BNP audience outnumbered by protestors

The appalling Danny Lake

BNP leader Nick Griffin has finally addressed an audience in Bath, despite protesters' attempts to stop the talk going ahead.

The controversial politician was forced to rearrange the venue three times after anti-fascist campaigners trailed organiser and Young BNP leader Danny Lake around the city. Mr Griffin had been due to speak at the University of Bath on Monday night but the invitation was withdrawn last Thursday after protests from academic staff and students. Eventually he addressed just four students in a talk lasting less than ten minutes.

The event, on a grassy area below the Royal Crescent, saw the audience outnumbered by protesters. The politician was flanked by several security guards and watched by 14 protesters and 13 police officers.

He said he would now be making greater use of the internet after his proposed meeting at the university's Claverton campus became the latest in a long line to be banned after student and staff protests.

The university authorities withdrew their permission for the meeting because of fears of disruption at a time when many students are taking exams.

"I was going to talk to politics students at the university, not about how they should join the BNP but why we are getting more support," he said. "Instead of going to universities, I am now going to make a series of films for students which I will put on the internet and produce leaflets to give out, so if students want to find out about the BNP, they can read it online, without being chased down by neo-Stalinists."

As Mr Griffin was repeatedly heckled by protesters, he answered students' questions about allegations he is a holocaust denier, believes Islam is a barbaric religion and supports capital punishment.

First year politics student Richard said: "Most people were too intimidated to come as soon as he was banned as they were worried others would label them a BNP supporter, which I'm definitely not. I don't really know what his motivation was and don't like his policies but it's important for a politics student to emphasise the importance of free speech and I was curious."

Another student, Anthony, said: "I wanted to speak to him more about his racial policies which make me feel very uncomfortable. It's those who banned him from speaking who are the fascists."

Mr Lake said he hoped to invoke the Education Act to secure Mr Griffin a platform on campus at the university.

The talk was originally scheduled for 150 politics students at the university, but sparked a furore among academic staff, students, trade union representatives and members of Unite Against Fascism. The invitation was withdrawn after the students' union voted against it and university administrators raised concerns about security. Vice-chancellor Prof Glynis Breakwell was also presented with a petition.

Mr Lake had rescheduled Mr Griffin's visit for a smaller audience at the Assembly Inn in Alfred Street but that was cancelled once the landlord, Ian Collins, was tipped off by anti-fascist organisation Searchlight.

Mr Collins said he decided to cancel the moment he knew who was involved. He alerted police who sent two riot vans to a second meeting place in George Street.

"A young man visited me the night before and asked if he could book a room," said Mr Collins. "It was a very casual arrangement. The moment Searchlight rang to tell me who was behind it, I opted to stop it. I feel that I have been hoodwinked into holding this talk."

Sgt Dave Kay, of Avon and Somerset Police, said: "We knew the BNP were planning to have some sort of event and there was the possibility of group or groups opposing it. We explained to both parties that we are here to keep the peace, are not taking sides and did not want to be in a position where we had to intervene."

One protester, Simon Fitzmaurice, 19, a student from Bath Spa University, said he found out about the event on the internet.

"I'm from near Harrogate in Yorkshire where the BNP actually hold a seat so I felt I had to be here."

Bath Chronicle

BNP leader to speak in spa town

A talk by BNP leader Nick Griffin scheduled to take place at Bath University on Monday is to go ahead at a different venue in the city. The University initially agreed to the talk - organised by a first year politics student - before cancelling it after the threat of protests.

The BNP's response was that free speech and debate had been prevented.

Bath Students' Union President Paul Jaggers welcomed the decision to cancel the talk and said students had spoken.

The new location of the meeting is being kept secret by the BNP.

BBC

University of Bath cancels BNP lecture after student outcry

The University of Bath has this afternoon cancelled a meeting on Monday at which the leader of the British National Party, Nick Griffin, had been invited to speak, for reasons of public safety.

The announcement comes just two days after the university insisted that the meeting should go ahead on the grounds of freedom of speech, following assurances that the event would not threaten public order.

But this afternoon, after a meeting of the university's student union which condemned the BNP and called on the university to cancel the event, the university's vice-chancellor, Professor Glynis Breakwell, and secretary, Mark Humphriss, announced the meeting would not now go ahead.

In a statement they said they had taken into account the views of staff and students about the meeting and the university's belief in freedom of speech.

They said: "In addition, some staff and students have registered with us their serious concerns for their safety if this event proceeds, as well as fears of disruption to examinations given the likely scale of protests on the day.

"These considerations do need to be balanced against the need to hear and challenge a variety of opinions in an institution committed to high quality learning and research. Freedom of speech is a principle to be highly cherished by academic institutions.

"The university has, however, now learned that a very large number of protesters intend to arrive on campus. This creates the likelihood of substantial public order problems and real possibility of disruption of the essential activities of the university community, making it impractical for the university to allow the event to go ahead."

Nick Griffin had been invited to the university to speak next Monday by first-year politics with economics student Danny Lake, 22, the national youth leader of the BNP and a student at Bath.

The event was not planned to boost student recruitment to the BNP, according to Mr Lake, but was an opportunity for students to quiz the party about its policies.

At today's meeting, the student's union said that if the meeting went ahead it would tarnish the "good reputation of the university" and that the presence of Nick Griffin on the campus would "invade the safe space of some of its members". There was also concern that the event, which the union complained had been organised at short notice, was being used as an excuse to recruit BNP student members.

Students were also worried that the evening meeting scheduled to start at 7pm and the planned protest organised by lecturers' union the University and College Union at 5pm would disrupt exams taking place on campus at the time.

The university's student union president, Paul Jaggers, said after the student meeting: "This has been a real victory for student cohesion."

Mr Lake, who spoke at the student meeting, argued that the event should go ahead on the grounds of free speech. He said: "To a certain extent I expected this outcome from the student union meeting because it was very much that the people who were there were those who were opposed to the meeting taking place, and when somebody is against something they are more likely to turn up."

Opposition to the planned BNP meeting had grown over recent days from both the UCU and the national office of the National Union of Students.

The UCU had warned it would hold a protest demonstration if the event went ahead.

Joint general secretary, Sally Hunt, said: "It was the correct decision. Allowing the BNP to speak would have compromised the safety of students and staff and sent out a very worrying message about Bath University's commitment to diversity.

"Nothing is more important than university campuses remaining environment where staff and students are free from intimidation and the threat of violence and where they can work and study safely."

Earlier in the week the UCU had warned that allowing the meting to go ahead would cause "substantial damage" to the university's international reputation.

Even though staff and students "cherish" academic free speech they would "deplore the presence in an institution of learning of Nick Griffin and his hate-filled messages."

Guardian

Fascist BNP leader stopped from speaking at Bath University

Protest cancelled

Today the University of Bath refused permission for Nick Griffin, leader of the fascist BNP to give a lecture, which was due to take place on Monday 14th May 2007.

Local trade unions including UCU, UNISON and Amicus joined with the National Union of Students and Bath University Students Union and national anti-fascist campaign Unite Against Fascism to mount a campaign to prevent him from being allowed to speak at the university on the grounds that fascist politics pose a danger to the diversity of students and staff alike. In areas that the BNP target, such as Barking and Dagenham, racist attacks and other hate crimes increase.

The protest called by University of Bath branches of Amicus, UNISON, UCU and supported by UCU, NUS, & Unite Against Fascism against the BNP leader's presence on campus has therefore been cancelled.

Love Music Hate Racism will be holding an event, sponsored by UCU, at University of Bath to celebrate anti- racism and the diversity on campus. This event is on Monday 14th May, 7pm till 11pm at Elements, Bath University Students Union, Bath University, Bath BA2 7AY and will feature prominent DJ's and a film screening of the Love Music Hate Racism DVD ' Who shot the sheriff 'and speeches.

Sally Hunt, UCU joint general secretary said:
“We feel this is the correct decision. Allowing the BNP to speak would have compromised the safety of staff and students and sent out a very worrying message about Bath University’s commitment to diversity.

“The millions of staff and students who cherish academic freedom as a precious right still deplore the presence in an institution of learning of Nick Griffin and his hate-filled messages. Nothing is more important than university campuses remaining environments where staff and students are free from intimidation and the threat of violence, and where they can work and study safely.”

Gemma Tumelty NUS President said:
"The defeat of the BNP being allowed to spread its message of hatred from an academic institution represents a massive victory for all those who value democracy. This shows the importance of building a broad coalition between trade unionists, students, community groups and all those who oppose the BNP. The University was right to withdraw its invite to the BNP but NUS also believes it is necessary for the university to recognise the danger that fascism poses to the safety of students and all of those within the campus community. NUS will continue to campaign to ensure that fascism never gains a foothold on our campuses."

Weyman Bennett, Joint National Secretary of Unite Against Fascism said:
“The fascist BNP craves legitimacy but it is an organisation of violent thugs riddled with criminal convictions, which admires Hitler and the Nazis. Allowing its leader the legitimacy of speaking at an academic institution would only further its aims of making the politics of hatred more palatable. The racist, homophobic, Islamophobic, anti-Semitic politics of the BNP pose a danger to many of the staff and students who make up the diversity of the university. This was the right decision by the university and the overwhelming and immediate opposition expressed to Griffin speaking is a reflection of how unacceptable he is to the majority of people.“

UAF

Fascism has no place in academic institutions

A joint statement from Bath trade unions on BNP leader's planned visit to University of Bath

Universities should be havens of learning and safety for students, academics and staff from all backgrounds. We oppose the Secretary of the University of Bath's decision to allow Nick Griffin, leader of the fascist British National Party to speak on campus.

Griffin is due to give a lecture at the University of Bath on 14 May at 7pm, at the request of one student.

The BNP is no ordinary political party: it poses a danger to students and staff alike. Griffin is a former member of the openly fascist National Front, and has a conviction for distributing literature likely to incite racial hatred, which denied the reality of the Nazi Holocaust. The BNP wants an "all-white Britain", which could only be possible through violence and an end to democracy. It has links with fascist groups across the world. Many of its leading members have convictions for violence and have been exposed as Hitler admirers. Wherever the BNP is active, racist attacks and other hate crimes increase.

The BNP’s racist, anti-Semitic, homophobic, Islamophobic politics threatens the safety of Black, Jewish, Muslim, lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender students and academics and many others. These views, if given further legitimacy, provide the framework for physical attacks on a number of groups. It is unacceptable to expose students and staff at the University to the possibility of such attacks and to give a platform of academic respectability to the BNP by allowing Nick Griffin to give a lecture at the University.

The BNP has targeted campuses up and down the country, attempting to recruit students and young people to fascism. Allowing Nick Griffin a platform at University of Bath will aid the BNP’s aim to infiltrate academic institutions further.

Universities have a legal obligation to promote good race relations under the 2000 Race Relations (Amendment) Act, brought in as a direct result of the 1998 Lawrence Inquiry, following the racist murder of Stephen Lawrence. We believe that this invitation runs contradictory to the letter and spirit of this legislation. The University of Bath has a legal and moral obligation to promote good race relations and to work against discrimination. We believe that it is failing to live up to this obligation.

Called by University of Bath branches of Amicus, UNISON, UCU

Supported by UCU, NUS, & Unite Against Fascism

blink

Protest against Nick Griffin speaking at the University of Bath

Nick Griffin, the leader of the British National Party, will be speaking at the University of Bath at 7pm on May 14th. The campus trade unions are organising a protest outside the venue.

We are calling for letters and emails from trade unions to be sent to the Vice Chancellor, Professor Glynis Breakwell, to register objections to this event.

You can contact her at:
Email: vc-pa@bath.ac.uk
Post: Vice-Chancellor's Office, The University of Bath, Bath BA2 7AY
Tel: 01225 385048; fax: 01225 386626

Please copy your emails to searchlightsouthwest@tuc.org.uk and your letters to Searchlight, PO Box 1576, Ilford IG5 0NG.

The event is ticketed and by application open to staff and students of Bath University only. Anti-fascist staff and students will attend and protest inside the venue. SearchlightSW is calling for the largest possible demonstration outside the venue.

It is vital that the BNP is not allowed to misuse academic freedom to stir up hate in our places of education.

SearchlightSW is calling for solidarity from all trade unionists and appealing to your union to stand with us at our demonstration as well as write letters/emails of protest to the Vice Chancellor. Please tell us if you are able to send banners and members to join us on Monday 14 May at 5pm.

On the same date at 7.30pm Corsham Town Council will hold its first meeting since the election. Mick Simpkins, the BNP councillor elected unopposed, has announced that he will attend. We urge trade unions to organise a presence at this meeting to ensure that the BNP get the message that we will not tolerate them or their racist policies in our region.

Searchlight

Unions plan demo welcome for BNP men

A demonstration is being planned by union leaders against the British National Party when its leader speaks at a top university.And at the same time 10 miles away, another demo is being planned outside a town council chamber when a BNP candidate takes his seat for the first time.

The major demonstration will be against Nick Griffin, who has been invited to speak at the University of Bath next Monday night.

University bosses gave the green light for the lecture, but warned organisers they would shut the meeting down if Mr Griffin or anyone else transgressed the boundaries of legal speech. The BNP leader was cleared last year of inciting racial hatred in a trial over a speech filmed by an undercover BBC documentary-maker.

The University and College Union are joining forces with the TUC to picket the meeting in Bath, and union members are also being called to picket the first full council meeting at Corsham Town Council, where BNP member Michael Simpkins will take his seat for the first time.

Mr Simpkins was elected unopposed in Corsham, a town where the BNP has had a high profile recently. It was criticised by police for starting civilian patrols in response to claims of anti-social behaviour by the town's youth. But civic leaders in Corsham have played down Mr Simpkins' impact, with the town clerk stating the town council was strictly non-party political.

The bigger protest is expected in Bath, after BNP leader Nick Griffin was invited by party members who are students at the university. University and College Union assistant general secretary John Perry said: "The campus trade unions are organising a protest outside the venue. Anti-fascist staff and students will attend and protest inside the venue. It is vital that academic freedom is not used by the BNP to stir up hate in our places of education."

But the BNP's youth leader Danny Lake, a student at the University of Bath, said he invited Mr Griffin to find out more about the party. "People are always reading about the BNP, but what people quite often don't have is the chance to sit there and listen to the BNP themselves putting their viewpoint across," he said.

Western Daily Press

Outcry as students invite BNP leader to campus

Students at the University of Bath have invited BNP leader Nick Griffin on to campus to speak to staff and the student body.

The controversial politician is hoping to address an audience at the university as part of a tour of the south west in mid-May. The university is currently debating if the talk should go ahead.

Speaking exclusively to the Chronicle, Mr Griffin said: "I'm scheduled to be in the area between May 13 and 16 but I know some students are in discussion with the university authorities as to the date. What I talk on will depend on whether students are interested in the BNP or the freedom of speech issue and how much opposition there is. Usually when a group of students is interested in me speaking, it is later cancelled. If it does go ahead there comes a point when having lecturers jumping up and down means the talk has to end up being about freedom of speech rather than specific policies."

John Perry, assistant general secretary of the Bath branch of the University and College Union, said news of the proposed visit had sparked an outcry among academic staff.

"The university's secretariat was due to decide yesterday but the decision must have been deferred as they have been bombarded with letters from staff saying they don't want him here. We want to challenge his ideas and policies and don't think the university is a particularly good venue for him as we want to encourage diversity among our students and staff. If Griffin is permitted to come to the university, UCU will organise the strongest public demonstration possible on the campus. We will be calling for all those who support the freedom to think to mobilise against those who brutally hate and divide."

But the university's student body said it did not follow the National Union of Students in banning those who hold extremist views from speaking. The union's vice-president of communications, Peter Yu, said: "Bath University Students' Union (BUSU) currently does not have a no-platform policy. As a result, we are not acting directly against Nick Griffin coming to speak at the university."

Mr Yu said the union was willing to give advice to those students planning to organise a peaceful protest against Mr Griffin and the BNP, but would not be taking part in the protest itself.

This is Bath