Anti racism rally takes place in Glasgow

Protestors take to the streets in an anti racism march

Hundreds of people took to the streets of Glasgow to call for an end to racism. The annual St Andrew's Day march was attended by politicians, trade unionists and faith groups.

The march and rally were organised to remind people of the dangers of allowing prejudice and discrimination to go unchallenged. The march follows a similar event two weeks ago when protestors gathered in Glasgow city centre to oppose a demonstration by the Scottish Defence League – a right wing organisation said to have links with the BNP.

The theme of the event was equality and diversity and was attended by Scottish secretary Jim Murphy. The rally was organised by the STUC with speakers from Glasgow Anti Racist Alliance, Unison and Hope not hate Scotland.

Mr Murphy said: "Racism has no place in a modern society and the vast majority of people in Scotland embrace equality and diversity openly. But it is a sad fact that a very small minority insist on judging people by the colour of their skin and their ethnic background. I have been saying for some time that we need to watch the BNP. Their foothold in Scotland has grown and we cannot become complacent.

"Ten years ago the number of people voting BNP in Scotland numbered just over 3,000. In June of this year that increased ten-fold to 29,000 people in Scotland who decided to put their cross in the BNP box. It was complacency that allowed them to win two seats at the last European elections and it will be complacency that could allow them to win more seats in the future. If that happens it will be a very sad day for politics in this country and will only further legitimise their sickening ideology.

"Their support is now sufficiently large that only the largest stadiums in the country could now accommodate all Scottish BNP voters at once. If this thought doesn't concern people then the problem is only going to get worse."

Demonstrators marched from St Andrew's in the Square ahead of a rally which was held on Rose Street. Speakers included representatives from the Glasgow Anti Racist Alliance, Hope Not Hate Scotland and the STUC.First Minister Alex Salmond and Prime Minister Gordon Brown also voiced their support for the rally.

Mr Salmond said: "The march continues to go from strength to strength and provides an ideal opportunity for all Scots, no matter their race or faith, to come together and send a strong and clear message that racism will not be tolerated in modern Scotland."

Mr Brown said: "The trade union movement has always been at the forefront of fighting racism and I am glad to see that the STUC continues to lead the way in Scotland."

Scottish Labour leader Iain Gray also backed the march along with the Conservatives' Annabel Goldie, Tavish Scott of the Liberal Democrats and Green co-convenor Patrick Harvie.

Stv

March to end in anti-racism rally in Glasgow

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Hundreds of people are expected to take part in a march and rally against racism in Glasgow later today

The event, in advance of St Andrew's Day, is being organised by the Scottish Trades Union Congress (STUC). The march will set off from St Andrew's in the Square, off Saltmarket, at 1100 GMT for a rally at Glasgow Film Theatre, Rose Street, at noon. The event has received messages of support from Prime Minister Gordon Brown and First Minister Alex Salmond.

Speaking before the march, the Secretary of State for Scotland, Jim Murphy, said: "I am proud to take part in the event, it is right that we tackle racist and fascist views and show to the world that Scotland is against racism. Racism has no place in a modern society and the vast majority of people in Scotland embrace equality and diversity openly".

STUC general secretary, Grahame Smith said: "There is no place in Scotland for the extremist defence leagues, their vile views and their hatred of our Muslim community. Their attacks on Muslims should not be tolerated in our multi-cultural Scottish society. In fighting for a future free from racism we are proud of our record as trade unionists in challenging the racism and bigotry that exists in our society, but we cannot afford to be complacent."

Other organisations taking part in the march and rally include Glasgow Anti-Racist Alliance and Hope not Hate Scotland.

BBC

BBC to take action over use of Edinburgh Military Tattoo footage on BNP site

The British National Party is illegally using BBC footage of the Edinburgh Military Tattoo to promote its agenda among young people.

BBC lawyers have announced that they will be writing to the party demanding the footage be taken off BNPtv, its online television channel. The film appears on the Youth BNP site, and shows several pipe bands marching at the Tattoo, including some that are not even British. A member of one of the bands that features in the film said he was angered that their identity had been commandeered to serve a political purpose.

Justifying their use of the copyrighted material, the BNP said it had "history" with the corporation, which famously sneaked hidden cameras into one of their meetings two years ago.

The Sunday Herald brought the issue to the attention of the Edinburgh Military Tattoo organisers, who then prompted the BBC to take action.

A spokesman from the Tattoo said, in a guarded statement: "The matter has, we understand, been referred to the BBC's intellectual property lawyers in London. Clearance has not been obtained from either the BBC or the Tattoo for the use of the footage in question and it looks like a possible breach of copyright."

But an insider at the Tattoo revealed that organisers were "appalled" by the use of the footage. He said: "We're not happy that this footage has appeared on their website. The Edinburgh Tattoo has no connection with the BNP and we have no wish to be associated with them."

The giveaway that the film was under copyright was the use of a Steadicam, a camera used only by professionals. The BBC recognised the footage as their own and passed the matter on to their intellectual property department, who will take further action next week.

A BBC spokesman said: "Due to the growth of the internet, it is very difficult for the BBC to police all use of its material online. The BNP's broadcast of the Military Tattoo is not licensed by the BBC and we are contacting them to request its immediate removal."

The Scottish Trades Union Congress pointed out that the BNP had "shot itself in the foot", as the Military Tattoo was an event that was attended by a cosmopolitan group of troops and spectators from many different countries.

Ian Tasker, assistant secretary of the STUC, said: "We would not be happy with the Military Tattoo being used to promote the narrow-minded agenda of the British National Party. The Edinburgh Military Tattoo, albeit a display of militarism, propagates the sort of cross-cultural message that the BNP absolutely detests. We wonder what the message they are trying to get across is."

The bands shown in the film include corps from Australia and New Zealand, who marched alongside military bands like the Black Watch as well as university groups. The Aberdeen University Officers' Training Corp was one of those bands and regimental sergeant-major Angus Steele said: "The BNP have hijacked our identity. It's quite concerning."

Simon Darby, spokesman for the BNP, argued that the British National Party had every right to use the footage. He called the BBC and Edinburgh Military Tattoo's reaction "totally pathetic" and said: "We're not going to get intimidated by the politically correct brigade just for having images up on BNPtv of a spectacular event and part of our culture that we're proud of. It is much ado about nothing because, remember, this is the BBC that tried to smuggle hidden cameras into our meetings and then tried to get us locked up for seven years. I notice they didn't ask for permission to film us."

Sunday Herald