Support growing for boycott of BNP-supporter Paypal

Following the freezing of the accounts of the British National Party by British high street banks HSBC and Barclays, because of its racist views and its clear links with such nazi groups as the National Front and Combat 18, the BNP have resorted to using the internet-based banking service Paypal. Anxious to raise money for what it sees as a last-ditch fight in the May 2006 local council elections, the BNP is using Paypal for donations and as a way to easily shift money from place to place to pay for the thousands of leaflets and posters necessary for any campaign at local level.

For Nick Griffin, the current leader of the BNP, this election could be the final test of his leadership abilities. After their disastrous performances in the European and General Elections, the BNP membership will be expecting good results this time, particularly as the BNP has plenty of practice at jumping on local bandwagons (and of course, discarding them when they are no longer of use). If the BNP fails in May, Griffin will be out on his ear and the BNP will revert to its previous state of impotent (and overt) racism and political confusion.

The Asian Today, a free English-language newspaper that goes out to thousands of Asians throughout the Midlands, has produced an excellent article supporting the Lancaster UAF boycott of Paypal and encouraging readers to write to or email Paypal to demand action - primarily to throw the BNP out and thus stop Paypal's support of a clearly fascist organization. Paypal is now owned by eBay, a company that has responded to complaints in the past, so we know that a well co-ordinated boycott can be successful. It's now up to you to spread the boycott and make this company sit up and take notice.

How do we do this? By contacting Paypal repeatedly over this issue, by contacting our local MP and asking them to contact Paypal, by starting a campaign in our local newspaper, by spreading this message as far and as fast as we can. Just because Paypal isn't a High Street bank doesn't mean it's not vulnerable to pressure. Let's see what we can do with this. Let's get the BNP thrown off Paypal and watch where it goes from there. Its options are fast running out and without an easy way to generate and manage donations its financial condition will be disastrous.

According to Asian Today (Oct 28th/Nov 10th), Paypal are currently reviewing the issue of the BNP. Letters and emails pointing out that the BNP are in clear violation of the Offensive Materials Policy of the companies Acceptable Use terms will go a long way towards convincing Paypal that the BNP are more trouble than they are worth.

There are many ways of fighting the nazi menace that threatens all of us - this is one way that everyone with access to email or the internet can join in.

For more information, email Lancaster Unite Against Fascism at  zen26144@zen.co.uk or check out the Lancaster UAF blog at  http://82.69.12.18/lancasteruafblog/index.php?itemid=27

Paypal can be emailed directly at  ppelce@paypal.com or by visiting the complaints section of their main website at  http://www.paypal.com/ewf/f=complaint_eucomplaint&return_page=ppel_qa_pair

Let's get busy!

Ketlan
for Lancaster UAF