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Only days before the event, the police and council in Oldham have withdrawn permission for the Oldham United Against Racism Respect Festival on Saturday.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