The Pandora’s Box of racism, Islamophobia and homophobia has been well and truly opened and the winners out of all of this will be the far right, the BNP and other fascist groups in Britain. The modern day equivalent of the lies put out through the anti-Semitic Elders of Zion is aimed to encourage a modern pogrom type movement, using Muslims rather than Jews, as the new scapegoat.Geerrt Wilders claims his right to spread his attacks on Islam is in defence of free speech. Lord Pearson and Lady Cox, who arranged for his showing of the racist film in the House of Lords said,” Cultural relativism is the greatest disease we face in Europe today”. So much for UKIP being non-racist!
The greatest disease we face in Europe today is the crises caused by global capitalism and the social, economic and ecological disasters it is creating across the globe. The greatest dangers are from the rise in poverty, unemployment and exploitation. The price many of us are being asked to pay to prop up a bankrupt economic, political and social order we are not prepared to pay. Resistance to Capitalism is emerging across the World through many diverse movements. Many reject totally the inter class racist and fascist answers being pushed by the far right and their various populist, nationalist and xenophobic supporters. The international crises of capitalism deserves an international response, based on the rejection of social and human oppression in the name of profit. International ecosocialism based on the self organisation of the working class is the key to liberating our planet from Capitalist exploitation.
When Geert Wilders and his racist EDL supporters say that “Islam is a totalitarian religion”, what they mean by that is an attack on the democratic rights of Muslims to practice their religion, free from threats of racist attacks.
When 200 EDL supporters are allowed to march in London by the State, the Home Secretary, Alan Johnson, is sending out a clear message that he and New Labour are not prepared to challenge the fascists as it could affect their General Election results. Pandering to racism simply strengthens the confidence of racists to go on the attack.
The so-called freedom of speech that is being upheld is the freedom to make racist speeches and incite racist violence. Every time there is such an event others see it as a green light to attack innocent Asian people, vandalise mosques and desecrate cemeteries. Have we not learnt anything from the past? Are we failing to see what is really happening in our communities? Or does New Labour and the police live in denial. The tabloids are equally responsible for stirring this pot of hatred up with their populist headlines and trivialising issues. As long as the BBC continues to give air time to Griffin, every time an innocent person is attacked by fascists and racists, they have blood on their hands.
When anti-fascists try to defend freedom from racist and fascist attacks, they are accused of denying democratic rights. No Platform for fascists is the best way and only way of upholding the democratic right to be free from bigotry and hatred. Fascism is about taking away OUR democratic right to oppose the erosion of rights by the Capitalist State.
Yet here is the quandary. Ken Livingstone and others call on the same State apparatus to ban the fascists. The same state that abuses asylum seekers in Yarl’s Wood. The same state that allows fascists to march. The same state that is responsible for rising unemployment and poverty. The same state that protects bankers’ profits whilst closing down industry after industry. The same state that wages illegal wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. We have no illusions in that State. Only through mass action on the streets, in the workplace and amongst the communities can we prevent the fascists from marching. Cable Street, Lewisham and Harrow showed the true democratic feelings of ordinary people in rejecting the racist message of groups such as the EDL.
The UAF must continue to work alongside local and autonomous anti-fascist organisations in extending the campaign to oppose the BNP, EDL, NF and others. A united front must be constructed which is based on the working class . It is a priority to build such a mass movement and to this end, there is an urgent need to implement the resolution passed by Brent Trades Council, Cambridge NUT , Southwark Respect, the Jewish Socialist Group and many other organisations. We need a democratic united front that can bring together all anti-fascist and anti-racist groups together and can link up internationally with others elsewhere.
The struggle against the fascists and the struggle against Capitalism are intertwined. The struggle in Britain must be able to share our experiences with those in other countries where xenophobia is on the rise.
Alf Filer
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Two Tier Fascism exposes the true nature of the BNP
According to Gary Anderson in the Daily Mirror, the BNP are planning a two-tier system of ‘founder members’ and ‘new members’ to get around the constitutional rule change they were obliged to make for electoral purposes. Otherwise they would be in breach of the law and facing further contempt of court charges and fines.
This approach would allow the fascists to appear to meet the “democratic ” niceties of the law whilst preventing the few non white members from participating in the real decisions of their Party. Now quite frankly how a fascist party can be democratic is beyond believe, as it is based on denying workers’ rights, supporting the bosses and attacking anyone who is not ayrian. That is no basis for any type of democracy.
Founder status members who joined prior to the dropping of the racist constituion will mean the white fascists will have the decision making powers over non white fascists. Meetings will be identified as being only open to “founder members”.
According to reports, it is alleged that earlier this month Clive Jefferson, one of Griffin’s most trusted henchmen, spoke at a closed ¬meeting in Cumbria and ¬explained how party bosses plan to get around the new membership rules
In the meantime, the media still intend to give the BNP air time, with the right to reply to the 3 political leaders, offering similar opportunities to UKIP and the Greens. This may make the media appear impartial but when it comes to fascism, history teaches us that you can never afford to be impartial or complacent. Hopefully the Greens would never agree to share such a platform if offered, as it would only play into the hands of Griffin. Air time on Question Time was a mistake and hopefully the unions will pull the plug if it is to go ahead.
A spokesperson for Searchlight said: “The BNP are being allowed to hijack the election debates.” Hopefully the anti-fascist movement can ensure that this does not happen. The BBC may be fooled by the BNP but many are not.
The campaign against them in Barking is growing and deserves our maximum help. The counter demo against the EDL in Bolton is attracting wide support.
Building the anti-fascist and anti-racist movement is the key to this. The BNP can change their rules as much as they want to. We are not fooled by this. They remain a fascist party and must be exposed as such. It makes no difference what the rules say, a fascist is a fascist. The State, the Home Secretary and the Media may be taken in by it but we aren’t.
“No platform for fascists” must remain the approach to be adopted to stop this new threat. Media workers are key to preventing fascism coming down our airways. State bans will not work as it is elements of the State allowing the fascists to march, as with the EDL in London on Friday.
So once again Margaret Hodge has repeated her call for a point system to curb immigration. Well why the UAF build the campaign against the BNP in Dagenham, she once again undermines this struggle by playing the opportunistic and racist card of immigration controls.
As we stated at the last UAF conference, you can not fight fascism by using racism. New Labour- Old Racism.The problem is Labour’s attacks on public services, cuts in spending etc. There is always a war chest but never an education, housing or jobs chest.
This is the reward the anti-fascist movement revieves for opposing the BNP in her seat. The BNP must be laughing sadly as this appears to make their case legitimate. However it isnt. The controls that are needed are on the abuse of profit by her friends in the City and not on innocent victims of her Government’s failed policies.
BNP play games with the constitutional niceties of electoral law.
Ever thought of joining a political party? Well with most, you attend meetings, read their material, talk to their activists and complete an application form. What to join a “squeaky clean” fascist party? Well get the hoover out, put the kettle on and prepare for a 2 hour home visit., according to today’s Guardian (9/3/10).
A 2 hour home visit, in which you will be questioned by 2 party officials, is their latest recruitment strategy. I suppose it is to ensure that there are no non ayrians in the house, no evidence of Jewish, Muslim, Hindhu, Buddhist or other religious and cultural practices taking place and that all living there are pure ayrians.
That could operate as a form of indirect discrimination against non-whites, said Robin Allen QC, representing the Equalities and Human Rights Commission (EHRC), which is challenging the party’s membership rules. “One way the provisions could operate would be to intimidate someone who wanted to join the party,” he said, adding: “Of course, it could simply be a greeting.”
The new BNP constitution is neither published or agreed by the courts to meet the requirements for electoral purposes yet they are allowed to act as though they are operating within the law. Clearly the BNP are trying to get around the regulations and continue in their traditional ways. We are awaiting the ruling on Friday of Judge Paul Collins.
An internal BNP memo seen by the Guardian tells members: “We don’t expect any more than a handful of people of ethnic minority origin to apply to join the party nationally, and we will not let this deflect us from our political objectives of saving Britain and restoring the primacy of the indigenous British people.”
According to Tom Linden of the National Front, they are aiming to put up at least 25 candidates in the General Election . “”The British National party is no longer a white racist party, it is becoming a multi-racial party by giving into the race industry,” he said.
In the meantime, BNP members are busy with the EDL, as Chris Renton was spotted on the EDL London march last Friday. According to reports, he, and other BNP members are on the EDL leadership team.
That is why activist must get to Bolton on Saturday 20 March to stop the EDL’s next racist rampage.