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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: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]] organisation in Britain. It describes itself as a national campaign with the aim of alerting British society to the 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."<ref name=UAF1 />
'''Unite Against Fascism''' is a violent left-wing organisation in Britain. Its main objective is intimidation of those who criticize Islam. It describes itself as a national campaign with the aim of alerting British society to the 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."<ref name=UAF1 />


Its chair 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 chair 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 23:19, 21 March 2010

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
Websitehttp://www.uaf.org.uk www.uaf.org.uk
UAF members outside the BBC Television Centre protesting the appearance of BNP leader Nick Griffin on Question Time.

Unite Against Fascism is a violent left-wing organisation in Britain. Its main objective is intimidation of those who criticize Islam. It describes itself as a national campaign with the aim of alerting British society to the 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]

Its chair 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).

Stating that it seeks to unite a broad spectrum of society, the organisation has signatories and members from other mainstream political parties, including Conservative leader David Cameron, as well as trade union leaders, prominent members of the arts, bands and other organisations.[3]

History

Unite Against Fascism (UAF) was formed in the United Kingdom in late 2003 in response to electoral successes by the British National Party (BNP).[4] 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.[5] In 2005, the anti-fascist magazine Searchlight disaffiliated from UAF after an argument over tactics to defeat the BNP.[6][7]

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.[8]

Protests against the British National Party

The UAF main stated reason for its existence is to deny the British National Party any chance of "gaining an electoral foothold"[9] stating that "there is a real danger that the BNP could get a significant platform in elected institutions."

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.[10]

On 9 June 2009, UAF demonstrated against a BNP press conference given by 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 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 of the demonstration.[12] Griffin claimed that the attack was carried out with the backing of the Labour Party.[13][14]

The following day, UAF demonstrated at the BNP's next attempt to hold a press conference at a pub in Miles Platting, North Manchester.[15] They chanted anti-fascist slogans and tried to drown out Griffin by playing Bob Marley songs at high volume.[15] One protester was arrested after spitting in the direction of a car belonging to a BNP member.[15]

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,[16] 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."[17] BNP Councillor Brian Parker added: "It's disgusting, and it's theft."

Controversy and arrests

UAF demonstration in Leeds, 31st October 2009.

The UAFs invitation of Abdul Bari, the MCB secretary general as a guest speaker to the UAF national conference in 2009[18] prompted criticism of the UAF for their "sectarianism, silence on anti-semitism and blindness to Islamist Jew-hatred" by David Toube writing in the Guardian[19].

On 8 August 2009, UAF supporters and English Defence League supporters clashed at a protest planned by EDL in Birmingham, resulting in 35 arrests.[20][21] 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.[22] Four people were charged; three with public order offences and one with unlawfully obstructing the highway.[23][24][25][26] 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.[27][28] On 22 October 2009, a UAF demonstration against Nick Griffin's appearance on the BBC's Question Time programme resulted in injuries to three police officers.[29]

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.[30][31]

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 members, including the UAF protest organiser Weyman Bennet, on suspicion of conspiracy to commit violent disorder.[32][33][34] After Bennet was charged and released he accused the police of being hostile to anti racists.[35] Assistant Chief Constable Garry Shewan later said of the UAF "we have also seen groups of people, predominantly associated with the UAF, engaging in violent confrontation...they acted with, at times, extreme violence and their actions led to injuries to police officers, protestors and members of the public."[36]

References

  1. ^ 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. ^ UAF website,"UAF supporters include:"
  4. ^ "Unite Against Fascism". Socialist Worker. 2003-12-06. Archived from the original on 2003-12-28. Retrieved 2009-06-12.
  5. ^ "Unite Against Fascism". Red Pepper (magazine). Retrieved 2009-09-12. {{cite web}}: Text "Red Pepper" ignored (help)
  6. ^ Editorial in Searchlight, July 2005
  7. ^ Letter of resignation to UAF in Searchlight, July 2005
  8. ^ UAF website, "Hundreds gathered to launch campaign against the fascist BNP's May election offensive" 23 Feb 2007
  9. ^ [1]
  10. ^ Matthew Taylor, "Irving and Griffin spark fury at Oxford Union debate", The Guardian, 27 Nov 2007
  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.
  13. ^ "BNP leader Nick Griffin pelted with eggs by protesters". The Daily Telegraph. 2009-06-09. Retrieved 2007-06-12.
  14. ^ "Why we threw eggs at the BNP". BBC. 2009-06-09. Retrieved 2007-06-11.
  15. ^ a b c "BNP's Nick Griffin finally gets to make a speech - Times Online". timesonline.co.uk. Retrieved 2009-09-13.
  16. ^ http://www.pendletoday.co.uk/nelsonnews/Police-probe-as-antifascism-group.6027093.jp
  17. ^ http://www.pendletoday.co.uk/nelsonnews/Police-probe-as-antifascism-group.6027093.jp
  18. ^ Details annouced for UAF 2009 National Conference
  19. ^ Why we must reclaim anti-racism from the far left, The Guardian
  20. ^ Published: 12:59PM BST 21 Aug 2009 (2009-08-21). "Luton bans marches amid fears of protests". Telegraph. Retrieved 2009-10-29.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  21. ^ Robert Booth and Alan Travis (9 August 2009). "'Patriot' league plots more clashes with anti-fascist activists". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 10 October 2009.
  22. ^ "BNP thugs cower behind police lines|22Aug09". Socialist Worker. 2009-08-22. Retrieved 2009-10-29.
  23. ^ "Four charged as far-right festival brings chaos to Derbyshire village | Politics". The Guardian. Retrieved 2009-10-29.
  24. ^ "Three charged over racial taunt at BNP rally | UK | Reuters". Uk.reuters.com. 2009-08-17. Retrieved 2009-10-29.
  25. ^ Associated Press 2009-08-16 08:57 PM (2009-08-16). "4 charged after demo against UK far-right festival - Taiwan News Online". Etaiwannews.com. Retrieved 2009-10-29.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  26. ^ Justin Penrose (2009-08-16). "Protest Clash At Bnp Festival". mirror.co.uk. Retrieved 2009-10-29.
  27. ^ "Dozens arrested during protests". BBC News Online. London. 10 October 2009.
  28. ^ "48 arrests in rival race protests". Press Association. 10 October 2009.
  29. ^ "Anti-fascist protesters charge BBC before Nick Griffin booed during Question Time - Times Online". timesonline.co.uk. Retrieved 2009-10-22.
  30. ^ "Protest policing hailed a success". BBC. 2009-11-01. Retrieved 2009-11-01.
  31. ^ West Yorkshire Police (2009-10-31). "Leeds Demonstrations - Saturday, October 31, 2009". WYP. Retrieved 2009-11-01.
  32. ^ Police battle to control EDL and UAF protest in Bolton, BBC News
  33. ^ Thousands face off in rally, The Bolton News
  34. ^ 55 arrests at protests, The Bolton News
  35. ^ Anti-fascist charged after Bolton protests
  36. ^ Officers praised following Bolton demonstration, The Bolton News
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