Parliamentarians join hundreds calling to ban fascists

Investigation uncovers KKK propaganda and calls to ‘hang gollywogs’ on BNP Facebook groups - Parliamentarians join hundreds calling to ban fascists

Campaign group Unite Against Fascism today exposed how fascist BNP’s groups on social networking site Facebook are being used to spread their message of hate. Parliamentarians have joined hundreds in calling for Facebook to ban BNP groups.

Amongst other instances the investigation has uncovered images of Ku Klux Klan members posing with a sword under the subtitle "Local BNP meeting, blacks welcome". The group’s description calls on people to join to "help them fight evil and win the war of cleansing Britain" and includes a comment on its wall stating "If it aint white it aint right”(sic).

The petition has been signed by MPs Diane Abbott, Harry Cohen, George Galloway, Ian Gibson, Ex-Home Office minister Fiona Mactaggart, Steven Pound, Alan Simpson and Keith Vaz and Claude Moraes MEP. The petition has gathered around 2,000 supporters since it was launched last week, with an average of 100 Facebook users joining per day.

Facebook has responded to the calls by removing an image from one of the BNP user group that equates Islam with murder. However, this image is still present on the same BNP site which promotes the Ku Klux Klan image.

Another group entitled "vote BNP and save the world" includes a message board which contains material evoking lynchings of black people under the heading "what to do with gollywogs." (for more details on content see notes below)

Keith Vaz MP said:
"I fully support the campaign to remove racist or inciteful images from Facebook. They have no place on a website which claims to want to bring people together."

Claude Moraes MEP said:
"Fascists are using the Facebook site to promote their hate-propaganda to young people. It is a direct threat to many of the site's users. We welcome the fact that Facebook has acknowledged that the BNP pages break the site's terms and conditions, removing inciteful images against the Muslim community from some of the BNP pages, however, it is unacceptable that fascists are still able to organise via the site. Facebook must use the maximum penalty at its disposal and immediately terminate the BNP's pages and accounts."

Gemma Tumelty, President of the National Union of Students said:
"Facebook is used by millions of young people across Britain and across the world. We believe that it should not be used as a rallying point for fascists who have a history of racist, homophobic and Islamophobic violence. NUS sees Facebook's inaction on this issue as unacceptable, as the BNP's hatred poses a real threat to the majority of Facebook's users, many of whom often post personal details and engagements on the site to share with friends. We welcome the withdrawal by companies of their adverts and hope that others will follow suit until sites promoting the BNP have been removed."

Denis Fernando, Joint National Secretary of Unite Against Fascism said:
"The BNP's Facebook groups reveal the reality of this fascist party. The BNP wants an all-white Britain. This would only be possible through violence and end to democracy. Our petition is attracting wide support from young people, parliamentarians, faith and community groups who believe that fascists should not have access to the social interactions of young people and others who they target with hatred.

Its main aim in setting up on such sites is to give itself the veneer of legitimacy, however its fascist policies result in violence against Black, Jewish, Muslim, lesbian and gay people and many others.

The fact that Facebook is allowing this grotesque use of its site to promote fascism is unacceptable. The BNP user groups clearly breach terms and conditions and should be closed."

The petition text can be viewed at http://www.uaf.org.uk/news.asp?choice=70803

For more information and interviews please contact Joint National Secretaries of Unite Against Fascism Denis Fernando and Martin Smith on 020 7833 4916 unite@ucu.org.uk www.uaf.org.uk

Notes:

1. BNP Facebook groups promoting fascist views include:

"Vote BNP and save the world"

An image spelling out I.S.L.A.M. with the "S" standing for slaughter, "A" standing for Arson. Facebook had already stated that this image was removed from a BNP group previously following pressure from Facebook users.

Image of Ku Klux Klan members with a sword with the subtitle "Local BNP meeting, blacks welcome". The groups description calls on people to join to " help them fight evil and win the war of cleansing Britain" and includes a comment on its wall stating "If it aint white it aint right."

"Vote BNP British National Party" · Includes a message board stating "what to do to gollywogs?" with the response "Hang em on your curtain pole and leave em there…. Nice ornament!"

"British National Party Supporters"

supporters include a skinhead with a swastika tatooed on his forehead with the words "skin head" - he is a member of groups for "deprogramming" gay people

Another group member’s main image is a badge with "enoch was right" on it

"Put the BNP in Wales"

Description of the group states "Cathay is full of fucking Polish people!"

2. Facebook's terms and conditions state that user groups can be removed for failing to adhere to its terms and conditions, which include agreement not to upload, post, transmit, share or make otherwise available content that can be deemed "harmful, threatening…harassing…hateful, or racially, ethnically or otherwise objectionable".

3. 7 companies have pulled advertising from Facebook; First Direct, Vodafone, Virgin Media, the AA, Halifax and the Prudential. Virgin said it had to "protect its brand". The government's Central Office of Information has directed its advertising agency not to place adverts on user-generated sites including Facebook.

4. Unite Against Fascism is a broad based national campaign aimed at stopping the BNP, which brings together Black, Jewish, Muslim communities and other faith representatives, Lesbian and Gay activists, trade unionists and MPs into an alliance with all those who are threatened by and oppose fascism.

Unite Against Fascism