A council leader has received death threats after opposing a BNP meeting at a charity-run hall.
It comes after the far-right party compared the Labour-run administration to the ousted Gaddafi regime. The BNP accused Labour-run Hastings Borough Council of prompting a protest at St Baldslow Memorial Hall in St Leonards. The party has now vowed to keep the locations of future Sussex meetings secret.
Simon Darby, BNP spokesman, insisted St Baldslow was just one of a number of venues the party could use in Sussex and Sunday’s event had gone ahead despite protests by more than 200 people. He said: “We have just liberated Libya from a dictator and yet the people of Hastings aren’t allowed to hear views different to the Labour Party. This kind of attitude means we don’t feel comfortable revealing where our meetings could be held because we don’t want hate mail sent to people willing to host us.”
Council leader Jeremy Birch insisted he had responded to residents’ concerns that the charity-run venue might host the BNP. He said: “I have had a few emails over the weekend. One suggested I should be hanged and another compared me to excrement. Far from being a dictatorship this decision was prompted by residents and was backed by the whole council.”
The BNP also complained of resistance to a stall set up by their supporters in Worthing last week. The party claim a man spat at Bognor and Littlehampton organiser John Robinson and attacked the stall.
The Argus
Showing posts with label Hastings. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Hastings. Show all posts
October 26, 2011
October 24, 2011
BNP row: Venue for Nick Griffin speech changed
A speech by British National Party (BNP) leader Nick Griffin at a village hall in East Sussex has been moved following a row over the venue.
Mr Griffin had been due to speak at a private meeting at Baldslow Memorial Hall in St Leonards on Sunday evening. The BNP said the meeting would still go ahead, but that it would be held at an undisclosed location in Hastings.
Hastings Borough Council had threatened to cancel the hall's rate subsidy if it hosted the speech. The authority wrote to the people who run the hall telling them they would have to pay back £376 they received as a charity in rate relief, saying the meeting was "contrary to the interests of the community".
Leader of the Labour-run council, Jeremy Birch, said it was wrong for the people of Hastings to subsidise a charity "that's prepared to provide a platform to someone who is so completely opposed to the community harmony philosophy of this local authority".
He said the council had been contacted by local residents living in the area of the hall who were "very unhappy that their community centre was being used for this purpose to the extent that they offered to pay the booking fee to the charity if the BNP meeting didn't go ahead".
"I think we were acting appropriately, and it was unanimously approved by the council," Mr Birch said.
The BNP has described the move as an attack on free speech.
Speaking before the meeting on Sunday, Mr Griffin said he would be taken to the venue on arrival in Hastings by local BNP officials, but did not know where it was.
"As far as I know we were never going to use the hall... it's entirely up to our local people," he said.
The people who run Baldslow Memorial Hall have declined to comment on the issue.
BBC
Mr Griffin had been due to speak at a private meeting at Baldslow Memorial Hall in St Leonards on Sunday evening. The BNP said the meeting would still go ahead, but that it would be held at an undisclosed location in Hastings.
Hastings Borough Council had threatened to cancel the hall's rate subsidy if it hosted the speech. The authority wrote to the people who run the hall telling them they would have to pay back £376 they received as a charity in rate relief, saying the meeting was "contrary to the interests of the community".
Leader of the Labour-run council, Jeremy Birch, said it was wrong for the people of Hastings to subsidise a charity "that's prepared to provide a platform to someone who is so completely opposed to the community harmony philosophy of this local authority".
He said the council had been contacted by local residents living in the area of the hall who were "very unhappy that their community centre was being used for this purpose to the extent that they offered to pay the booking fee to the charity if the BNP meeting didn't go ahead".
"I think we were acting appropriately, and it was unanimously approved by the council," Mr Birch said.
The BNP has described the move as an attack on free speech.
Speaking before the meeting on Sunday, Mr Griffin said he would be taken to the venue on arrival in Hastings by local BNP officials, but did not know where it was.
"As far as I know we were never going to use the hall... it's entirely up to our local people," he said.
The people who run Baldslow Memorial Hall have declined to comment on the issue.
BBC
Labels:
BNP,
British National Party,
Hastings,
Nick Griffin
March 14, 2010
Hastings MP says no to BNP debate
Voters will not get the chance to see a debate between all the election candidates after the Hastings MP refused to share a platform with the BNP
The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) invited MP Michael Foster, Tory hopeful Amber Rudd, Lib Dem candidate Nick Perry, UKIP's Tony Smith, Rod Bridges, of the English Democrats, and local BNP leader Nick Prince to its hustings on March 25. The Unite Against Facism (UAF) group lobbied the candidates to pull out and still plans to protest at the event.
Following a meeting with the local Labour Party, Mr Foster has decided to pull out if the BNP attends. He said: "I have never shared a platform with the BNP and I do not intend to do so. Of course in a democratic society they have a right to express their opinions, as long as they are lawful, but equally I have a right not to sup with them.
"The purpose of debate is to challenge each other's views but there is no meeting of minds here and so debate becomes impossible. As we saw on Question Time it becomes all about the BNP and immigration which is not the issue which concerns most people most of the time."
Following his decision, the candidates of the other two main parties also pulled out. Amber Rudd said: "I respect Michael's decision and understand his reasons but I do not agree with it. I maintain it is a perfectly acceptable element of democracy to debate with people who have different views and I think we should challenge them. But I also want to challenge the MP and if he's not attending neither will I."
And Nick Perry said: "I believe that this is the wrong decision by Michael and the Labour Party, and will play into the BNP's hands on the doorstep. There is absolutely no point in having the event when the local MP will not be present, and it will not be possible to hold him and his party to account for the many and various mistakes that the Labour Government has made over the past 13 years."
Nick Prince, of the BNP, said: "I am bitterly disappointed not just for the BNP but also for the voters of this town who will not hear the main parties defend their records. What UAF is doing is undemocratic – we are a perfectly legal political party."
Brett Mclean, who is hosting the debate, said: "It is a great shame and a nail in the coffin for democracy. The FSB is a non-political organisation and so is duty-bound to invite all the parties."
Mr Mclean said the debate at The Crown House in St Leonards would go ahead, and UKIP and The English Democrats said they would attend. The Labour Party will be holding a Harmonious Hastings event on the same evening to discuss how to deal with the BNP threat and promote equality.
Today candidates from the three main parties will be debating at Sussex Coast College at 2pm. The FSB hustings was the only scheduled head-to-head between all six candidates.
Hastings Observer
The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) invited MP Michael Foster, Tory hopeful Amber Rudd, Lib Dem candidate Nick Perry, UKIP's Tony Smith, Rod Bridges, of the English Democrats, and local BNP leader Nick Prince to its hustings on March 25. The Unite Against Facism (UAF) group lobbied the candidates to pull out and still plans to protest at the event.
Following a meeting with the local Labour Party, Mr Foster has decided to pull out if the BNP attends. He said: "I have never shared a platform with the BNP and I do not intend to do so. Of course in a democratic society they have a right to express their opinions, as long as they are lawful, but equally I have a right not to sup with them.
"The purpose of debate is to challenge each other's views but there is no meeting of minds here and so debate becomes impossible. As we saw on Question Time it becomes all about the BNP and immigration which is not the issue which concerns most people most of the time."
Following his decision, the candidates of the other two main parties also pulled out. Amber Rudd said: "I respect Michael's decision and understand his reasons but I do not agree with it. I maintain it is a perfectly acceptable element of democracy to debate with people who have different views and I think we should challenge them. But I also want to challenge the MP and if he's not attending neither will I."
And Nick Perry said: "I believe that this is the wrong decision by Michael and the Labour Party, and will play into the BNP's hands on the doorstep. There is absolutely no point in having the event when the local MP will not be present, and it will not be possible to hold him and his party to account for the many and various mistakes that the Labour Government has made over the past 13 years."
Nick Prince, of the BNP, said: "I am bitterly disappointed not just for the BNP but also for the voters of this town who will not hear the main parties defend their records. What UAF is doing is undemocratic – we are a perfectly legal political party."
Brett Mclean, who is hosting the debate, said: "It is a great shame and a nail in the coffin for democracy. The FSB is a non-political organisation and so is duty-bound to invite all the parties."
Mr Mclean said the debate at The Crown House in St Leonards would go ahead, and UKIP and The English Democrats said they would attend. The Labour Party will be holding a Harmonious Hastings event on the same evening to discuss how to deal with the BNP threat and promote equality.
Today candidates from the three main parties will be debating at Sussex Coast College at 2pm. The FSB hustings was the only scheduled head-to-head between all six candidates.
Hastings Observer
March 06, 2010
Hastings taxis could get CCTV as racist abuse soars
Taxis are set to be fitted with cameras as standard with the boss of one leading firm describing racist abuse to drivers as "out of control".
Chris Vale, who manages 24/7 Taxis, spoke out after a customer who admitted racially abusing one of his drivers avoided prison. The victim, 23-year-old Aras Cassidy, who is Kurdish, said foreign drivers are subjected to racist comments twice a day.
Brian Styles, 49, of Maple Heights, pleaded guilty to racially aggravated harassment and failing to provide a specimen, and he was found guilty of taking a vehicle without consent. He was fined £900, banned from driving for a year and ordered to pay £300 costs. Styles was arrested after driver Mr Cassidy went to collect him from The Rising Sun pub in Battle Road in October.
"I tried to be friendly and have a chat with him but he just started saying things like, 'Why don't you go back to your own country?' I ignored him but he kept swearing so I got out of the car. He jumped in the front seat and removed the handbrake. I was shocked but we get comments like that twice a day and you just learn to live with it. Most people we pick up are really nice but you get some who are aggressive. I sometimes ask myself: 'What am I doing in this country?' but all my best friends are English and I have been here for 12 years."
Mr Vale, 43, was stunned by the sentence.
"They should have put him inside. The racism from some people is getting out of control. I have lived all over the UK and grew up when the National Front were at large but I have never known anything like this."
Chief Inspector Mark Ling said: "We take a positive stance against hate crime of all types. Nobody should live or work with the fear and anxiety that this type of crime can cause. I would urge people who are victimised or abused in this way to report it. If nobody knows about the it then little can be done to stop it happening again."
Mr Vale's company has 70 cars, making it the biggest fleet in the town. About one third of his drivers are foreign nationals and they all report the same kinds of problems.
"Since 2005 issues with racism and drugs and people doing runners have become much worse," said Mr Vale."I have people get in the car talking openly about buying drugs," added Mr Cassidy.
Now Mr Vale is supporting a council scheme, funded by the Safer Hastings Partnership and overseen by the licensing team, to put CCTV cameras into taxis across the town.
A council spokesman said: "It's likely to take place over several phases but we are confident that this is a positive move, increasing safety for both driver and passenger. Any abuse towards drivers, whether verbal or physical, is completely unacceptable and these cameras will go a long way in providing an extra element of protection."
But Reg Torab, 49, who runs New Carmiles sounded a note of caution.
"I do not think cameras should be compulsory," he said. "They do help when there are incidents but we keep very records of every job and there are issues about customers' privacy as well."
Hastings Observer
Chris Vale, who manages 24/7 Taxis, spoke out after a customer who admitted racially abusing one of his drivers avoided prison. The victim, 23-year-old Aras Cassidy, who is Kurdish, said foreign drivers are subjected to racist comments twice a day.
Brian Styles, 49, of Maple Heights, pleaded guilty to racially aggravated harassment and failing to provide a specimen, and he was found guilty of taking a vehicle without consent. He was fined £900, banned from driving for a year and ordered to pay £300 costs. Styles was arrested after driver Mr Cassidy went to collect him from The Rising Sun pub in Battle Road in October.
"I tried to be friendly and have a chat with him but he just started saying things like, 'Why don't you go back to your own country?' I ignored him but he kept swearing so I got out of the car. He jumped in the front seat and removed the handbrake. I was shocked but we get comments like that twice a day and you just learn to live with it. Most people we pick up are really nice but you get some who are aggressive. I sometimes ask myself: 'What am I doing in this country?' but all my best friends are English and I have been here for 12 years."
Mr Vale, 43, was stunned by the sentence.
"They should have put him inside. The racism from some people is getting out of control. I have lived all over the UK and grew up when the National Front were at large but I have never known anything like this."
Chief Inspector Mark Ling said: "We take a positive stance against hate crime of all types. Nobody should live or work with the fear and anxiety that this type of crime can cause. I would urge people who are victimised or abused in this way to report it. If nobody knows about the it then little can be done to stop it happening again."
Mr Vale's company has 70 cars, making it the biggest fleet in the town. About one third of his drivers are foreign nationals and they all report the same kinds of problems.
"Since 2005 issues with racism and drugs and people doing runners have become much worse," said Mr Vale."I have people get in the car talking openly about buying drugs," added Mr Cassidy.
Now Mr Vale is supporting a council scheme, funded by the Safer Hastings Partnership and overseen by the licensing team, to put CCTV cameras into taxis across the town.
A council spokesman said: "It's likely to take place over several phases but we are confident that this is a positive move, increasing safety for both driver and passenger. Any abuse towards drivers, whether verbal or physical, is completely unacceptable and these cameras will go a long way in providing an extra element of protection."
But Reg Torab, 49, who runs New Carmiles sounded a note of caution.
"I do not think cameras should be compulsory," he said. "They do help when there are incidents but we keep very records of every job and there are issues about customers' privacy as well."
Hastings Observer
September 26, 2008
BNP use memorial of racism victim to promote party
Foreign language student Mohammed Al-Majed, 16, died just two days after being attacked by racist drunken youths in Hastings, East Sussex, on August 22. A group of baying brutes attacked Mohammed in a racist frenzy as he left Kebab Hut & Pizza USA Fried in Claremont, Hastings, with fellow students at a language school. He was called “Saddam Hussein” and “Osama Bin Laden” during the shocking attack.
The Qatari teen suffered from severe head injuries, as a result of falling and knocking his head on the pavement. But it was the attendance of the far-right party British National Party (BNP) at a memorial held for the murdered student that angered many.
Al-Majed’s family, friends, hundreds of shoppers, locals and political leaders alike gathered outside the Town Hall to observe a two-minute silence in memory of the lost student. They were joined by a BNP member sent to voice his views.
Chris Barnett, a BNP activist took photographs of the mourners, laid flowers and prayed. He also spoke to mourners about how the Government was to blame for the incident, not the attackers. At this point, Barnett took the liberty of informing a journalist that Al-Majed had been escorted to hospital via a taxi, not an ambulance, a claim utterly refuted by local health authorities.
Fellow campaigner, Nick Prince, used the sombre occasion to publicise the BNP’s credentials stating that if his right wing-party was in charge, the assailants would be given the death penalty, and strict curfews would be imposed on students visiting the town.
He further said, “We did send a representative to the two minutes silence…and on behalf of all of the members and supporters of the British National Party in Hastings and Rother, I wish to send our deepest sympathy to the family of Mohammad Al-Majed. We will continue to increase our presence in Hastings.”
Gerry Gable, publisher of anti-fascist magazine Searchlight told The Muslim News, “This is the latest piece of hypocrisy from a political party that abuses and maligns people of the Muslim faith day in day out.”
Owner of the takeaway where the trouble began, Remzi Tanriverdi, said jealousy was one motivation behind the attacks. “They are layabouts and are jealous of the money that these Arab kids have. The foreign students are polite people. They are shocked by what they find in England. Many from the Middle East do not have a drinking culture and they are not used to this violence. Now there must be a big question mark over the future of Hastings as a place to come and study,” he said.
Peter Henworth, a Nigerian student described the horrific events in details. “The white gang walked out of the kebab house and came up to me and Mohammed and said, ‘What’s your problem.’ We tried to move away, we didn’t want any grief. They were swearing and aggressive.”
As the youths began to push them backwards, Al-Majed and Henworth turned and ran. Al-Majed made his way towards a pub 50 yards away whilst Henworth raced over the road to the promenade. The gang chose to follow Al-Majed...
According to Henworth, “I kept on running and then, from the promenade, watched what was happening to Mohammed over on the other side of the road. The gang caught up with him and he fell to the ground. They kicked him again and again until he stopped moving altogether. I crossed over from the promenade and went back to the kebab house. When I got there the gang arrived leaving Mohammed where he was along the road. They went up to one of his friends; a 15-year-old boy from Saudi Arabia called Mojeb, and hit him over the head with a glass. He needed six stitches.”
Al-Majed was admitted to the local Conquest Hospital for his head injuries at 1am, on August 23.
By the time it became apparent that the teenager required treatment in a neurological hospital; there were no beds available at the local specialist unit. It took a total of 15 hours for Al-Majed to receive the proper, specialist treatment he required. His father, Abdullah, criticised the NHS for taking too long to find the teenager a bed. Mohammed Al-Majed died just 24 hours after being admitted to Kings College Hospital; however it is unclear whether more efficient treatment would’ve saved his life.
Speaking to The Times, Ahmed Othman, 16, Al-Majed’s friend and eye-witness said, “I won’t come back here again. Students don’t want to return to this area, especially Hastings. Here we have fights and we go home scared.”
Councillor Peter Pragnell tried to dispel accusations that Hastings is becoming lawless. He told The Muslim News, “Despite the mass hysteria, knee jerk reactions and downright inaccurate reporting from some sections of the media might suggest, we are not a violent town.”
However police confirmed that three other Arab students had been attacked in Hastings a fortnight before the attacks and Mohammed’s friend Sultan Al-Dossary, 15, said other foreign students studying at Hastings’ language schools had been abused in the street and were now too frightened to go out. In fact police stats revealed that over the past three years, there have been 41 attacks on foreign students.
In response to accusations that the police were not efficient enough, DCI Graham Pitt told The Muslim News, “When Mohammed fell to the ground, officers immediately offered assistance and placed him in a police van awaiting an ambulance, which took a matter of minutes to arrive. He was then taken to the Conquest Hospital.”
Three men, aged 17, 18 and 20, have been arrested and released on bail following the attack.
Muslim News
The Qatari teen suffered from severe head injuries, as a result of falling and knocking his head on the pavement. But it was the attendance of the far-right party British National Party (BNP) at a memorial held for the murdered student that angered many.
Al-Majed’s family, friends, hundreds of shoppers, locals and political leaders alike gathered outside the Town Hall to observe a two-minute silence in memory of the lost student. They were joined by a BNP member sent to voice his views.
Chris Barnett, a BNP activist took photographs of the mourners, laid flowers and prayed. He also spoke to mourners about how the Government was to blame for the incident, not the attackers. At this point, Barnett took the liberty of informing a journalist that Al-Majed had been escorted to hospital via a taxi, not an ambulance, a claim utterly refuted by local health authorities.
Fellow campaigner, Nick Prince, used the sombre occasion to publicise the BNP’s credentials stating that if his right wing-party was in charge, the assailants would be given the death penalty, and strict curfews would be imposed on students visiting the town.
He further said, “We did send a representative to the two minutes silence…and on behalf of all of the members and supporters of the British National Party in Hastings and Rother, I wish to send our deepest sympathy to the family of Mohammad Al-Majed. We will continue to increase our presence in Hastings.”
Gerry Gable, publisher of anti-fascist magazine Searchlight told The Muslim News, “This is the latest piece of hypocrisy from a political party that abuses and maligns people of the Muslim faith day in day out.”
Owner of the takeaway where the trouble began, Remzi Tanriverdi, said jealousy was one motivation behind the attacks. “They are layabouts and are jealous of the money that these Arab kids have. The foreign students are polite people. They are shocked by what they find in England. Many from the Middle East do not have a drinking culture and they are not used to this violence. Now there must be a big question mark over the future of Hastings as a place to come and study,” he said.
Peter Henworth, a Nigerian student described the horrific events in details. “The white gang walked out of the kebab house and came up to me and Mohammed and said, ‘What’s your problem.’ We tried to move away, we didn’t want any grief. They were swearing and aggressive.”
As the youths began to push them backwards, Al-Majed and Henworth turned and ran. Al-Majed made his way towards a pub 50 yards away whilst Henworth raced over the road to the promenade. The gang chose to follow Al-Majed...
According to Henworth, “I kept on running and then, from the promenade, watched what was happening to Mohammed over on the other side of the road. The gang caught up with him and he fell to the ground. They kicked him again and again until he stopped moving altogether. I crossed over from the promenade and went back to the kebab house. When I got there the gang arrived leaving Mohammed where he was along the road. They went up to one of his friends; a 15-year-old boy from Saudi Arabia called Mojeb, and hit him over the head with a glass. He needed six stitches.”
Al-Majed was admitted to the local Conquest Hospital for his head injuries at 1am, on August 23.
By the time it became apparent that the teenager required treatment in a neurological hospital; there were no beds available at the local specialist unit. It took a total of 15 hours for Al-Majed to receive the proper, specialist treatment he required. His father, Abdullah, criticised the NHS for taking too long to find the teenager a bed. Mohammed Al-Majed died just 24 hours after being admitted to Kings College Hospital; however it is unclear whether more efficient treatment would’ve saved his life.
Speaking to The Times, Ahmed Othman, 16, Al-Majed’s friend and eye-witness said, “I won’t come back here again. Students don’t want to return to this area, especially Hastings. Here we have fights and we go home scared.”
Councillor Peter Pragnell tried to dispel accusations that Hastings is becoming lawless. He told The Muslim News, “Despite the mass hysteria, knee jerk reactions and downright inaccurate reporting from some sections of the media might suggest, we are not a violent town.”
However police confirmed that three other Arab students had been attacked in Hastings a fortnight before the attacks and Mohammed’s friend Sultan Al-Dossary, 15, said other foreign students studying at Hastings’ language schools had been abused in the street and were now too frightened to go out. In fact police stats revealed that over the past three years, there have been 41 attacks on foreign students.
In response to accusations that the police were not efficient enough, DCI Graham Pitt told The Muslim News, “When Mohammed fell to the ground, officers immediately offered assistance and placed him in a police van awaiting an ambulance, which took a matter of minutes to arrive. He was then taken to the Conquest Hospital.”
Three men, aged 17, 18 and 20, have been arrested and released on bail following the attack.
Muslim News
Labels:
BNP,
Chris Barnett,
Hastings,
Mohammed Al-Majed,
Nick Prince,
Searchlight
February 15, 2008
BNP leader plans visit to Hastings
The British National Party chairman Nick Griffin is coming to Hastings on Monday, sparking a storm of controversy.Hastings MP Michael Foster and a host of councillors have spoken out against the visit, saying the right wing leader is not welcome here.
He is due to address a supporters' meeting at a venue which is not being disclosed for fear the gathering may be disrupted by protestors. Invitations have been sent out to local British National Party (BNP) members calling on them to meet in Hollington on Monday evening. From there, they will be bussed to the secret venue where Mr Griffin will address them.
Andrew McBride, the BNP's south east regional organiser, said: "We always have a redirection point for safety reasons. The meeting is for members and supporters only."
Borough Council leader Peter Pragnell is appalled the BNP chairman has chosen to visit Hastings. He added: "This is what they do - target areas which are predominantly white and working class. I am neither pleased nor impressed they have chosen to try and preach their abhorrent politics to the people of Hastings. As far as I am concerned the BNP stands for nothing more than the Bloody Nasty Party.
"Hastings is a culturally diverse town with more than 90 different nationalities living side-by-side and generally getting along fine. We do not need the BNP stirring things up. This is the price of democracy and free speech which we have to swallow occasionally but they are not welcome here and never will be."
Do you think the BNP should be allowed to visit Hastings? Should they be welcomed or are councillors right to be hostile to them?
Let us know what you think by leaving a comment below [click link] or emailing richard.morris@trbeckett.co.uk
Hastings Observer
Labels:
BNP,
Hastings,
Nick Griffin,
racism,
Unite Against Fascism
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