Lancaster UAF becomes Lancaster Unity

Unite Against Fascism, like the former Anti-Nazi League, rightly began as a temporary alliance against resurgent fascism. However, since then, BNP councillors have unfortunately become part of the landscape. Various groups, including Lancaster UAF, have continued to oppose them between and beyond particular campaigns.

The shorter name, 'Lancaster Unity', will express continued opposition to racist division, reflecting our united work with other anti-fascist groups whose names and approaches differ, and points beyond anti-fascism towards racial unity. For these reasons, we will adopt the new name from today.

Please note: the blog will remain in the same location (at least for the foreseeable future).

See you in sunny Blackpool! Demonstrate against the fascist BNP on Saturday

The New Kimberley Hotel is situated at 585-589 New South Promenade, Blackpool FY4 1NQ roughly two miles South of Blackpool Tower. There is a map showing its location here.

We're meeting on the grass area at the front of the hotel at 12 noon. However, if you would like to join the trades union march to the hotel or you intend to arrive in a coach, you might prefer to park at Starr Gate, another half-mile further South, where the police have designated an area for a meeting and parking point here. If you intend to do this, be at Starr Gate at a little before noon as that's when the march sets off.

* We'd like a lot of noise (when the speakers aren't saying anything) so bring anything you've got that will let the BNP know we're out there. Trumpets, drums, whistles and loud voices are all welcome.

* There are a lot of people out there with digital cameras. If you find you've taken some great pictures on the day that we might be able to use on the blog, let us know on lancaster.uaf@zen.co.uk

* One word of warning. As those who were at the demo last year can tell you, Blackpool is cold in November, particularly on the seafront. Wear warm clothing.

* Safety first. Whether arriving or leaving the demo, do so in a group where possible. We don't expect any problems but it would be foolish to take chances.

Having said all that, it looks like it's going to be a great demo and it'll certainly show the BNP that they are not wanted in Blackpool.

Keep warm, keep safe and enjoy yourselves!

What YOU can do to help LUAF fight fascism

Newer posts will appear below this one

Lancaster UAF blog is the only daily-updating anti-fascist news source in Britain. The first port of call for any serious anti-fascist, LUAF's dedicated team of volunteers bring you news reports, original investigative articles, informed comment and so much more - and it doesn't cost you a penny.

We don't mind because that's the kind of people we are!

But behind the scenes there are costs we have to meet, like huge telephone bills, travel expenses, campaign costs, computer equipment, stationery - not to mention hours and hours of unsung work ferreting out facts and information and putting it all together. And we'd love to expand our operations, to become bigger and better - the best anti-fascist resource there is bar none.

Now we can't do that while we're worrying about the phone bill, so we have a little proposition to put to you.

If you're a regular you'll know how useful this resource is - so good that even the fascists come here looking for the truth their own leaders won't tell them. And you'll know it's been one of the most worthwhile projects in 21st century anti-fascism. While other anti-fascist sites wither and die, LUAF marches on.

So what we need, as you will have worked out, is donations!

Not just the odd bung here and there (though that's very welcome - be our guest!), but also regular, reliable monthly donations from those splendid anti-fascist folks who know a good cause when they see one.

At the top-right of the sidebar you'll see a rather nice graphic urging you, in the most polite terms, to donate to LUAF. Click it and you'll go directly to Paypal, from where you can painlessly donate as much or as little as you like.

What we'd like you to do is to set aside a small sum each month (how about £2 - less than the price of a pint?) to be remitted to us.

We can promise you - hands on heart - that every single penny will be spent on supporting and expanding the operations of LUAF and we promise not to take your money into the pub, make land purchases in Croatia, tour the USA, start double-glazing companies, invest in a mortgage-flogging outfit or spend it all on a third-rate record company producing rubbishy recordings by the likes of Nick Griffin. And you'll never be able to hire a skip from LUAF.

So there it is. What do you say? £2 a month! Will you miss it - nah - but we can use it and we will, every last penny, to the fight against fascism.

Posted by Antifascist and Denise G

It's late but it's here at last - the Lancaster UAF 2006 Yearbook

There were a couple of different reasons for producing this yearbook. One was that we urgently needed to raise funds and it would be nice to have some kind of regular fundraiser that also provided some kind of service (which means we’ll be knocking one of these out each year).

The second reason was that we wanted to preserve the first year of the Lancaster UAF blog – or at least the articles that we had written. Apart from giving a snapshot of the year from an anti-fascist viewpoint, the articles show the way the British National Party and other fascist groups operate and how we respond to their activities. The old blog, being based on a separate blog from the one at the current location, will probably end up in the same graveyard as all the dead web pages that have ever existed. Paper doesn’t, we hope, do the same thing. See, there are still some advantages to using paper.

We’ve been told that the blog is a valuable resource enough times that we now believe it, and valuable resources should be kept to be appreciated in a spare moment or two, so take a stroll through the highs and lows of 2006, have a laugh or two at the BNP’s expense (and several more at the expense of the even more stupid smaller fascist groups) and make good use of the list of organizations and websites at the back of the yearbook.

We’ve greatly enjoyed producing the book and we hope you enjoy reading it and, if you’re not already involved in fighting fascism, it encourages you to get active. Whether your activity involves raising awareness in your community, waving placards at demonstrations, delivering leaflets or starting your own website, we don’t mind – it’s the activity that’s important.

Fascism is a dire threat to our communities. The BNP and other fascist groups will exploit and encourage division for their own ends, regardless of the damage it causes, and it’s up to all of us to fight division and intolerance wherever we find it. We can only win if we are united in, if you’ll excuse the expression, our intolerance of intolerance.

Okay, that’s enough introduction. Go read the book…

Lancaster UAF Yearbook 2006
by Lancaster UAF

Download £3.99 ($7.24)
Paperback book £8.99 ($16.32)

The Lancaster UAF blog complete original articles collection for 2006 - plus some extras!

Download: 1 document (PDF), 3211 KB
Printed: 180 pages, 6.14" x 9.21", perfect binding, white interior paper (55# weight), black and white interior ink, white exterior paper (90# weight), full-colour exterior ink
Copyright: © 2007 Lancaster UAF Standard Copyright License

Available from here.