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Police / council ban Oldham anti-racist respect festival

ANL | 18.10.2001 01:45


Outrage as Police and Council ban Anti Racist Festival

Police / council ban Oldham anti-racist respect festival
Police / council ban Oldham anti-racist respect festival



Press Conference To Be Held: Saturday 20 October 11 a.m., Werneth Park, Oldham

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Mark Thomas to launch petition against the bans
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Only days before the event, the police and council in Oldham have withdrawn permission for the Oldham United Against Racism Respect Festival on Saturday.

OUAR have spent weeks organising the event which was to be a multiracial festival in Werneth Park and the Grange. The festival had the backing of anti-racists and trade unions including the CWU, PCS, Unison, NUT, GMB, FBU, T&G and North West TUC.

Anti-racists in Oldham are frustrated and angry at their treatment at the hands of the police and the council and the continuing criminalisation of the anti-racist movement. In August Oldham Council withdrew use of their premises where a Holocaust survivor was due to speak.

In the meantime the Nazi National Front and British National Party continue to target Oldham. They have been distributing anti-Islam leaflets in the last few weeks, as part of their campaign to win seats in the local elections next May.

Anti-racists are in the majority in Oldham and will continue in their efforts to build an anti-Nazi movement to stop the BNP and NF.

Comedian Mark Thomas, DJs, MPs, councillors, trade unionists, and anti-racists will launch a petition against the continuing bans this Saturday 20 October, 11 a.m. Werneth Park, Oldham.

Email your disgust at the decision by Oldham Council to Richard Knowles Leader of the council  cllr.r.knowles@oldham.gov.uk Phone 0161 911 3000

You can email messages of support to Oldham United Against Racism c/o  anl@anl.org.uk These will be read out at the pressconference.

For copies of the petition against the bans contact the ANL.

Anti Nazi League
PO Box 2566, London N4 1WJ
Phone: 020 7924 0333
Fax: 020 7924 0313
www.anl.org.uk
 anl@anl.org.uk

ANL

Comments

Hide the following 5 comments

Just Do it!

18.10.2001 07:57

Just because the police and Oldham have refused to give their permission for the festival, doesn't mean you have to call it off.
If people are willing to come out to show their solidarity, there is nothing that they (the authorities) can do to prevent it- examples: J18, the Maydays, the Reclaim the Streets Parties, Critical Masses and countless protests by communities in struggle worldwide.

If as working class communities we allow our actions to be limited by the chains of the law, we'll never get beyond symbolic, policed disent and realise our collective strength.

Freedom won't be granted by simply petitioning our oppressors. It can only be one by us taking direct action together, coming out of our workplaces and homes and on to the streets.

In solidarity.

libertarian

Why don't the ANL/SWP ignore the ban!

18.10.2001 09:48

It is outrageous but not surprise that the capitalist labour council has banned the festival in Burnley. What also comes as no surprise is the lack of revolutionary spirit of the SWP organisers of the event who should refuse to abide by or acknowledge bans imposed on our movement. Considering the festival has been organised for so long attendance would be high in spite of the ban, but once again compliance with the state is the catchword of the day for Britains 'so called' largest revolutionary party.

Griersoncat
- Homepage: www.socialistalliance.net

Why don't the ANL/SWP ignore the ban!

18.10.2001 09:53

It is outrageous but not surprise that the capitalist labour council has banned the festival in Burnley. What also comes as no surprise is the lack of revolutionary spirit of the SWP organisers of the event who should refuse to abide by or acknowledge bans imposed on our movement. Considering the festival has been organised for so long attendance would be high in spite of the ban, but once again compliance with the state is the catchword of the day for Britains 'so called' largest revolutionary party.

Griersoncat
- Homepage: www.socialistalliance.net

because

19.10.2001 11:01

The Respect Festival was organised by a broad-based local coalition, Oldham United Against Racism, with support from a wide range of local unions and community groups. Reaction to the ban had to be determined collectively between all involved, most of whom wish to operate within the law. For the ANL to now unilaterally organise an illegal demo could be divisive and counter-productive. Better to keep the campaign as broad as possible.

Please circulate the petition; also messages of support to Oldham United Against Racism are much appreciated.

Ben Drake
mail e-mail: ben.drake@york.gov.uk
- Homepage: http://www.anl.org.uk

because

19.10.2001 14:27

The Respect Festival was organised by Oldham United Against Racism, a broad-based coalition uniting anti-racists and anti-fascists, trade unions and other community groups. The response to the ban needed to be decided collectively, and a majority of those involved are not revolutionaries and wish to work within the law. It'd be divisive to act unilaterally.

Please distribute the petition, and any messages of support for Oldham United Against Racism are much appreciated.

Ben Drake
mail e-mail: ben.drake@york.gov.uk
- Homepage: http://www.anl.org.uk