Wrexham racist violence

The outbreak of violence in Wrexham over the weekend is a tragedy for
everyone in the local community.

The North Wales Chief Superintendent claims that the rioting, "was not
racism run mad. It was criminality pure and simple" - but he is wrong.
Hoshank Baker Kader, a Kurdish refugee, was set upon and beaten unconscious
on Sunday - and he is now in hospital fighting for his life.

Violent racists including members of the local football hooligans 'Wrexham
Frontline' with links to fascist groups came out for a second night of
violence with the intention of attacking Kurdish refugees. After trying to
break into flats housing refugees, they attacked riot police with rocks and
petrol bombs. One hooligan commented on their web-site, "Keep the good work
[sic] look after your town". The leader of the Nazi British National Party,
Nick Griffin, admitted on Radio 4 that, "I've had people there, we know what
the score was".

In this climate of hysteria, whipped up by scare stories and lies of
'preferential treatment' in the right-wing press about asylum seekers, the
last thing that is needed is to give the far-right a platform for their
views. Yet Julie Etchingham of Sky News at 10.45am on Tuesday 24th and Jim
Naughtie of the Today programme on BBC Radio 4 at 7.30am on Wednesday 25th
both interviewed BNP Führer Nick Griffin, who has a conviction for inciting
racial hatred for distributing a pamphlet denying the Holocaust. They both
gave him the chance to repeat his racist inflammatory lies and did virtually
nothing to counter his claims. Instead of debating and discussing with
Nazis, journalists should be exposing them. The BNP can offer nothing to
local communities but lies and violence.

To complain about journalists giving Nazis a platform contact:

Sky News Viewer Relations
 Viewerr@bskyb.com
Phone 08702403000
Fax 0207 705 3046
Stella Tooth, Sky News Senior Publicist 020 7800 4289

Today Programme, BBC Radio 4
www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/today/contact
www.bbc.co.uk/radio/feedback for comments for the Feedback show, 1.30pm
Friday, repeated 8pm Sunday
Text the Today team 6am-9am Mon-Sat on 07740100400

Today Programme
BBC Radio 4
Room G630, Stage 6
Television Centre
Wood Lane
London
W12 7RJ

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