BNP manifesto launch buggered up by anti-fascistsMore images here.
Cheers to AB for the heads-up and well done to the three who did the job.
Showing posts with label NORSCARF. Show all posts
Showing posts with label NORSCARF. Show all posts
April 17, 2011
BNP manifesto launch buggered up by anti-fascists
BNP manifesto launch buggered up by anti-fascistsMore images here.
Cheers to AB for the heads-up and well done to the three who did the job.
March 30, 2010
New anti-fascist network set up
The unity conference of anti-fascist activists held in Nottingham on Saturday 27 March resolved to create new national anti-fascist network based on a class-struggle approach. Representatives from campaigns which attended were nominated to serve on the committee, and other campaigns that gave their support for the conference but were unable to attend will be invited to send reps too.
Contact the new network via the Nottingham group on NottmStopBNP@yahoo.co.uk.
This network will build nationally, in cooperation with others when possible but if necessary independently of the the UAF, against BNP and EDL mobilisations; and share political material that can be used to counteract more effectively the EDL and the BNP across the country by dealing on a working-class basis with the social issues which the BNP and EDL feed on.
Over 50 anti-fascists attended the conference. Campaigns in several Midlands towns and cities, Yorkshire, Greater Manchester and Merseyside and London areas, and a number of trade union delegations, including from the RMT London Transport Region.
The conference opened with speeches from the president of NORSCARF (North Staffordshire Campaign against Racism and Fascism) on EDL activities in Stoke and from a representative of the Notts Stop the BNP campaign. Workshops were held on: combating the EDL; campaigning against the BNP; and working in the trade unions. Resolutions drafted by the Nottingham group were discussed and adopted after a number of minor amendments.
An emergency motion was also passed condemning the arrests made at the protest against the EDL’s provocation in Bolton on 20 March.
Workers' Liberty
Contact the new network via the Nottingham group on NottmStopBNP@yahoo.co.uk.
This network will build nationally, in cooperation with others when possible but if necessary independently of the the UAF, against BNP and EDL mobilisations; and share political material that can be used to counteract more effectively the EDL and the BNP across the country by dealing on a working-class basis with the social issues which the BNP and EDL feed on.
Over 50 anti-fascists attended the conference. Campaigns in several Midlands towns and cities, Yorkshire, Greater Manchester and Merseyside and London areas, and a number of trade union delegations, including from the RMT London Transport Region.
The conference opened with speeches from the president of NORSCARF (North Staffordshire Campaign against Racism and Fascism) on EDL activities in Stoke and from a representative of the Notts Stop the BNP campaign. Workshops were held on: combating the EDL; campaigning against the BNP; and working in the trade unions. Resolutions drafted by the Nottingham group were discussed and adopted after a number of minor amendments.
An emergency motion was also passed condemning the arrests made at the protest against the EDL’s provocation in Bolton on 20 March.
Workers' Liberty
Labels:
anti-fascist,
BNP,
EDL,
NORSCARF,
Notts Stop the BNP,
trade unions
January 15, 2010
English Defence League in Stoke, 23 January
There is a strong Stoke division of the EDL, based around Stoke City supporters, and unofficial Stoke City internet message boards are full of talk about their mobilisation in the city on 23 January.
The link between certain Stoke City supporters (the “Naughty Forties”) and the fascists has existed for a number of years, and has been documented in past issues of Searchlight. The BNP deny that they are in any way linked to the EDL, but in practice the local EDL supporters are also BNP supporters. For example, Shaun Grimsley, who recently stood for the BNP at a by-election in Cannock Chase, is also a self-confessed Nazi and an EDL activist.
There have been some tensions in the local BNP recently. Alby Walker, the leader of the BNP group on the City Council, recently resigned unexpectedly. Walker was seen as a “moderate” (in BNP terms), and is likely to be succeeded as leader by hardline Nazi Michael Coleman.
NorSCARF is the North Staffordshire Campaign Against Racism and Fascism, which was originally founded in 1977 to oppose the National Front. We are an autonomous local anti-fascist campaign covering Stoke-on-Trent, Newcastle-under-Lyme and the Staffordshire Moorlands. We have links with both Searchlight and the UAF: there is no separate UAF group in the area.
NorSCARF has close links with the trade union movement through the North Staffordshire Trades Council. NorSCARF is quite unusual in encompassing all strands of anti-fascist opinion within a single organisation, and of course the kind of debates going on inside the anti-fascist movement generally have been taking place within NorSCARF.
How to relate to the disaffected working-class people attracted to the BNP and the EDL is, of course, the big question. NorSCARF are aware that to date we have been simply firefighting, and that we do need to carry on serious sustained work in the working-class estates where the BNP have made inroads.
One of the particular problems we face in Stoke-on-Trent is the fragmentation of the political scene. The City Council is made up of at least nine separate political groups, including several distinct groups of “Independents”, including some politically close to the BNP.
In this year’s May elections, the BNP are defending three seats. However, seven more are vulnerable to a BNP win (these are wards which have previously elected BNP councillors, or where the BNP has come second). In the worst scenario, the BNP could win all these seats.
Adding these ten to the six not standing for re-election this time, that would increase the size of the BNP group to 16 — the largest single group on the Council, with more councillors than the Labour Party. They would become the official opposition to the current ruling coalition of Tories and Independents.
From a personal (rather than a NorSCARF) perspective, I would add that the Labour Party are barely credible as an opposition. There is an internal war within the party locally, whereby the Blairites (mainly located in Stoke South constituency) are trying to purge the party of the old left (mainly located in Stoke Central and Stoke North), with the assistance of the party’s regional organiser.
A number of very experienced former councillors, including a former leader of the Labour Group, have been prevented from going on the party’s panel of candidates. Only eleven prospective candidates have been approved, despite the fact that there are twenty wards in the City. The Labour Party will therefore not even be able to stand a candidate in every ward.
• 23 January: assemble with NorSCARF 12.30pm, outside NORSACA, Lindsay Annexe, Cannon Place, Hanley ST1 4EP
Worker's Liberty
The link between certain Stoke City supporters (the “Naughty Forties”) and the fascists has existed for a number of years, and has been documented in past issues of Searchlight. The BNP deny that they are in any way linked to the EDL, but in practice the local EDL supporters are also BNP supporters. For example, Shaun Grimsley, who recently stood for the BNP at a by-election in Cannock Chase, is also a self-confessed Nazi and an EDL activist.
There have been some tensions in the local BNP recently. Alby Walker, the leader of the BNP group on the City Council, recently resigned unexpectedly. Walker was seen as a “moderate” (in BNP terms), and is likely to be succeeded as leader by hardline Nazi Michael Coleman.
NorSCARF is the North Staffordshire Campaign Against Racism and Fascism, which was originally founded in 1977 to oppose the National Front. We are an autonomous local anti-fascist campaign covering Stoke-on-Trent, Newcastle-under-Lyme and the Staffordshire Moorlands. We have links with both Searchlight and the UAF: there is no separate UAF group in the area.
NorSCARF has close links with the trade union movement through the North Staffordshire Trades Council. NorSCARF is quite unusual in encompassing all strands of anti-fascist opinion within a single organisation, and of course the kind of debates going on inside the anti-fascist movement generally have been taking place within NorSCARF.
How to relate to the disaffected working-class people attracted to the BNP and the EDL is, of course, the big question. NorSCARF are aware that to date we have been simply firefighting, and that we do need to carry on serious sustained work in the working-class estates where the BNP have made inroads.
One of the particular problems we face in Stoke-on-Trent is the fragmentation of the political scene. The City Council is made up of at least nine separate political groups, including several distinct groups of “Independents”, including some politically close to the BNP.
In this year’s May elections, the BNP are defending three seats. However, seven more are vulnerable to a BNP win (these are wards which have previously elected BNP councillors, or where the BNP has come second). In the worst scenario, the BNP could win all these seats.
Adding these ten to the six not standing for re-election this time, that would increase the size of the BNP group to 16 — the largest single group on the Council, with more councillors than the Labour Party. They would become the official opposition to the current ruling coalition of Tories and Independents.
From a personal (rather than a NorSCARF) perspective, I would add that the Labour Party are barely credible as an opposition. There is an internal war within the party locally, whereby the Blairites (mainly located in Stoke South constituency) are trying to purge the party of the old left (mainly located in Stoke Central and Stoke North), with the assistance of the party’s regional organiser.
A number of very experienced former councillors, including a former leader of the Labour Group, have been prevented from going on the party’s panel of candidates. Only eleven prospective candidates have been approved, despite the fact that there are twenty wards in the City. The Labour Party will therefore not even be able to stand a candidate in every ward.
• 23 January: assemble with NorSCARF 12.30pm, outside NORSACA, Lindsay Annexe, Cannon Place, Hanley ST1 4EP
Worker's Liberty
March 06, 2009
BNP opposition groups stage pre-election meeting
Anti-racism groups have organised a conference ahead of forthcoming elections.
The North Staffordshire Campaign against Racism and Fascism (NorSCARF) and Unite against Fascism have arranged a meeting at Staffordshire University tomorrow. They aim to raise the profile of groups who are challenging the BNP ahead of forthcoming elections for Staffordshire County Council and the European Parliament.
The conference follows an October meeting at which the agenda of the BNP was discussed and efforts made to rally opposition against the party.
Staffordshire MPs Mark Fisher and David Kidney will both be attending as members of a panel. Stoke-on-Trent Central MP Mr Fisher said: "Everyone in North Staffordshire wants to avoid the European elections in May being dominated by the negative agenda of racist prejudice. We must make sure that the election is fought on the issues that are most important to people – jobs, the economy and housing."
Olwen Hamer, NorSCARF chairman, said: "There can be no place for BNP policies in a civilised society. I hope the electorate in the June elections will make that very clear."
The conference will start with a performance of Night of the Broken Glass, sponsored by the New Vic Theatre, before workshops. There will then be a feedback session and panel discussion.
The conference, in the Ashley Building, Leek Road, Stoke, will take place between 1pm and 6pm. To register, call 07778 913 528.
The Sentinel
The North Staffordshire Campaign against Racism and Fascism (NorSCARF) and Unite against Fascism have arranged a meeting at Staffordshire University tomorrow. They aim to raise the profile of groups who are challenging the BNP ahead of forthcoming elections for Staffordshire County Council and the European Parliament.
The conference follows an October meeting at which the agenda of the BNP was discussed and efforts made to rally opposition against the party.
Staffordshire MPs Mark Fisher and David Kidney will both be attending as members of a panel. Stoke-on-Trent Central MP Mr Fisher said: "Everyone in North Staffordshire wants to avoid the European elections in May being dominated by the negative agenda of racist prejudice. We must make sure that the election is fought on the issues that are most important to people – jobs, the economy and housing."
Olwen Hamer, NorSCARF chairman, said: "There can be no place for BNP policies in a civilised society. I hope the electorate in the June elections will make that very clear."
The conference will start with a performance of Night of the Broken Glass, sponsored by the New Vic Theatre, before workshops. There will then be a feedback session and panel discussion.
The conference, in the Ashley Building, Leek Road, Stoke, will take place between 1pm and 6pm. To register, call 07778 913 528.
The Sentinel
Labels:
BNP,
Night of the Broken Glass,
NORSCARF,
Staffordshire University,
UAF
September 18, 2008
Anti-racist peace vigil as BNP meet
Campaigners are urging people to attend an anti-racism vigil on Saturday. The Unite Against Fascism and Love Music Hate Racism protest event will involve speeches from trade union leaders and campaigners.
The organisers are hoping to attract support from hundreds of people. The event, which will coincide with a BNP rally, is also being supported by local organisations like North Staffordshire Campaign Against Racism and Fascism and Staffs University Students Union. The protest, titled a Peace and Unity Vigil, will be held at the North Staffordshire African Caribbean Association car park, in Cannon Street, Hanley, at 10am.
Weyman Bennett, joint secretary of Unite Against Fascism said: "We believe it is the intention of the BNP to whip up tension in the city long after Nick Griffin has retreated. We believe it is a mistake the BNP have been allowed access to Stoke-on-Trent this coming Saturday particularly with regard to leafleting on the streets. Our event will be a peaceful demonstration."
Later on Saturday, an anti-racism music festival called Jam It, will be held in Hanley Central Forest Park from 12pm to 7pm. Music acts SWAY, Skinnyman, Ghetto, and Jammer will all perform. Live graffiti demonstrations, inflatable laser quest and bouncy castles will also be laid on to entertain the crowds at the celebration event.
But the protest in the morning is specifically aimed at combating the BNP event which is being held somewhere in the city centre at the same time.
The locations and details of this BNP event will not be made public until Saturday morning. BNP councillor Michael Coleman said: "The plans are guarded because a lot of anti-BNP activities go on and we could be targeted. We want our rally to be a positive activity and so we are using all the right precautions so that rent a mobs from outside the city do not attack us. We have some people travelling in from outside the city and we do not want them to be faced with something violent. We have planned for about 500 people and if we had 1,500 we would not be able to cope with that. If there is any form of confrontation we will walk away. This will be a peaceful protest – that is how democracy works."
The BNP rally has been organised the wake of a highly contentious court decision. Habib Khan of Normacot, was jailed for eight years last month for the manslaughter of BNP activist Keith Brown.
A police spokesman confirmed officers are in talks with the BNP about their rally. He said: "We have met with members of the BNP on three occasions to discuss their planned campaign for September 20. "During these meetings we have discussed their legal obligations and will continue to meet with them in the approach to the day."
The Sentinel
The organisers are hoping to attract support from hundreds of people. The event, which will coincide with a BNP rally, is also being supported by local organisations like North Staffordshire Campaign Against Racism and Fascism and Staffs University Students Union. The protest, titled a Peace and Unity Vigil, will be held at the North Staffordshire African Caribbean Association car park, in Cannon Street, Hanley, at 10am.
Weyman Bennett, joint secretary of Unite Against Fascism said: "We believe it is the intention of the BNP to whip up tension in the city long after Nick Griffin has retreated. We believe it is a mistake the BNP have been allowed access to Stoke-on-Trent this coming Saturday particularly with regard to leafleting on the streets. Our event will be a peaceful demonstration."
Later on Saturday, an anti-racism music festival called Jam It, will be held in Hanley Central Forest Park from 12pm to 7pm. Music acts SWAY, Skinnyman, Ghetto, and Jammer will all perform. Live graffiti demonstrations, inflatable laser quest and bouncy castles will also be laid on to entertain the crowds at the celebration event.
But the protest in the morning is specifically aimed at combating the BNP event which is being held somewhere in the city centre at the same time.
The locations and details of this BNP event will not be made public until Saturday morning. BNP councillor Michael Coleman said: "The plans are guarded because a lot of anti-BNP activities go on and we could be targeted. We want our rally to be a positive activity and so we are using all the right precautions so that rent a mobs from outside the city do not attack us. We have some people travelling in from outside the city and we do not want them to be faced with something violent. We have planned for about 500 people and if we had 1,500 we would not be able to cope with that. If there is any form of confrontation we will walk away. This will be a peaceful protest – that is how democracy works."
The BNP rally has been organised the wake of a highly contentious court decision. Habib Khan of Normacot, was jailed for eight years last month for the manslaughter of BNP activist Keith Brown.
A police spokesman confirmed officers are in talks with the BNP about their rally. He said: "We have met with members of the BNP on three occasions to discuss their planned campaign for September 20. "During these meetings we have discussed their legal obligations and will continue to meet with them in the approach to the day."
The Sentinel
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