New sex charge brought against neo-Nazi leader

Neo-Nazi leader Kevin Alfred Strom, arrested last January on charges of possession of child pornography and witness tampering, now faces a key additional accusation — that he "enticed" a 10-year-old girl to engage in sexual activity.

The new charge came in an April federal grand jury indictment that also formalized the other felony charges faced by the founder of National Vanguard, a neo-Nazi group that collapsed after Strom's arrest). In addition to the "coercion and enticement" charge, they include four counts of receipt of child pornography (via a computer); one count of possession of child pornography; and one count of obstructing justice by assaulting or threatening a witness.

It wasn't clear from the indictment what Strom is accused of with regard to the young girl, and officials have not publicly detailed their allegations. The charge says only that Strom enticed or attempted to entice or coerce the girl. In a widely circulated E-mail, meanwhile, Strom pleads for money for his jail "canteen fund," complains that he's being kept in solitary confinement, and asserts that he is "not guilty of the charges against me" — even though Strom apparently signed a notarized "contract" with his wife Elisha last year in which he promised to attend counseling until he "has been declared free of pedophilia." Elisha Strom posted a copy of the document on a neo-Nazi site after her husband's arrest.

Kevin Strom also allegedly said in his February E-mail that he had written "a long and detailed account of the spousal betrayal which has resulted in my current situation," but added that his lawyers had advised him not to circulate it. Elisha Strom has hotly denied that she had anything to do with Strom's arrest.

Strom, who long kept a collection of cheesecake photos of young girls on his website under the heading of "feminine beauty," ended his E-mail on an upbeat note. "I remain," he said, "dedicated to the cause of life and the ennoblement of man."

SPLC

Lancaster BNP opens a new dirty tricks department and it's rubbish

Poor old Chris Hill. Possibly the only person to fight for a seat for the BNP five times and lose resoundingly every time, he has had to resort to dirty tricks in an attempt to get back at Lancaster UAF for telling the truth about his glorious leader and his useless party. Hill, of course, is the leading (if not, the only) light in Lancaster BNP.

Hill, the sad sod, gets into trouble wherever he goes - even on the many far-right blogs he inhabits (though he says he's not a nazi). At Battle for Britain he was told to push off in no uncertain terms after making a stupid post about Bernard Manning;

'Anti-gag (Chris Hill) said... It should be remembered that Bernard Manning bottled out of performing at the RWB a few years ago. Giving in to political pressure from the establishment hardly makes him someone we should be looking up to. Bernard Manning was a gutless wonder, and is no loss to this Nation.

Battle For Britain said... Which would explain why he will be sorely missed, whereas your blog (which has an unhealthy pre-occupation with Lancaster UAF) will disappear from this particular blog! Are you another one of those tossers who hated Bernard because he had Jewish roots? Grow up, NAZI!'

Sad or what? Still, there's always the anti-fascist bloggers to attack. They're an easy target - or so Hill thought until he tried to drone on about Simone Clarke. Then he met Duncan Money...

'Anti-gag (Chris Hill) said... I saw you comment on the Fascist Lancaster UAF site, about the intimidation of Simone Clarke. Can I ask you why you do not totally condemn this attempt to intimidate a private citizen for using their democratic right to support, and join, any political party they wish. The fact that Simone Clarke kept her membership of the British National Party to her self, has in fact nothing to do with anyone else. Had she stood in the middle of Hyde Park, and screamed out her membership number, she should still not be subjected to this, or any other, type of intimidation. Every time this type of personal abuse occurs, it make decent people like myself sick, and even more determined to stand up and be counted.

Duncan Money said... Well if it isn’t Chris Hill, the prominent BNP member from Lancaster, masquerading online as ‘anti-gag’. I was wondering when you would get round to commenting on my blog, everyone else in the BNP seems to. There’s nothing like hijacking a thread that has nothing to do with you comment in order to post an infantile rant about events I have nothing to do is there? Why you should be so concerned about my views on this subject I don’t know.

Firstly, full marks for calling Lancaster UAF fascist that’s highly original. Now please demonstrate how Lancaster UAF is anti-Semitic, anti-Communist, espouses corporatist economics, is anti-democratic, highly nationalistic, authoritarian, connects nationality with race and is reminiscent of the movement Mussolini headed in Italy during the 20’s, 30’s and 40’s.

Can I ask you why you do not totally condemn this attempt to intimidate a private citizen for using their democratic right to support, and join, any political party they wish.

Such a loaded question Mr Hill. In amongst all that rhetoric I assume the question you are asking is why I didn’t condemn the decision by UAF to hold protests outside the English National Ballet following revelations that their principal dancer, Simone Clarke, is a member of the British National Party. I personally think that UAF is right to call protests and condemn this woman for her BNP membership. If you join a racist, fascist political party then you can be termed a racist and a fascist. Anyone has the right to hold whatever political views they want. However, Simone Clarke is not a private citizen is she? She’s the lead dancer at the ENB and the ENB is subsidised by the state as it receives £6 million of public money. Receiving public money means an organisation has to have certain responsibilities. One of the responsibilities of receiving money from the Arts Council is that work you produce contributes to racial equality and good race relations. Having a BNP member as your lead dancer is not contributing to racial equality, in fact it is detrimental. Simone Clarke is free to be a member of the BNP, although you would deport her partner, but she should not make her living in subsidised art.

intimidation… personal abuse

That’s strange I don’t remember anyone from the BNP hurrying to condemn all those on the far right, including BNP members, who threatened and abused me after I held a small anti-BNP meeting which is strange because ‘Dr Phil’ the BNP’s press officer had time to write 2 articles on me and my mate as well as spending 1 ½ hours on the phone to the local press complaining about us asserting we had been brain-washed.

it make decent people like myself

You wouldn’t happen to be a BNP member would you Mr Hill? And someone who has stood as a BNP candidate in elections? The fact that you belong to a party that wants to deport my friends excludes you from the category ‘decent people’. Anyway, since such a prominent BNP member has decided to comment on my blog I’ve a question to ask about another current issue. Following the formation of a far right group in the EU Parliament largely containing neo-fascists and Holocaust deniers the BNP heralded this with delight and called them ‘genuine patriots’ who any future BNP MEP’s would be happy to join. Is this what the BNP thinks patriotism is?'

Oops. No joy there then - but major kudos to Duncan.

As he can't string a reasonable argument together in support of the BNP, Hill has decided to go the other way and play dirty, hence the pointless fake blog he's started here (see picture above). Go and have a laugh at it. It's called 'Lancaster's United Again Fascists', whatever the hell that's meant to mean. Hill is a major embarrassment to the BNP - and given the competition he's got in the party that's no small achievement.

Poor old Hill. His desperation's showing and he's losing his grip. Never mind - there's bound to be a by-election that he can stand in and lose again soon. That might cheer him up.

Oh well, as Chris Hill doesn't apparently want to answer the question (see Comments) as to whether he is responsible for the fake UAF page (and the others he has created), we thought we'd provide the proof ourselves. Above is the Atom feed for the page and as you can clearly see, the post that has come down the feed was made by Chris Hill, using his Blogger log-in, 'anti-gag'.

Actually, we wonder why Chris Hill has a Lancaster BNP blog at all - the readership hardly shows a need for one. The list on the left shows his daily hits.

Our old Redwatch-organiser chum Little Kev reckons we only get fifty hits a day. If we did, we'd be ashamed and frankly, wonder if it was worth all the effort.

Chris Hill's crap blog manages an average of 16.7 a day (but then he only posts about once a month) and you really have to wonder why anyone would bother keeping it going. Oh well, keep on trying Chris.

Where next for the BNP's amoeba-like Solidarity union?

Following the fraudulent Extraordinary General Meeting held by the breakaway Solidarity union on Sunday, there is speculation about what will happen to both it and the original Solidarity from which it split. Both organisations are claiming the name, both are carrying on business as usual and both are purporting to be the Solidarity. Confusion is rife. To avoid making it worse, we'll refer to them as Solidarity A and B, A being the original union and B being the one stolen by Nick Griffin and Pat Harrington.

In a typically BNP-style News Bulletin, Solidarity B printed this little gem on its website yesterday;

'Solidarity members have reclaimed their Union at an Emergency General Meeting. The meeting heard how all members of Solidarity had been notified of the meeting called constitutionally by 2/3rds of the membership. Notices were published on the Union website, text messages sent to mobiles and email and postal bulletins sent.'

So two-thirds of the membership called for the EGM, did they? We're assured by three correspondents (writing to us completely independently as far as we can tell) who are all in the union, that they were not contacted in any way at all, either by text, post or phone, and if they had been they would certainly have voted against the changes. One wonders how this two-thirds figure could be proven and whether the BNP actually bothered to get in touch with anyone it thought might possibly be in opposition to its great takeover plan.

One of our correspondents also asked exactly how many people attended the EGM - an interesting question which we would love to have answered. Perhaps Harrington (who has posted on here using the apt name 'doublethink') would like to post some details.

'Those who may have been frightened to attend had been offered personal guarantees of their safety and dedicated security to allay their fears.'

This is clearly BNP-inspired 'by implication' bullshit that ranks alongside the fake assassination attempt on Nick Griffin as entirely stupid and completely unnecessary. The BNP is always claiming threats and intimidation, though it's usually alleged that it's 'reds' that have carried them out. Who is it this time - Tim Hawke and Clive Potter?

Regardless of all this, Nick Griffin has, using a couple of other people, regained control of what he sees as his union. Yes, Griffin, not Harrington. In fact, Griffin's grubby, chubby mitts are all over this fiasco, as you can easily tell when you consider how Solidarity has been snatched from those who wanted it to be almost an ordinary union (even though it would be supportive of the far-right) and placed in the hands of those who simply wish to exploit it for their own ends.

Though starting off on the wrong foot with a sacked General Secretary, rumours of financial mismanagement at best and theft at worst, the very clear theft of the membership list, the Paypal account and the website, Solidarity B is patently going on to better things, with a completely illegal EGM and the unconstitutional election to the Executive of two people who were either not members at all or certainly hadn't been for three months, Lindsey Nieuwhof and Simone Clarke.

Lindsey, you may recall, is the wife of Lambertus Nieuwhof, the new(ish) BNP web guru and school-bombing terrorist who, at Harrington and Griffin's instigation, locked Potter and Hawke out of the Solidarity website. Simone Clarke is the ballet dancer everyone made such a fuss about a few months back - generally disliked in the BNP because her (ex?) partner and the father of her child is Cuban-Chinese and they just don't like that sort of thing.

All this, though a laugh for us opponents of the BNP and its allied idiots, is really beside the point. This whole fiasco was all caused when Potter and Hawke decided there was something dodgy in the accounts so rightly suspended Harrington pending an investigation. Since then a takeover has been engineered in collusion with the BNP through theft after theft - surely making the whole Solidarity B formation non-financial fraud on a fairly grand scale? If we were in the same unhappy position as Potter and Hawke, we would immediately begin seeking advice for a legal challenge to the ownership of Solidarity via the High Court.

Naturally, there is a financial angle to all of this. Well there would be - Nick Griffin's involved. Apart from the poor bloody members of Solidarity B, who are about to be ripped off for every penny they can spare via all the schemes that Griffin and Harrington will think up between them, another body from Harrington's Third Way mob has suddenly popped up from nowhere with a nice little potential earner.

Before we get into this one, we ought to state that we have seen evidence that not only supports this next part of the Solidarity disaster but also leads off to a couple of interesting tangents that we'll be picking up on in the very near future. That said, here's the next part of the story...

While he was General Secretary of Solidarity A, Pat Harrington was anxious to get the union to make use of a PR company named Accentuate. For various reasons - mostly to do with cost - this proposal was rejected by Harrington's fellow EC members. Probably just as well because Accentuate, which is run by Graham Williamson - former treasurer of the National Front and old chum of both Nick Griffin and Pat Harrington - appears to be a one-man PR company with absolutely nothing behind it. In fact, as far as we can ascertain, Williamson has no experience of PR beyond a single mention (from 2004) we could find on the internet, where his name is plugged in connection with one Dave Stephens (a fellow-member of the Third Way and one of the so-called Metric Martyrs) and the Customary Measures Society, one of those archaic groups that oppose the unnecessarily long and gruelling change to metric measurement.

Despite this, Williamson was keen to be associated with Solidarity A and indeed, intended to work for the union for one day a week for the princely sum of £100! No doubt, now that Solidarity B appears to be off the ground and under Harrington's control, Williamson will get his way.

Some way down the 'Strategy' document for Solidarity's PR requirements, which looks like it was largely gleaned from the Ladybird Book of PR Tips, mention is made of monitoring media reports of Solidarity's activities;

'...the first would be on the basis of ‘hits’ from press statements. This can be identified through using a firm like Durant’s who would monitor the media and supply us with identified coverage. I think this is a must regardless since we need to monitor what is being said about the Union. Whilst it will be very limited at present an active PR campaign will increase it significantly.'

We've no idea who 'Durant' is, though it wouldn't surprise us in the least if it turned out to be another ex-NF colleague of Griffin and current Third Way colleague of Williamson and Harrington, Dave Durant, who has stood for Third Way in a couple of elections (Hornchurch 2001 and Upminster 2005). More info on this would be appreciated.

Solidarity B has hardly been in existence for a few days and already the theme that is emerging is the familiar BNP theme of jobs for the family and friends. Harrington was, with Griffin's encouragement, demanding a wage for the work he was putting in despite the fact that everyone else was prepared to work for nothing in an attempt to enable the birth and growth of the union, and seems to be wangling a job for Williamson. If Durant is who we think he is, that's another one sorted - and so it goes on.

And who pays for all these fake jobs for these losers? The Solidarity membership, of course.

But jobs for the boys and financial shenanigans isn't all we associate with anything tainted by Nick Griffin. He's a great lover of political stunts too, as witnessed by the gag he wore at the first 'free speech' trial last year. Williamson seems to be on Griffin's wavelength because he's suggesting that Solidarity does what Griffin himself has done with the BNP - introduce a non-white character to deflect accusations of racism. The only real surprise is that they haven't (yet) got a Jew to come along too.

'The first ‘stunt’ should be a Press Conference launching the Union in Essex unveiling our first Sikh member Pramjit Sadra. This of course helps to counter the racist...accusations.'

Slightly out of date because the Third Way site mentions that Sadra actually joined Solidarity on or around April 20th of this year. Curiously Sadra, just like Nick Griffin, seems to be into all kinds of bizarre get rich quick schemes - search Google and take a look. It's interesting reading.

We'll leave this story for the moment because things are cooking in the background which might well mean there's a lot more about to happen. However, nil desperandum and all that jazz - we'll leave you with something to read in the form of Graham Williamson's great PR plan for Solidarity. Most of it seems to be the kind of stuff a schoolboy could have come up with in his lunch break but as the Solidarity B membership may well end up forking out £100 a day for this tosh, they should have the chance to see it first. Read on...

'PR STRATEGY FOR:

SOLIDARITY- The British Workers Union

The Union needs publicity in order to raise awareness. This will facilitate recruitment but also help create a ‘general’ (preferably positive) image, particularly to those ‘undecided’ and ‘outsiders’.

There are only three ways of reaching out to the general public, ‘Advertising’, ‘In-house’ promotion and Publicity.

Advertising

This will take the form of leaflets, both general and industry specific, but could include adverts in magazines (whether political or trade).

The advantage is that we control the message; the disadvantage is the limited coverage this can give us. Minor political parties struggle to get their message across when relying on leaflets and it might, for various reasons, be even harder to get our leaflets into the hands of a workforce (although it may only take one leaflet to bring a sympathetic worker ‘out’?).

Leaflets can also be costly and advertising even more so. Obviously however leafleting is still an absolute necessity since we can guarantee our address is given out, gives all members a role and is the only medium we can control. Beyond recruitment the impact will be negligible.

‘In-house’ promotion

This takes the form of advertising, promotional articles etc. within sympathetic circles e.g. BNP and Third Way events and publications..

Being a captive market this can initially boost membership and ultimately provide a steady stream of new recruits. The disadvantage is that it might a) raise questions of ‘entryism’ or accusations of being a front group b) make it more difficult to be independent.

It is a short circuit to increased membership but needs to be balanced at the earliest opportunity with parallel recruitment outside of politically sympathetic circles.

Publicity

The majority of the public’s awareness stems from what they read in the media, whether in print or on TV (and to a much lower extent on the radio). In comparison to direct advertising, including printed material, ‘third-party endorsement’ (or at least neutrality) is seen as more credible.

A good Public Relations strategy will seek to maximise its ‘horizontal’ hits i.e. volume of coverage as well as its ‘vertical’ i.e. positive hits in the media.

The ability to achieve positive coverage will rely upon the content and layout of any Press Release/feature and the relationship (even image) between the Union (or host PR company) and the media.

Press Release

This could either be about an event e.g. demonstration/AGM etc or a position e.g. on general industry matters e.g. minimum wage or on something specific e.g. a company’s labour relations.

To begin with it will be more of the latter but as we grow there will be more opportunities to be more active.

There is a ‘right’ way and style of writing any press release: Headline - who, what, why, where (preferably in a popular style) – quotes (harder to twist through fear of libel) – conclusion. You have to take account of the average journalists’ routines e.g. they cut from the bottom, prefer e-mails, like to put a face or voice behind a release etc. This comes with experience and professional interest i.e. tricks of the trade.

Features

Features on the Union or personalities will increase public credibility and tend to ‘humanise’ the organisation.

Such Organisational features rely upon a USP(s) (Unique Selling Point). For the Union this would be opposition to outsourcing, cheap migrant labour and PC. It will sell better if linked to actual events i.e. move of a call centre or factories e.g. “We oppose the loss of 200 jobs at British Gas’s Kettering Regional HQ because Management prefer using cheap labour in Malaysia. It’s deceiving the British public and putting people out of work”

It also has mileage being a Moral and Libertarian Union e.g. “the Fire Brigade sacked these officers but we welcome them because their personal or political views are no concern of ours”. Again examples of actually recruiting such people would help.

Personalities can be used because of who they are or where they come from. When Mick Shaw became Fire Brigade President one of my Regional papers did a page spread on him. The only link being he was born in Romford. It would be possible to get publicity for Solidarity officials. It can even use controversy in its favour. Again it humanises the Union.

Quotes

Quotes will be sought by journalists if they think you have something useful and credible to say. This might be direct to Head Office or a Press Office but can also be to known officials. At the last fuel protest I was contacted for a quote merely because I worked for a haulage company and I had credibility in the eyes of the journalist. I can imagine many such opportunities for Union officials with the right ‘priming’.

All the above can occur if a positive relationship with the media is achieved through regularity, personal contact and credibility. The latter has the same dynamic as between the public and the media. If the recipient believes you ‘have clean hands’ they will take more note. By using a PR company you immediately excite the snob in the journalist i.e. this organisation is serious (might actually pay for the privilege!) and a belief that such a company is likely to be a little more objective than his client.

THE STRATEGY

Defensive as well as Positive

Whilst the Union has now been well and truly born most of the publicity so far has been rather negative i.e. it’s a BNP front-group. Whilst there has been good defensive work on the blogs and to a lesser extent with some of the media it is going to difficult if we are always chasing our tail and reacting to events rather than creating them.

Of course the Union faces opposition because a) of its patriotic position b) BNP links. They are attempting to limit the Union’s freedom of action vis a vis neutral actors (businesses, media etc) and put-off potential recruits. They are treating the Union as if it were a political party by ascribing to it policies i.e. a 'scab' or 'racist' union. This however can be turned to our advantage (see later).

We need to minimise the number of opponents and their effectiveness. There will be a war of position with and within them. I believe our PR strategy will not only achieve this aim but of course create lots of positive publicity at the same time, leading to more recruits and a better image, leading to improved coverage translated into more recruits etc.

Positive

In the first year we need to in the:

Short term

a) Send out National Press Releases introducing the Union.
b) Organise ‘Stunts’ to attract interest.
c) Continue with defensive activity on blogs and appropriate press releases.

Medium term

This occurs once we have actual campaigns under way and appointed officials. We can then bring in event press releases, features and quotes.

To begin with we need to prepare Press releases on selected issues e.g. off shoring, whilst targeting sectors e.g. trade journals and the like.

The first ‘stunt’ should be a Press Conference launching the Union in Essex unveiling our first Sikh member Pramjit Sadra. This of course helps to counter the racist and ER accusations.

This conference should be largely for a selected local press (and any sympathetic journalists we may know of). In this way we can control the output and minimise opposition. We should tape/record the event for showing on web and promoting to the media at large.

Remuneration

There are only two ways; piece or daily rates. The first would be on the basis of ‘hits’ from press statements. This can be identified through using a firm like Durant’s who would monitor the media and supply us with identified coverage. I think this is a must regardless since we need to monitor what is being said about the Union. Whilst it will be very limited at present an active PR campaign will increase it significantly.

The other way of remuneration would be daily rates say of £100. Initially say one day per week. Although the work wouldn’t/shouldn’t be restricted to one specific day i.e. it would be carried out as and when it is a simple way of controlling expenditure. The evidence of the effectiveness of the PR strategy would still be required even if not directly tied to ‘hits’ at this stage.

Conclusion

I am keen to launch the PR strategy because a) I need to try and build my business b) explore all my skills and ideas c) I believe the Union has a massive potential and that a great deal of its success will rely upon an effective PR campaign(s) d) I am a member of the Union and wish it to succeed.

I await your deliberations.'

Don't hold your breath, is our advice.

Call for block on BNP plan to hold festival

A leading racial equality campaigner has stepped into the row over plans for a British National Party festival in Derbyshire.

Balbir Singh Sandhu, chairman of Derby Racial Equality Council, has called on Amber Valley Borough Council to block the RWB (Red, White and Blue) festival planned for Denby in August. Mr Sandhu has sent a letter to the authority, whose licensing committee meets tomorrow to decide whether or not to grant a drinks licence for the event.

Mr Sandhu claims that the BNP incites racial hatred and ruins the work of organisations like the Race Equality Council, which tries to build links between cultures in the community.

He said: "The organisation of this festival is a major concern. We fight for equal opportunities for all people and the BNP doesn't believe in that. We know of shopkeepers who've been targeted by supporters of their beliefs. That's not equal opportunity. This is very worrying for the people in the community and I worry for them if this event goes ahead."

The RWB festival is an annual event organised by the BNP. This year, it is due to take place on fields in Codnor Denby Lane, Denby, which are owned by BNP member and Denby parish councillor Alan Warner.

Mr Warner said: "I have never met anyone from the BNP who is a racist. We just want the best for the British people of this country, no matter what colour they are. There is no hullabaloo about the Scottish National Party or the Welsh National Party. This is no different."

More than 30 residents living near the fields have objected to the festival by sending letters to the borough council. John Lumsden, who lives opposite one of the fields to be used, helped to raise a petition, signed by 30 residents. He said: "Our objections surround the logistical side of things - the amount of traffic and the danger to pedestrians in the village as a result of that."

The event, which is set to take place on the weekend of August 4 and 5 and is expected to attract about 2,000 people, has previously been held in Clitheroe, Lancashire, where a local councilor says that it passed without problems

Last week, Denby Parish Council heard residents' fears about possible noise and traffic congestion and decided to object to the festival plan. But Mr Warner said that, whatever Amber Valley councillors decided on the liquor licence application, "the festival will still go ahead".

Derbyshire Evening Telegraph

BBC won't remove anti-semitic posting

The BBC is refusing to remove a provocative and anti-Semitic message posted on one of its message boards despite a barrage of complaints. The message was posted on the BBC Radio Web site message board following a discussion about a television program on anti-Semitism that screened on the UK's Channel Four network last week. The offensive message, left by someone using the alias "Iron Naz," reads: "Zionism is a racist ideology where jews [sic] are given supremacy over all other races and faiths. This is found in the Talmud. There is a law called Baba Mezia which allows jews to lie as long as its to non-jews. Many pro jewish supporters will cringe at this being exposed because they know it exists, yet they keep quiet about it, hey frip, jla and co [the aliases of other people taking part in the discussion]. The Law of Baba Mezia!! Tsk tsk tsk! It's in the Talmud." A number of Jewish community members, including a community organization, appealed to the BBC to remove the posting. They all received a standard response: "We have decided that it does not contravene the House Rules and are going to leave it on the site..."

A BBC Radio spokesman told The Jerusalem Post: "The Radio Five Live message board is a forum of debate and people can express their views, some of which others will strongly disagree with. The complaint was brought to the attention of our moderators who looked into the issue and concluded that the post was not one that merited removal from the site as it was not felt to have breached the message board house rules. A guide to the house rules is found on the Five Live message board. Posts that are removed include ones that are considered likely to disrupt, provoke attack or offend others or are considered racist, homophobic, sexually explicit or otherwise objectionable." "The BBC obviously no longer recognizes anti-Semitism even when it slaps it in the face," said Mark Gardiner, head of communications at the Community Security Trust (CST), an organization that ensures the safety and security of the Jewish community and monitors anti-Semitic incidents in the UK. "The BBC is a public body, funded by the British tax payer. It has legal obligations and we will pursue them." Gardiner added: "It is bad enough that it is up to readers to police what the BBC publish on their own Web sites, but it is far sadder that this public body should actively refuse to remove the filth, and give no explanation for their actions - or perhaps the BBC agree with the essential element of the posting, that Zionism is a racist ideology where Jews are given supremacy over all other races and faiths."

Anti-Semitic attacks using the Talmud were the basis of the classic anti-Semitic publication entitled The Talmud Unmasked, written at the end of the 19th century by Father Justin Praniatis. The anti-Semitic Russian Catholic priest gave evidence at the infamous Menahem Mendel Beilis blood libel trial in Kiev in 1913. Praniatis argued that the Talmud advocated ritual murder, but he was shown by Jewish and Christian scholars to be a charlatan with no knowledge of the Talmud. While Beilis was found innocent, the influence of Praniatis's work has spread beyond Imperial Russia. Today, The Talmud Unmasked is distributed by neo-Nazi booksellers via the Internet. It gained a brief surge of publicity in the UK in the early 1990s as part of a series of anti-Semitic mass mailings led by the notorious dowager Lady Jane Birdwood. She was eventually convicted in 1994 of distributing "threatening, abusive and insulting material" on account of an anti-Semitic compendium, The Longest Hatred, the contents of which included the Talmud material.

Jerusalem Post

BNP demo at Dagenham Town Show a complete washout!

The Stormfront nazi forum is awash with recrimination this weekend after a national demonstration was called at the Dagenham Town Show by pornmeister Richard Barnbrook, the leader of the BNP's contingent on Barking and Dagenham Council, then cancelled at the last minute leaving supporters from as far afield as Kent and Oxford with nowhere to go to cheerlead for Nick Griffin and his band of not so Merry Men.

The demo was called for 10am on Saturday but we're told that only a dozen arrived (including the two supporters from outside London).

Barnbrook, rapidly gaining more notoriety for his alleged drink problems than for either his mismanagement of the BNP's Barking and Dagenham contingent or his gay-porn film, is said to have cancelled the demonstration on the morning it was due after seeing the large police contingent that had mustered in the belief that the BNP would at least manage a small crowd of demonstrators.

Though cancelling early in the day, Barnbrook didn't think to let the BNP office know, nor even to update the Barking and Dagenham BNP website with the news, leaving those arriving to wander aimlessly around enjoying the festivities, which they probably enjoyed rather more than hanging around with Barnbrook and his chums.

One angry supporter posted this on Stormfront;

'it was a complete disaster for the bnp.b+d is the bnp stronghold in london and the southeast and red ken and the reds have just marched in and run the bnp out of town.not only have they turned a family community event into a multicultural anti racist gig but the bnp the so called party of the people,defenders of the white community and culture have put up the white flag and run.what wonderful encouragement to the next lot of reds who want to disrupt a bnp event.how can the bnp expect the people of b+d to vote for them again?i have met barnbrook a few times and he seems pretty committed so maybe the order came from higher up.all in all a thuroughly pathetic turn of events...'

Difficult to see how anyone 'disrupted' any BNP event here but there you go.

Barnbrook's career seems to be in a rapidly descending spiral. Even though chosen - in a moment of apparent insanity - as the BNP's candidate for Mayor of London, he seems to be incapable of maintaining any kind of political momentum. The revelations about the porn film, his claimed relationship with Tilda Swinton (denied by her), his alleged use of an escort agency to find a partner to take to a council function, his ludicrous prancing around dressed up as St George, his laughable attempt to look like Martin Bell in his rather silly white suit, his complete inability to stop his group fragmenting in all directions and his apparent inability to string more than four words together to form a coherent sentence have all combined to make him something of a laughing stock - and this is just inside the BNP.

Despite all this, Nick Griffin, to universal amazement, chose Barnbrook to be the councillor representative on the BNP's Advisory Council last year where, it appears, he has failed again. A post on the Britain Forward (anti-Griffin but apparently pro-BNP) has this to say;

'Many party members were surprised when Cllr Richard Barnbrook was appointed as the representative of all councillors on the Advisory Council in November 2006, with his murky past and his inability, despite the largest BNP council group in the country, to achieve anything positive for local residents or for our party. He cannot even keep his own councillors in order. Only last month Cllr Jamie Jarvis embarrassed our party by getting caught up in a police drugs raid at a local pub that the local BNP group regularly uses for meetings. He should have been at a council meeting representing his ward and our party. The national representative job was obviously beyond a man who cannot even sort out his own back yard, so it was only a matter of time before someone else was appointed as the party’s “councillor liaison officer”. Nick Eriksen, our London organiser, says diplomatically that he will work “in addition to, not replacing, Richard Barnbrook”, but everyone knows he is there to make sure the job actually gets done...Most people in the party know that the choice of Richard Barnbrook to take on Red Ken in the London Mayoral election next year is a disaster in the offing but Nick Griffin doesn’t seem to care...'

The frustration and anger inside and around the BNP at the party's continuing councillor-related cock-ups, its financial disasters, its demo's that never happen and its lacklustre performance at the polls is encapsulated neatly in this final sentence to an article on yet another anti-Griffin 'nationalist' site;

'It's no wonder the media now rather like us a bit! We are run by crass incompetents!'

They are indeed.

Dutch anti-Islam lawmaker trying to ban burqas

A Dutch rightwing anti-Islam politician on Thursday submitted new proposals for a law banning burqas after an earlier attempt failed.

In a letter to parliament, Geert Wilders, who heads the Freedom Party which has nine of the 150 seats in the lower house, wrote that “the burqa and the niqab are a symbol of the oppression of women” and are “in defiance of the democratic constitutional state”. It is not known how many women in the Netherlands wear the face veils but estimates are a few dozen.

Nearly two years ago, in October 2005, a majority of the Dutch parliament voted in favour of a motion by Wilders to ban burqas in public places. However, the then minister of integration, hardliner Rita Verdonk, did not craft the law for a burqa ban after an advisory committee said such a ban could be unconstitutional because it violated the right to equal treatment for all residents of the country.

Now Wilders, known for his harsh anti-Islam rhetoric, has submitted his own law proposal and hopes parliament will agree. It is unlikely that he will get another majority as the November 2006 elections put an end to a centre-right majority in parliament that backed the plans.

Wilders wants to specifically ban burqas and niqabs in public places including stations, stadiums, shops, restaurants, museums, hospitals, cars driving on the public roads and public transports. He proposes a maximum sentence of 12 days in jail or a fine of $4,619.

If the law were passed, it would be a world first. No national government has yet banned the use of face veils in public places although some Belgian municipalities, including Antwerp, have introduced local bans. In his proposal, Wilders also cites Turkey and France. Turkey bans the wearing of veils and headscarves in public buildings while France has banned the use of obvious religious symbols like Islamic headscarves and veils in government buildings including schools and hospitals.

ICARE

BNP man’s death - sub judice no bar to BNP hate campaign

The death of a Stoke-on-Trent BNP activist in what police are describing as a “dispute between neighbours” has been hyped out of all proportion by the BNP and its adherents, despite the paucity of details so far released.

Keith Brown had apparently been involved in a long-standing dispute with his Muslim neighbours, which resulted in an altercation on July 6th. During the fracas, Mr Brown was stabbed and died. A number of people were arrested and later released on police bail, and Habib Khan charged with murder. Khan appeared before North Staffordshire magistrates and was remanded to appear at Stafford Crown Court on Monday July 16.

Beyond stating that Mr Brown’s death came about as the result of a dispute between neighbours, Staffordshire police have released few other details. How the altercation arose and who instigated it is not known - these are facts that will be established at Mr Khan’s trial, and until then - quite properly - any speculation or apportioning of blame is prohibited by the rules of sub judice.

However, the fact of one of their own having allegedly been murdered, and allegedly by a Muslim, has proved more than the BNP and its fanatical following can bear, and the party set out to capitalise on the tragedy of Mr Brown’s death.

Very quickly the BNP website, ignoring the fact that nobody accused of a criminal offence may be presumed to be guilty until a jury finds them so, was talking of a “gang of Muslim thugs” and detailed a number of (unproven) allegations made by Mr Brown against his neighbours, saying:

The months of anguish continued for Keith, abuse, assaults and smashed windows until finally the inevitable but entirely avoidable happed. Last Friday afternoon witnesses saw Keith and his neighbours in yet another flare up. Keith had just returned from picking up his three youngest children from school when he was confronted by a group of Muslim men outside his house. Whilst Keith was remonstrating with these men another Muslim man crept from behind a car and plunged a large knife in his back.

Clearly, the BNP does not require anything so mundane as a trial to establish guilt - but then, fascists have a track-record of never greatly bothering themselves with such fripperies wherever they have gained power.

Whether the allegations and summation of events as given on the BNP website is true or not is neither here nor there. The fact is that they have no business being aired in public when the guilt or innocence of a man charged with murder depends upon him coming before an unbiased jury. No newspaper would dare to publish the version of events appearing on the BNP website without a heavy degree of qualification - such that the reader would be in no doubt that the newspaper was publishing allegations, and not established facts.

Even before the BNP website had published its version of events, the party’s keyboard army of bloggers and forum trolls were hard at work hyping their dead comrade into some kind of hero who had fallen in an undeclared race war - one even managing to compare his death to those of the British soldiers who fell at the Battle of the Somme. Calls for revenge came thick and fast, and for once the mask of respectability was discarded as the open racism and hatred of the average BNP member spewed on to the Internet.

We have no more idea than the average BNP member of exactly what led to the death of Keith Brown. Whether his death had anything to do with his politics, his neighbours’ religion, or really was simply a dispute between neighbours that - regardless of politics, religion or race - escalated into violence, are matters that will be established in a court, and not on the poisonous blogs of BNP members.

We hope that all right-thinking people will agree with us that anybody committing an act of murder, whatever the circumstances, deserves the appropriate punishment - as do those who wilfully ignore the long established principle that a person is presumed innocent until proved guilty, and that to presume guilt and to make public utterances to that effect is a contempt of court proceedings likewise deserving of the appropriate punishment.

‘Racism has no place in a city like ours’

‘Racism has no place in a city like ours’ - thousands expected at Rise: London United Again Racism

Thirty years after Rock against Racism was at its height, this weekend will see up to 100,000 Londoners head to Finsbury Park for Rise: London United, the free anti-racist festival, where they will enjoy live music from around the world, reflecting the capital’s diversity and the ties it has with communities and cultures from around the world.

Organised annually by the Mayor of London in conjunction with the Trades Union Congress and National Assembly Against Racism, as a way of bringing people together as a statement that racism has no place in a city like London, this year’s free event features the usual eclectic mix of music, from Kelis and Jamelia to St Etienne, The Holloways and Noisettes, to K’Naan and the Skatalites.

It also features hip hop and underground including UK Beatboxing champion Beardyman, and Indian music, from classical to Bhangra. There is music from Africa and the Caribbean, including Frankie Paul and Osibisa, and music with a Latin flavour from Raíces Cubanas to Osvaldo Chacó. DJs include the Trojan Soundsystem, Ashley Beedle and Jazzie B (Soul II Soul).

Mayor Ken Livingstone said: ‘Racist ideas are the most backward and dangerous ideas that any society has produced. Racism has been used to justify some of the worst crimes that humanity has ever committed – slavery, wars, apartheid, the holocaust, lynchings, racist attacks and murder. Rise: London United is saying that racism has no place in a city like ours. As Londoners we are proud to live in the most diverse city in the world. In this city people are welcome to live the lives they choose, to worship as they wish, dress as they wish, and express themselves in whatever way they want as long as they do not harm others or interfere with the way they want to live their lives. It is what makes the city vibrant and dynamic and it is what is being so powerfully expressed through the music at Rise.’

Bob Stanley from St Etienne said: ‘In the wake of the pioneering work of Rock Against Racism, we have Rise and Love Music Hate Racism to celebrate the multi-cultural cocktail that makes London the greatest city in the world. It would be nice to think Saint Etienne could come up with something as mind-blowing as Bob Dylan’s Lonesome Death Of Hattie Carroll, but we’ll do our pop bit, and -with London United - we can all have a jolly good time.’

Kelis said: ‘Live music at outdoor festivals epitomise summer for me. I like the way the rise festival uses music to oppose racism and spread a positive message. Racism is utterly wrong and I’m looking forward to making a stand against intolerance and prejudice, whilst rocking with the crowd and having fun!’

Jamelia said: ‘I’m very much looking forward to performing at rise as it’s a festival with a strong anti-racism message and racism is something I truly hate. The world would be a much better place if racism was irradiated and maybe one day if we all challenge racist behaviour, it will.’

Dan from the Noisettes said: ‘What makes London so exciting is the fact that culturally, it is very diverse yet very integrated too but without being homogenised. Each area of London has it’s own treasure and it’s own charm and distinct identity. We are very happy to be playing RISE festival this year in Finsbury Park- We would love to celebrate all of us Londoners being united together come rain or shine in the form of proper London “Knees Up”.

Frankie Paul, who will be appearing at the African Village, added: ‘Racism is an ugly word and one that Frankie Paul will not tolerate, which is why I’m happy to be taking part in the UK’s biggest anti-racism festival, Rise. As an international reggae artist I have travelled to many cities and I feel at home in a place like London, which is home to people from every background. I want everyone to come down and join me at Rise, I will guarantee you’ll have a great time!’

Milena Buyum, National Assembly Against Racism, said: ‘The Rise festival is a fantastic counterblast to those arguing that multiculturalism doesn’t work. It vibrantly demonstrates that the idea that people need to give up visible cultural or religious difference to successfully live, work and play together is a nonsense. The festival’s enormous popularity is testament to Londoners’ overwhelming support for celebrating diversity and opposing racism and division.’

Megan Dobney, Regional Secretary of SERTUC (the TUC in London, the South East and East of England) said: ‘We are delighted to take part in the 2007 Rise festival. As well as celebrating the diversity of both our city and our membership, London’s trade unions will demonstrate our opposition to racism, fascism and all forms of discrimination. And this year SERTUC is launching Union City – we’ll be round the DJ Bus, with mural painting, and a bar – if you’re a union member come and visit us, if you’re not, come and join us!’

This year there will also be a stage – Rise: East - at the Dagenham Town Show the day before (Saturday 14 July), with a line up that includes: MOBO-award winning hip-hop artist Sway, Neils Children, Raíces Cubanas, Nensi, Congolese Allstars and more.

The Mayor said: ‘Linking up with the Dagenham Town Show this year will mean many more Londoners can come together to for a great day out, demonstrating that they reject the politics of hate.’

MP for Dagenham Jon Cruddas said: ‘We’re delighted that Rise is coming to Dagenham. As well as being a great day out it provides a fantastic opportunity to celebrate the wonderful diversity of our city. It sends out powerful messages too - that we are happy and proud to live in a multicultural city and that racism will not be tolerated in our communities.’

Sway, who is appearing at Rise: East as part of the Dagenham Town Show and who played at Finsbury Park last year, said: ‘Last time I played at Rise I really enjoyed it, and they do a good job of sending out a positive anti-racism message. London’s my home and the city’s has a good vibe that you often take for granted. You can eat food from every corner of the globe, rave to every type of music and most importantly, people from all different backgrounds and over the world live here together side by side. Racism seeks to destroy this, but we can’t let it destroy us.’

Event: Rise: London United
Location: Finsbury Park, London N4
Date: Sunday 15 July 2007
Time: 12pm – 8:30pm
Entry: FREE – ALL WELCOME
Public information: www.risefestival.org

Notes

• Rise: London United is a free, one-day festival celebrating multiculturalism and promoting anti-racism, organised by the Mayor of London in partnership with the National Assembly Against Racism and TUC South East Region (SERTUC).
• It has the support of UNISON, Canary Wharf, Transport for London and Islington Gazette. BBC London 94.9FM are the radio partner.
• Megan Dobney is Regional Secretary of SERTUC, the TUC in London, the South East and East of England. SERTUC represents the interests of over two million trades unionists living and working in the greater South East.
• This year, Rise is also hosting a stage at the Dagenham Town Show the day before (Saturday 14 July). Artists performing on the main stage include MOBO-award winning hip-hop artist Sway, Neils Children, Afro Cuban Band Jazz band Raices Cubanas, Nensi, Congolese Allstars and much more. The Rise DJ Bus will also be making a stop, with Union City DJ lineup: Andre Who!?! Breakin’ Bread, Luke Clinic, Monsta, and special guest: Radio 1xtra - Benji B.

BNP man demands apology from taxi association chief

A councillor whose appointment to the taxi licensing panel last year caused uproar has demanded an apology from protesters.

Heckmondwike BNP councillor David Exley said he had now served more than 12 months on the committee and had dealt with every case fairly.

When he was appointed, Akooji Badat, joint chairman of the Kirklees Hackney Carriage Association, said taxi drivers were unhappy with a BNP councillor on the panel, as most drivers were Asian. But now, more than a year on, Coun Exley said he had proved himself to be fair to everyone and said Mr Badat should take his comments back.

"I said at the time that people should judge me on my record," said Coun Exley. "I feel that over the last 12 months I have done my job properly and been fair. I'm sure if I hadn't everyone would have heard about it by now. In my opinion Mr Badat jumped on the bandwagon and it is only right that he now withdraws his original comments."

But Mr Badat said he still did not think it was right for someone who represented a party with racist policies to be on the licensing panel for taxi drivers when 97 or 98 per cent of drivers were from an Asian ethnic minority. He said he had complained to Kirklees recently because he felt more drivers were now being turned down for licences. And he said that although there were 15 elected members on the regulatory panel, Asian councillors rarely got the chance to sit at meetings, but he claimed Coun Exley was always selected.

Coun Exley said the panel always tried to find the best person to do the job, regardless of their ethnic background. He said members now had more background information on drivers because more thorough Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) checks were carried out.

"I have had people before me who have convictions for carrying guns or knives or for drugs offences and no one would want them to be taxi drivers," said Coun Exley. "We have to make an informed decision from the information we are given. It is never made on religion or the colour of their skin. We've had lots of white people who have had their licences taken off them or not given, but the majority of applicants are Asian so more will get turned down."

Coun Exley said more thorough CRB checks meant some drivers who had been given licences in the past were now being turned down because of information that was not available to the panel when their licence was granted. And he said councillors who were chosen to sit at meetings were usually the first ones to say they were available to attend the meetings as places were allocated on a first come, first served basis.

Spenborough Guardian

Note: This is the same David Exley who managed to sit through an entire six-hour budget meeting, along with two BNP colleagues on Kirklees Council, and said absolutely nothing.

Outcry as watchdog fails to act on BNP £5 gift to voters

The Standards Board for England has come under fire for failing to take action against a BNP councillor who sent out £5 notes to pensioners in Christmas cards ahead of an election. A probe by the local government watchdog found that the actions of BNP councillor Paul Cromie could be considered an "inducement" for votes – but it failed to act against the member for Queensbury, Bradford.

Bradford Council's leader, Coun Kris Hopkins, told the Yorkshire Post: "Putting five pound notes in envelopes and handing them out to voters seems to be as clear a breach of the rules as you are ever likely to see. It is equally disturbing that it has taken seven months for the Standards Board to reach its conclusion and, even then, I believe the verdict is weak bordering on farcical."

Coun Cromie was reported to the board after he gave the money to more than 200 people living in sheltered housing in his ward, only months before his wife, Lynda, was elected as a BNP councillor for the same ward with a slim 155 majority. The board report states: "As the gifts were directly linked to the name and to the party, they could have also been considered as an inducement to vote for Coun Cromie's wife."

The board ruled that his actions brought his office into disrepute.

Bradford's Liberal Democrat group leader, Coun Jeanette Sunderland, said she was "astonished" at the reaction from the Standards Board for England. Labour group leader for Bradford, Coun Ian Greenwood, echoed the call for stronger action by the board. "I think it sends out a very weak signal," he said.

Coun Cromie has always insisted that the donations were made as a goodwill gesture from his councillor's allowance. He said: "I have been donating to Queensbury charities for 30 years and I am not going to stop now. Obviously I will be careful and make sure it is done within the code."

Yorkshire Post

Two BNP members suffer landmark libel case defeat

Two British National Party members have suffered a landmark defeat in their fight for libel damages from a magazine.

Former London mayoral candidate Christopher Roberts, of St Mary's Drive, Benfleet, and his brother Barry argued they were defamed by a 2003 article in the monthly Searchlight publication. The piece, written by Gerry Gable, appeared in the News from the Sewers column, and reported allegations the Roberts brothers, who have both stood for Parliament, had threatened "to kneecap, torture and kill" various people after a bust-up within the BNP. He also alleged Christopher Roberts had stolen cash after a party rally.

The brothers vehemently denied there was any truth to the allegations, which were first aired by other BNP members, and argued they were defamatory. They also said the article not only repeated untrue allegations, but "embellished" them as well.

But, at the High Court last year, Justice Eady ruled Searchlight had a defence of "qualified privilege", as the article was doing no more than reporting the activities of a political party already in the public domain. He concluded publication was in the public interest, and threw out the libel claim.

Three appeal court judges agreed with Justice Eady, in an important ruling for press freedom. Lord Justice Ward, sitting with Lord Justice Sedley and Lord Justice Moore-Bick, said: "This was attributed, neutral reporting of a story in the public interest."

Christopher and Barry Roberts, of Bromley, Kent, now face significant legal costs.

Echo News