UK Anti-racism Feature Archive
An Old War with New Battles: An Interview with an Anti-Fascist Campaigner
15-03-2006 09:20
A scouse streetfighter looks back at the revival of the militant group Anti-Fascist Action in the 1980s“The main thing is not to lose sight of what the fascists are, whatever they're wearing and however they are trying to spread their message. Just have in your mind's eye an image from the holocaust and you will always feel motivated to no platform the scum whenever the opportunity (and balance of forces) presents itself.”
Anti-Deportation Protest at Nottingham Magistrates Court
03-03-2006 02:16
Update: Ali has been temporarily released pending judicial review of his case. Read article.
Ali was being held in Campshill House detention centre in Oxford. He now has his medication. He has been released and soon the battle starts to sort out his case and find enough evidence to keep him in Britain.
Around 30 people protested the illegal deportation of 20-year-old Afghani refugee Ali Noori at Nottingham Magistrates Court on the morning of March 2. He has been told about the demo and could not believe it at first, but wants to send his thanks and gratitude to everyone who came out on such a cold day.
>> Event photos
BNP activists threaten community arts group in Coalville
20-01-2006 17:15
The annual community lantern festival in Coalville, Leicestershire was moved from just before christmas to coincide with the Chinese New Year celebrations this year. Members from the far-right British National Party (BNP) think that because of the 'removal of Christian symbolism and tradition from Christmas' it needs them to 'once again save another British tradition'.
Ever since the rescheduling of the event was announced, local members of the BNP have threatened the organisers of the community run event. Verbal abuse from people ringing up the group has become a daily occurance since the BNP posted the contact details on their website. The BNP, who claim to be the 'law and order party' recently published another article on their website inciting criminal damage, calling on people to protest the usage of the words 'white trash' in a recent episode of the TV soap serie Coronation Street. A prominent member of the party in Lincoln recently appeared in court for multiple counts of arson and criminal damage. Read article.
Links: Photos from last years lantern festival | Watch video of last years lanternfestival: [1] [2] | Stop the BNP (website full of facts and research) | Wikipedia on the BNP | Previous articles on Indymedia on the BNP
From the Notts Indymedia newswire: Lincoln BNP member in court ! | Meeting called at uni after BNP article published in student paper
Leeds Fascist Mailbox Picketed
12-01-2006 10:39
Providers of postal addresses to Fascist organisations in Leeds Mail Boxes Etc (UK) Ltd (MBE), were picketed on Tuesday.
The picket encouraged many people to challenge the management of Leeds City MBE. Several people who were collecting mail also said they would be cancelling their contract with MBE, rather than share an address with Nazis. There was one short disruption when two thugs tried to disrupt the picket. Through the time more than 300 leaflets were distributed.
Recently MBE branches in both Belfast and Brighton have taken a welcome decision not to play host to fascists, but so far the Leeds branch have refused to reconsider their position, despite being shown documentation on the British Peoples Party and their fascist activities. The 635 Group, who organised the picket, will be organising further protests.
[Full report and text of leaflet disributed]
Update 16 Jan 2006 BPP Loose Leeds Mailbox
Full article | 1 addition | 4 comments
The So-Called Lozells Riots
19-11-2005 15:49
Over the weekend of 22-23 October 2005, the Lozells district of Birmingham witnessed unprecedented violence between Asian and Afro-Caribbean youths. And while some, on both sides, were quick to exploit the events for their own agendas, ordinary people from both communities were equally let down by the police, the mainstream media and self-styled 'community leaders'.
Needless to say, the problem is very sensitive and controversial; it involves a wide range of issues, from racial relationships to socioeconomic structures. It was often difficult to get balanced accounts of the events from local people without falling into exaggerations, arbitrary accusations and prejudgments. Nonetheless, here is an attempt to understand what happened, how and why.
Wigan School Kids Demand Return of Class-mates
15-11-2005 20:34
Over 100 school children took part in a rally last Saturday 5th November 2005 to demand five of their class-mates are brought back from Uganda. Sarah Hata and her children - Dennis, Hope, Maureen, Peace and Moris - were taken from their home in Wigan, detained, forcefully taken to three planes within 48 hours and finally, without warning, removed to Uganda on the 26th October 2005.
Councillors and teachers joined pupils from St Thomas More RC High School and St. Cuthbert's Primary School as read they out letters they have written to Prime Minister, Tony Blair, and sang "Give Peace a Chance". They demanded that the Hata family are returned to their home in Wigan from Uganda whilst their solicitor continues to make representations on their behalf.
Full article | 1 addition | 6 comments
Peaceful Land Occupations Violently Attacked by Colombian State Forces
15-11-2005 19:57
Project "Freedom for Mother Earth" was started this year on October 12th, when indigenous communities occupied idle farms in Cauca, southwest Colombia, accusing the far-right government of breaking promises to provide them with land. The State responded by refusing to negotiate until they leave and for over a week now have been attacking the occupied El Japio farm with hundreds of troops and at least ten tanks. 16 year-old Belisario Camallo Guetoto was killed on November 10th and many more have been wounded and arrested. Solidarity emails have been called for to help prevent further violent attacks.
12th October is traditionally celebrated in Colombia as "Columbus Day," but has been renamed "Day of Indigenous Resistance" by social movements across the continent. This year there were massive mobilisations across the country against President Uribe and his proposed "Free Trade" agreements, and solidarity actions also happened internationally, including a picket in London. Naomi Klein recently wrote about the Cauca indigenous communities (who reject both sides of Colombia's long-running civil war), describing the land occupations and how they are protected by the Indigenous Guard, who "patrol their territory armed only with sticks."
West Yorks against the Fascism
06-11-2005 12:38
Coinciding with the court case of Nick Griffin leader of the BNP a large demonstration against the Fascists was organised in Leeds. The anti-fascists turning up, upwards of 600 people, well out numbered the larger than usual BNP presence outside the court. Griffin and fellow party hack Collett, who are up for inciting to racial hatred, were pelted with eggs and flour as they entered the building. [Report: Huge anti-fascist march in Leeds humiliates the 'master-race'] [Pictures and Report: BNP morons hold 'national demo'] [Pictures: Protest against the fascist BNP in Leeds]
Later in the week there was another protest planned in Keighley [Announcement] to counter more racially inflammatory actions by the 'British Nationalists'. This was called off as the BNP march was banned by the Home Secretary. 'Unite Against Fascism' who called the demo are promoting this as a 'big victory for the campaign against the BNP'
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There are also anti-fascist benifit gigs planned. The first in Leeds on the 11th at Hanover Square the second a rearranged event at the 1 in 12 Club, Bradford [Details].
Evening News editor loses it when challenged on Traveller reporting
25-10-2005 18:40
Cambridge Unite Against Fascism has sent a letter to Murray Morse, the editor of the Cambridge Evening News highlighting their "deepest concerns at the ongoing 'campaign' that [the paper is] running against the Traveling Community". The letter was signed and supported by a variety of political and campaining groups in Cambridge.
Murray just `lost it' and in an email reply singles out the individual signatories to brand them as clueless. In an amazing display of professionalism he describes the content of their letter as 'poppy cock and misinformed drivel', and proceeds to publish an article in CEN entitled "Group tries to halt News campaign - but doesn't know our real aims". The Evening news, despite also reporting on events and organisations that are supporting traveller's rights to be in Cottenham [1 | 2] has often been the mere mouthpiece of [1 | 2]the CRA. The responsibilities of the media, that are usually perpetuating the prejudice against Travellers are fully explored in the paper Gypsies, Travellers and the Media.
Hundreds Turn Out for Anti-Racist March
22-10-2005 19:23
Northern Communties Fight Against Fortress Europe
03-10-2005 13:45
Over 500 marched in Bolton on Saturday in solidarity with the Sukula family, against Section 9 of the 2004 Asylum & Immigration Act and for an end to all immigration controls.
The Sukula family is one among many who after the proposed introduction of Section 9 is threatened to be separated and have their children taken into care. Their pledge for asylum was rejected and they do not receive any benefits. Bolton City Council still refuses the implementation of Section 9, currently tested in a few northern councils which would oblige them to take the kids of the Sukula family into care on the grounds that their parents cannot support them. The council argues that this would violate Section 20 of the 1989 Children Act and the cost of it would be higher than continuing paying benefits to the family. The support of the Sukula family and the opposition against Section 9 brought together groups and unions from various northern cities and towns. Two unions decided in a consensus vote of their members to refuse to participate in implementing Section 9. Speakers reminded the crowd of the importance to build local and regional networks of solidarity and resistance aganist the racist policies of the British and EU governments.
UK Indymedia feature: Oct 1st: Migrants and Supporters Protest Against Deportations
Terror profiling nets innocents
28-09-2005 12:00
Davids 'crime'? - wearing a rucksack along with an 'unseasonal' jacket and checking his phone messages while waiting for his train. Luckly for David the police refrained from following the shoot-to-kill policy that had resulted in the tragic death of Jean Charles De Menezes less than a week earlier. Instead, they closed Southwark tube station and cordoned off the whole area while the bomb squad checked his bag. Eventually, finding nothing but a laptop in his bag, the orginal officers appologised then arrested anyway. His home was searched and his computers confiscated. You could be next.
[ exclusive interview | Davids account 1,2 | profiling | bloggers unite ]
Nottingham Protest against Deportations to Northern Iraq (Kurdistan) :: Pictures
22-08-2005 12:50
Desperate to reach his targets, the home secretary is abducting Iraqi asyslum seekers to detention centres for return to Iraq. This goes against UNHCR advice that "failed" asylum seekers should not be sent back to Iraq, either forceably or by inducement, because the country is unstable and dangerous. A protest in support of those who face deportation...
Current: Nottingham Refugee Forum | UNHCR Advice on Iraq | Twice a week, gathering at Point of Disappearance | Iraq Unravels, article by Ranjan Chaudhuri, Nottingham Friends of the Iraqi People (NFIP) | Electronic Iraq (non-corporate news service from Iraq) | Another protest is planned in Sheffield on 27th Sep
Previous: 'Noisy' Demo on the Market Square + Announcement | Occupation Regional Labour Party Offices
British Women That Marry Asylum Seekers
28-07-2005 23:22
In February 2005 The Home Office brought about new regulations forcing all non European Nationals to ask ‘permission’ before getting married.
Those non EU Nationals married in the United Kingdom before February of this year may classify themselves as being amongst ‘one of the lucky’ few who managed to marry the person they love, however it seems that even before these new laws were passed marriage to an non-EU member didn’t count for very much in Britain anyway.
The shocking reality of being married to an non-EU member in Britain today is a life of forced uncertainty, dominated by the imminent threat of your loved ones being deported and returned to a country where they most probably face certain death. Astonishingly the ’Right to Marry and found a family’ as outlined in Article 8 of The Human Rights Act is certainly not a right that exists for many British women today.
EU co-ordinated deportation of Afghani refugees
23-07-2005 23:00
On Monday July 25th or Tuesday 26th, young failed asylum seekers from Afghanistan will be put on a charter plane at one of the London airports. The charter will then travel to Paris, pick up more young failed asylum seekers from Afghanistan in France for onward transit to Kabul. At least 60 Afghans are expected to be on board.
Reports by Lille Indymedia tell of widespread repression in the form of mass arrests and detention of Afghani refugees since July 14th ahead of the chartered flight. According to Lille Indymedia, a significant number of Afghani refugees have attempted to flee France to seek sanctuary in England. There are also reports of a hunger strike by 51 detained Afghanis that has since been broken up by the French authorities.Expulsions to Kabul, be ashamed! | NCADC response and model letter | Deportation Alliance
State of Terror
23-07-2005 18:27
[ reports 1 | 2 ] [ photos Oval | Warren Street | Route 26 bus video + stills ]
A statement posted on an Islamic website in the name of, Abu Hafs al Masri Brigade, an al-Qaida-linked group claimed responsibility for both sets of London attacks. The group has threatened "a bloody war" on the capitals of European countries that do not remove their troops from Iraq within a month.
The following day was extremely tense with many people expecting a follow up attack because the bombers had left too much evidence behind for them to believe they would not soon be captured. Security around the capital was increased with so-called 'random' stop and searches introduced on London Transport but many people stayed away from the city.
At around 10am (Friday 22/7), police shot dead an unarmed man on a train in south London. They had trailed him from a block of flats which they had under surveillance, allowing him to board a bus and then enter Stockwell Station, despite apparently believing that he was a sucide bomber. [first reports | more on shooting | train driver threatend ]
Transport remained in chaos all Friday and into the weekend with many security alerts, one of which involved armed police at the East London Mosque. Police has since raided several addresses and made at least three arrests. The dragnet extended to Birmingham where one man was arrested under terror laws but later released uncharged.
News of the 'shoot to kill' policy raised urgent concerned from Muslims and non-Muslims alike, especially since the man (now named as Jean Charles de Menezes) turned out to be completely unconnected with the bombers. After police admitted the man was innocent on Saturday a hastely organised vigil was held at Stockwell Station on Sunday 24 morning. [reports and photos - 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | audio | video ] A second much larger vigil took place on Monday 25 evening. [Pics and report | Impromptu march | Photos vigil and demo] On the following Wednesday 27 another protest took place outside the Metropolitan police headquarters at Scotland Yard. [Photos and Reports 1 | 2] [Audio interviews]
- The Jean Charles de Menezes Family Campaign has called for another vigil and a memorial service on Friday 29 at 5.30pm, Prliament Sq. [Flyer (pdf)]
Borders at the G8
24-06-2005 11:57
G8 countries spearhead the world system of borders; a system which renders many people illegal and which leaves all of us divided. Restrictions on our movement, restrictions on our right to work, restrictions on our right to receive medical treatment or legal aid or any other social benefit are all standard. What's more these restrictions are largely based on the arbitrary notion of nationality and on its ugly twin: race.
[Groups opposing borders and/or campaigning on immigration issues: No Border Network | No one is Illegal | Make Borders History | Committee to Defend Asylum Seekers | National Coalition of Anti-Deporation Campaigns]
[Opposing borders at the G8: Make Borders History tour (July 3, Glasgow)]
AUDIO: "Voices from Africa" Conference - G8 - Migrants - Aid, Trade, Debt - HIV
31-05-2005 16:28
There were excellent presentations and speeches by the usual suspects - Patrick Harvie, Tommy Sheridan, Aamer Anwar, representatives from Oxfam and G8 alternatives - but the most succesful aspect to the conference, what made it really striking, was the African speakers.
The conference was held at Caledonian University - Glasgow - 23rd April 2005.
Don't be fooled by fascist lies
14-04-2005 13:39
Recently, the fascists have been attempting to use Indymedia to undermine anti-fascist struggle in a variety of ways – Making attacks on Antifa and The 635 Group, often through the pretence of liberalism, and by spreading lies about non-existent actions, giving out a false e-mail address similar to that of The 635 Group as a way of obtaining information on anti-fascists, and most recently by claiming that members of The 635 Group have been arrested for an action in which a child was injured.
Are You Thinking What We're Thinking? Er... No
28-03-2005 14:20
Spring is in the air and with it the talk (yawn) is of elections. But all is not lost for the season also sees the return of the time honoured pastime of defacing election billboard posters. The Conservative Party, in particular, has been on the end of some widespread street level heckling,
Far from thinking of locking up refugees and throwing away the key, grassroots organisations are putting together a European wide day of solidarity with migrants and refugees on April 2nd, in recognition of the appalling and tragic circumstances that so many refugees have to endure. A significant turnout is expected in Manchester, where three separate marches are planned from the north, south and centre of the city.
Anti-racist Spray Paint | Tories Subvertised in Longsight | Nottingham | Bristol | South Wales | 'Funny Billboards' | Tory election ads - are they racist? | yes it is... | Tory Poster - How You Can Complain | SchNews - Lunatics Have Taken Over the Asylum | Demonstration Against Deportations - Manchester