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Nazis to blame for Bradford

Anti Nazi League | 10.07.2001 08:52

The debate over who is to 'blame' for the Bradford riots in the media is
lacking any analysis of the role of Nazi organisations.

The far-right are attempting to organise race riots in cities in the North West, to capitalise on the electoral success of the British National Party in the general election. We have already witnessed racist gangs rampaging through Oldham and Burnley, attacking Asians and petrol bombing shops and restaurants.

The riot in Bradford was caused by a leading member of Combat 18 throwing the first punch, while hurling racist abuse at a group of Asians. Combat 18 contains the most violent of Britain's Nazis as members.

The Anti Nazi League had organised a rally in response to threats by the National Front to march. Our rally was peaceful, attended by over 2,000 people - black, white and Asian, children, the young and the elderly. MPs, councillors, trade unionists and anti-racists were united in defending our multi-cultural and multi-racial society which the Nazis are out to destroy.

BNP leader, Nick griffin, who has convictions for race hatred and Holocaust Denial, addressed a meeting of 150 people in Bradford on Friday evening.

When assessing the violence, we must examine the role of the police in allowing leading Nazis to openly walk the streets of Bradford on Saturday, taunting anti-racists and creating tension. The Nazis made a mockery of the government ban to stop them marching.

I personally identified a group of Nazis to the police and asked for them to be monitored. The police responded by body searching the young Asians around me.

In the wake of the McPherson Report and the conviction of BNP nailbomber David Copeland, it would appear that the police have learnt nothing.

Anti Nazi League
- e-mail: anl@anl.org.uk

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