October 14, 2009

BNP shows its true colours at Cleveleys

Four potential new members turned away, one driven off by overt racism and a Griffinless meeting that never really started

The BNP meeting held at the Frank Townend Community Centre at Cleveleys last night has all the hallmarks of legend. Not because it was well-attended because it wasn't - only thirty to thirty-five turned up at most. In fact, all we anti-fascist protestors saw from our clear view of the door was the usual old guard of the local BNP - local being all the members the local groups could muster up from as far afield as Carlisle and Penrith.

The only potential new member we spotted was a boy of about seven who was being dragged along by someone we can only hope was his father. This poor little sod was hauled past us twice, presumably in the hope that someone on our side would go insane and hit him with a brick but despite the obvious provocation Dad was disappointed and eventually scowled his way back into the Community Centre. Junior's probably the BNP's newest recruit now.

Despite the short notice around sixty anti-fascists turned out to protest against the BNP being allowed to use the Centre to spread their fascist views around. Many of you will know that we attempted to have the meeting cancelled on the grounds that the BNP is racist and divisive, but we were hindered by the actions of the Chief Executive of Wyre Borough Council Jim Corry, who ignored any complaints, stating that the BNP is a registered political party and must therefore have access to all the facilities that are provided to the other parties. Mr Corry might care to check out the regulations regarding the hire of public facilities to political parties because one of the rules is that;
'the meeting must be open to all members of the public, and not restricted to ticket holders or members only'
This rule is pretty easy to understand - even for the BNP - so it came as something of a shock to a small group of people when they were refused admittance on the grounds that they were not members of the party. When they very politely offered to join the BNP on the spot, they were informed that there were no membership forms on the premises and turned away. Strangely, they were not asked for their names or contact numbers. But then, they were Asian.

Similarly, a young man who came over for a chat with us, also attempted to attend the meeting but was stopped at the door. There was no messing about asking for membership forms in his case - he was just told repeatedly that he couldn't go in until he gave up and left. Oh yes, he was black.

There was even worse in store for the BNP. Not only did Nick Griffin (and apparently another speaker) cancel on them, delaying the beginning of the meeting (due to start at 7pm) until around 7.45pm, but the only would-be attendee we spoke with was a man who came for a chat with us before heading inside. He had obviously given the BNP some thought and was intending to go to the meeting just to hear what was said. On his way in, he was stuck behind the black guy who was bluntly refused entry. He stopped for a chat with him, both of them then watching the fiasco with the three Asian people who wanted to attend. Disgusted at the clear racism that he had witnessed for himself, he came over to us, explained why he was going and left, getting a round of applause from us for being a man with principles.

Annoyed at all this, Clive Jefferson, the BNP's North West Regional Organiser (the one with the dodgy number-plates on his car), took loads of photographs of us then complained to the police that we were taking photographs of him, before stomping back into the Centre in a huff, barging through Blackpool's idiot-in-chief Roy Goodwin en route.

All in all a productive and interesting demo, with people attending from Lancaster, Barrow and Blackpool, as well as loads of Cleveleys' folk and a lot of youngsters who eventually joined in (and told us where the nearest decent pub was, tut-tut).

We'll leave the last word to Clive Grunshaw, the Labour group leader on Wyre Borough Council and Labour's prospective Parliamentary candidate for Lancaster and Fleetwood.
'It is extremely disappointing that Wyre Council sanctioned a political rally by the BNP at a community centre that will be used as the main polling station in a Council by-election to be held on 22nd October. The excuse that the BNP is a legitimate political party and should be treated the same as any other political party is, at best, dubious.

Wyre Council was under no obligation to permit the rally to take place and indeed had they consulted their own policies on equality and diversity it would be hard to see how they square with a political party that espouses racist and homophobic hatred and intolerance?

The BNP claim that they have a democratic right to freedom of expression. However with the right to free speech comes responsibility. They should not be allowed to incite hatred and violence against other members of our community - they too have rights!

I was however heartened by a marvellous turnout of demonstrators from the UAF, Blackpool Trades Council and the local community who certainly made their voices heard! The demonstration was organised at very short notice and was a credit to all concerned.'
Thank you, Clive, and bravo to all who were able to turn out at hardly any notice. :-)

17 comments:

charlie chalk said...

The government doesn't ban the EDL Casuals from marching and fighting because although they are not too patriotic with their regular Hitler salutes, their raw hatred of Muslims helps keep the public behind the War in Afganistan, with some people questioning whether it is worth the cost of British soldiers lives.

Anonymous said...

From the Blackpool Evening Gazette.. http://www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk/blackpoolnews/Fury-at-BNP-rally-in.5730586.jp

"Stephen Howard, 32, from Cleveleys, who was one of those refused entry, said: "I wanted to go in just to see what their opinions were but I'm not allowed in.

"I was born here, I pay my taxes, I have a happy family – is there any reason I shouldn't be there? It's ignorance, they are uneducated."

James Clayton [BNP], who spoke in the meeting about forming a Wyre branch of the BNP, said non-members were turned away because the meeting room "was at full capacity".

He said: "The meeting is for supporters we have invited. With this being a new group, people who have enquired about the party have been invited.""

So the meeting was 'invite' only, and not a public meeting !!?

Anonymous said...

I was there last night, and what a night!!

Such a tremendous turn out at such short notice too.

I was absolutely disgusted at the way people were turned away from the community centre because of the colour of their skin. James Clayton claimed that people were turned away because they were full to capacity....what a load of hogwash! There could have been no more than thirty-odd of them. They kept going in and out of the building to make it look as though there were more of them. How silly! Silly silly stupid little nazis.

DD said...

Great report and spot on as far as I can see. If I hadn't known the BNP were racist before this, I would now.

Dave T said...

Today's Blackpool Gazette

Fury at BNP rally in community centre

EMOTIONS ran high as more than 60 people staged a protest against the BNP as the far right party held a rally at a Cleveleys community centre.
The protesters waved placards and shouted as BNP supporters went inside the Frank Townend Centre on Beach Road last night.

Police were drafted in to prevent trouble flaring outside as around 40 people arrived at the meeting to hear from James Clayton, BNP candidate in Wyre Council's forthcoming Jubilee ward by-election.

Four people were turned away at the door.

Stephen Howard, 32, from Cleveleys, who was one of those refused entry, said: "I wanted to go in just to see what their opinions were but I'm not allowed in.

"I was born here, I pay my taxes, I have a happy family – is there any reason I shouldn't be there? It's ignorance, they are uneducated."

Mr Clayton, who spoke in the meeting about forming a Wyre branch of the BNP, said non-members were turned away because the meeting room "was at full capacity".

He said: "The meeting is for supporters we have invited. With this being a new group, people who have enquired about the party have been invited."

Local protesters were joined by members of the North West Unite Against Fascism (UAF) and Lancaster Unity and unions.

Labour group leader Coun Clive Grunshaw, who last week called for Wyre Council to refuse the BNP permission to hold the rally at the council-owned centre, was also there.

He said: "They are a racist party. They should not be allowed to organise meetings in the centre."

And Jain Gawne, who runs Blackpool and Fleetwood UAF, said: "The community centre should be for the whole community, no matter what their colour or religion, and not for groups who are racist. "

But Mr Clayton defended the BNP and said they were now a legitimate political party.

He added: "The protesters have got a right to be there, but it's the same old lines and the same old hysteria. A lot of these people will not be from the local area, they will be from Manchester and Lancaster University."

http://www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk/blackpoolnews/Fury-at-BNP-rally-in.5730586.jp?

West Midlands Unity said...

I think it's very likely that an E.D.L meeting was took place around cleveley's, which my explain where all the fash have flocked to...

The British Nazi Party is looking like a joke now!

Anonymous said...

Surprise - the BNP IS racist!

It doesn't matter how many times they say they've changed, there is a constant series of events like this that prove they're exactly what they always were, racist, nazi thugs and liars.

iliacus said...

I think the Chief Exec of Wyre Council needs to check his election law.

There is a requirement at law for public buildings to be made available for public election meetings. But this was clearly not a public meeting, since members of the public were denied entry.

Anonymous said...

Do we know whether the Labour Group Leader is going to argue in Council that a private meeting should not have been allowed?

Anonymous said...

A good evening. Well done to the organisers.

Anonymous said...

iliacus is right.

There is an obligation top allow the use of public buildings for open public meetings.

I believe that the National Front were confounded by the Chief Constable of Devon and Cornwall on this point a few years ago.Ie No open meeting meant no meeting.

So no open meeting means that the Nutzies should be billed for the actual cost of making the hall available, and this should be receipted and declared as an election expense.

Old Sailor

Anonymous said...

http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/UK-News/Anti-Fascist-Campaigner-Julie-Keller-Receives-Dozens-Of-Death-Threats-Following-Manchester-Protests/Article/200910215405594?lpos=UK_News_News_Your_Way_Region_6&lid=NewsYourWay_ARTICLE_15405594_Anti-Fascist_Campaigner_Julie_Keller_Receives_Dozens_Of_Death_Threats_Following_Manchester_Protests LOL LOL LOL Try some of your own fucking medice you anti british fucking scum. you have all been giving death threats for years now the tides turning your days are numbered

NewsHound said...

LATEST BREAKING NEWS: - THE EDL SHOWS ITS TRUE COLOURS BY SENDING A MEMBER OF SEARCHLIGHT DEATH THREATS USING THEIR FACEBOOK PAGES.

COWARDLY EDL FACSISTS ISSUE THREATS OF FATALLY STABBING AND BURNING A FEMALE ANTI-FASCIST ALIVE:

http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/UK-News/Anti-Fascist-Campaigner-Julie-Keller-Receives-Dozens-Of-Death-Threats-Following-Manchester-Protests/Article/200910215405594?lpos=UK_News_Carousel_Region_3&lid=ARTICLE_15405594_Anti-Fascist_Campaigner_Julie_Keller_Receives_Dozens_Of_Death_Threats_Following_Manchester_Protests

SO MUCH FOR THE EDL NOT BEING NAZIS!

PLEASE POST IMMEDIATELY, KETLAN/DENISE!

Brummie said...

This is the EDL/BNP. Crushing any form of democratic opposition with violent threats. Just like Hitler and his Stormtroopers.

The EDL are emerging as the biggest threat to Great British life this century and should be compared strongly with the 'Islamic extremists/hate preachers' their lying spin doctors constantly claim in parrot fashion they're fighting.

I mean, is one festering pile of shit (EDL/BNP) any better than another festering pile of shit (religious extremism)?

Anonymous said...

An excellent report here of what really went on at that BNP meeting in Cleveleys!!

http://www.fleetwoodtoday.co.uk/thorntoncleveleys-news/Inside-view-on-the-BNP.5736264.jp

Jain

Anonymous said...

I bet hardline BNP members are loving this!

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/8308582.stm

Anonymous said...

http://www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk/blackpoolnews/Politics-could-be-banned-from.5787768.jp#4573283

POLITICAL parties could be banned from using Wyre Council's public facilities after a British National Party rally sparked public protests.
Wyre Council leader, Russell Forsyth, says the authority was powerless to stop the BNP meeting, held at the Frank Townend centre in Cleveleys last month.

The meeting, held before the Jubilee by-election, saw more than 60 people launch a furious protest outside the venue.

Council bosses say they had to approve the use of the public building for the meeting.

Coun Forsyth, said: "Much as one might fundamentally oppose the aims of the BNP, the booking was accepted on the basis that it was a private meeting. The council's conditions for hire do not currently exclude any particular individual, party or organisation from using facilities. There is also a right for any election candidate to use public facilities. Any refusal to the BNP could have been superseded by the right of the candidate to hold a meeting anyway."

All party action has now been called for on the issue.

Coun Forsyth raised the possibility of taking action to prevent all political parties from using public facilities but said doing would stop visits like a recent trip to the borough from Tory leader David Cameron, who held a public meeting at the Marine Hall in Fleetwood.

Margaret Thatcher also visited Wyre and held a public meeting during her time in power.

"Naturally, following the protests that came because of that meeting, we must do something," Coun Forsyth said.

"But we have to be aware that if we take action against one particular party action against all political parties using public facilities.

"I feel we should look very carefully at this situation prior to the general election."

Coun Forsyth pledged any future action on the situation would be decided by "the many and not the few" indicating he wanted the issue to be decided on a cross-party basis and not the council's cabinet.

The BNP defended its use of the hall as it is a legitimate political party.

The full article contains 345 words and appears in Blackpool Gazette newspaper.
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* Last Updated: 03 November 2009 9:52 AM
* Source: Blackpool Gazette