beliefs through Sharia Law.

Its chairman is the former Labour Party mayor of London, Ken Livingstone[2] and its joint secretaries are Weyman Bennett of the Socialist Workers Party and the Anti-Nazi League, and Sabby Dhalu, formerly of the National Assembly Against Racism (NAAR).

History

Unite Against Fascism (UAF) was formed in Great Britain in late 2003 in response to electoral successes by the British National Party (BNP).[3] It began as a coalition that included the Anti-Nazi League, the National Assembly Against Racism, the Trades Union Congress (TUC) and leading British unions such as the Transport and General Workers' Union (T&G) (now Unite) and UNISON. According to Red Pepper magazine, UAF was set up by the Socialist Workers Party and the National Assembly Against Racism.[4] In 2005, the anti-fascist magazine Searchlight disaffiliated from UAF after an argument over tactics to defeat the BNP.[5][6]

At UAF's 2007 national conference, speakers ranged from cabinet minister Peter Hain to Edie Friedman of the Jewish Council for Racial Equality and Dr. Muhammad Abdul Bari of the Muslim Council of Britain (MCB), as well as figures from the major UK trade unions.[7] At UAF's 2009 national conference, Bari was again a guest speaker.[8]

Concern has been raised that the far left SWP is seeking to dominate the UAF[9] and in reports of some counter-demonstrations the UAF has been referred to as left-wing[10][11] However it received support from politicians of all mainstream UK political parties.[12] It describes itself as a national campaign with the aim of alerting British society to a perceived threat of the far right — in particular the British National Party (BNP) — gaining a foothold at local, national and European elections, arguing that "there is a real danger that the BNP could get a significant platform in elected institutions."[1]

Protests against the British National Party

Unite Against Fascism states on its website that its existence is to deny the British National Party any chance of "gaining an electoral foothold"[1] stating that "there is a real danger that the BNP could get a significant platform in elected institutions." It claims the support of organisations representing labour, teachers, and rights activists.[13]

In November 2007, UAF organised a rally of over 1,000 people when BNP leader Nick Griffin and holocaust denier David Irving spoke at the Oxford Union.[14]

On 9 June 2009, UAF demonstrated against a BNP press conference given by Griffin and Andrew Brons outside the Palace of Westminster following their election as MEPs. Demonstrators marched towards the group with placards, chanting anti-Nazi slogans, and threw eggs at Griffin, forcing the abandonment of the press conference. Members of the press were also hit.[15] The protesters also kicked Griffin's car and beat it with placards as he was led away from the scene.[15] Two members of the public were hospitalized as a result of the demonstration.[16] Griffin claimed that the attack was carried out with the backing of the Labour Party.[17][18]

The following day, UAF demonstrated at the BNP's next attempt to hold a press conference at a pub in Miles Platting, North Manchester.[19] They chanted anti-fascist slogans and tried to drown out Griffin by playing Bob Marley songs at high volume.[19] One protester was arrested after spitting in the direction of a car belonging to a BNP member.[19]

In January 2010, when the Pendle branch of the UAF removed a wreath from the War Memorial in Nelson that was laid down by a British National Party member,[20] Richard MacSween of the Pendle UAF said "The BNP have left a wreath and we have removed it because we don't approve of fascism.". In response, Councillor George Adam, from the Nelson and District branch of the Royal British Legion, said: "I'm annoyed - they have no right to remove that wreath. The BNP is a legitimate political party and they have a right to lay down a wreath just as any other members of the public do. BNP Councillor Brian Parker added: "It's disgusting, and it's theft".[21]

Arrests and Controversy

UAF demonstration in Leeds, 31 October 2009.

On 8 August 2009, UAF supporters and English Defence League (EDL) supporters clashed at a protest planned by EDL in Birmingham, resulting in 35 arrests.[22][23] On 19 August 2009, police arrested 19 protesters during a demonstration by UAF against the BNP's Red, White and Blue festival in Codnor, Derbyshire.[24] Four people were charged; three with public order offences and one with unlawfully obstructing the highway.[25][26][27][28] On 10 October 2009, 1,400 UAF supporters gathered to oppose an EDL-organised demonstration in Manchester. Forty-eight people were arrested during the protests.[29][30]

On 22 October 2009, the UAF demonstration against Nick Griffin's appearance on the BBC's Question Time programme resulted in injuries to three police officers.[31] SWP National Secretary and UAF national officer Martin Smith was found guilty of assaulting one of the police officers at South Western Magistrates' Court, London, on 7 September 2010. He was sentenced to a 12-month community order, with 80 hours' unpaid work, and was fined £450 pending an appeal.[32]

On 31 October 2009, about 1,500 UAF supporters met in Leeds city centre to stage a demonstration in opposition to a protest organised by the EDL, which was attended by up to 900 of their supporters. Eight people were arrested for public order offences after minor scuffles. West Yorkshire Police and Leeds City Council issued a joint statement in which they thanked the public and participants of both demontrations for their patience and consideration.[33][34]

On Saturday, 20 March 2010 demonstrations from Unite Against Fascism (UAF) and the English Defence League (EDL) in Bolton led to violent confrontations and the arrest of at least 55 UAF supporters, including the UAF protest organiser Weyman Bennett, on suspicion of conspiracy to commit violent disorder.[35][36][37] At least three EDL supporters were also arrested, and two UAF members were taken to hospital with a minor head and a minor ear injury.[35][36] After Bennett was charged and released, he accused the police of being hostile to anti-racists and called for an inquiry into the police's actions that day.[38] The police, while criticising the EDL for "vitriolic name-calling" blamed people predominantly associated with UAF for provoking violence and said that they "acted with, at times, extreme violence".[39]

On 30 August 2010, violence occurred in Brighton, East Sussex, during a UAF protest against a march organised by the Nationalist Alliance (ENA). A spokesman for the police, who were attempting to keep 250 protesters and marchers apart, said "Unfortunately a small group from the counter-demonstration [UAF] resisted this and threw missiles at the police." There were fourteen arrests during the violence.[40][41]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c UAF website, "What is the UAF?"
  2. ^ UAF website,"Ken Livingstone speaks out against “the BBC’s gift to the BNP”" 29 Oct 2009
  3. ^ "Unite Against Fascism". Socialist Worker. 2003-12-06. Archived from the original on 2003-12-28. Retrieved 2009-06-12.
  4. ^ "Unite Against Fascism". Red Pepper (magazine). Retrieved 2009-09-12. {{cite web}}: Text "Red Pepper" ignored (help)
  5. ^ Editorial in Searchlight, July 2005
  6. ^ Letter of resignation to UAF in Searchlight, July 2005
  7. ^ UAF website, "Hundreds gathered to launch campaign against the fascist BNP's May election offensive" 23 Feb 2007
  8. ^ Details announced for UAF 2009 National Conference
  9. ^ Tate, David (2006-05-15). "How to fight the BNP". The Guardian. London.
  10. ^ Hines, Nico; Pitas, Costas (2009-08-10). "Farright group the English Defence League in disarray after Birmingham fracas". The Times. London.
  11. ^ "UK police on alert as far right group protests". The Independent. London. 2011-02-05.
  12. ^ [1] BBC News. Egg attack on BNP leader Griffin, 9 June 2009.
  13. ^ UAF website,"UAF supporters include:"
  14. ^ Matthew Taylor, "Irving and Griffin spark fury at Oxford Union debate", The Guardian, 27 Nov 2007
  15. ^ a b "Egg attack on BNP leader Griffin". bbc.co.uk. 2009-06-09. Retrieved 2009-06-09.
  16. ^ "Two People In Hospital After BNP Protest". BSkyB. 2009-06-09. Retrieved 2007-06-11.
  17. ^ "BNP leader Nick Griffin pelted with eggs by protesters". London: The Daily Telegraph. 2009-06-09. Retrieved 2007-06-12.
  18. ^ "Why we threw eggs at the BNP". BBC. 2009-06-09. Retrieved 2007-06-11.
  19. ^ a b c Jenkins, Russell (2009-06-10). "BNP's Nick Griffin finally gets to make a speech - Times Online". London: timesonline.co.uk. Retrieved 2009-09-13.
  20. ^ "Police probe as anti-fascism group removes BNP wreath from Nelson memorial". Pendle Today. 29 January 2010.
  21. ^ name="NelsonBNP"
  22. ^ "Luton bans marches amid fears of protests". London: Telegraph. 2009-08-21. Retrieved 2009-10-29. [dead link]
  23. ^ Robert Booth and Alan Travis (9 August 2009). "'Patriot' league plots more clashes with anti-fascist activists". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 10 October 2009.
  24. ^ "BNP thugs cower behind police lines|22Aug09". Socialist Worker. 2009-08-22. Retrieved 2009-10-29.
  25. ^ Taylor, Matthew (2009-08-16). "Four charged as far-right festival brings chaos to Derbyshire village | Politics". London: The Guardian. Retrieved 2009-10-29.
  26. ^ Fineren, Daniel (2009-08-17). "Three charged over racial taunt at BNP rally | UK | Reuters". Uk.reuters.com. Retrieved 2009-10-29.
  27. ^ "4 charged after demo against UK far-right festival". Taiwan News Online. Associated Press. 2009-08-16. Retrieved 2009-10-29.
  28. ^ Justin Penrose (2009-08-16). "Protest Clash At Bnp Festival". mirror.co.uk. Retrieved 2009-10-29.
  29. ^ "Dozens arrested during protests". BBC News Online. London. 10 October 2009.
  30. ^ "48 arrests in rival race protests". Press Association. 10 October 2009.
  31. ^ Hines, Nico; Foster, Patrick; Hamilton, Fiona; Kerbaj, Richard (2009-10-22). "Anti-fascist protesters charge BBC before Nick Griffin booed during Question Time - Times Online". London: timesonline.co.uk. Retrieved 2009-10-22.
  32. ^ http://www.socialistworker.co.uk/art.php?id=22373
  33. ^ "Protest policing hailed a success". BBC. 2009-11-01. Retrieved 2009-11-01.
  34. ^ West Yorkshire Police (2009-10-31). "Leeds Demonstrations - Saturday, 31 October 2009". WYP. Retrieved 2009-11-01. [dead link]
  35. ^ a b "Police battle to control EDL and UAF protest in Bolton". BBC. 20 March 2010.
  36. ^ a b "Thousands face off in rally". The Bolton News. 20 March 2010.
  37. ^ 55 arrests at protests, The Bolton News
  38. ^ Anti-fascist charged after Bolton protests
  39. ^ Police blame anti-fascists for violence, The Independent
  40. ^ Police pelted with missiles by anti-fascist protesters
  41. ^ Three injured at anti-fascist demo in Brighton

External links

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Unite_Against_Fascism&oldid=430763070"