A major protest will take place in Leeds on Monday January 16th, coinciding with the start of British National Party (BNP) leader Nick Griffin and leading BNP member Mark Collett's trial (details below). Griffin and Collett were charged with inciting racial hatred in April 2005. The protest is organised jointly by the Yorkshire and the Humber TUC and Unite Against Fascism to show opposition to the BNP's politics of hate.

Bill Adams, Yorkshire and the Humber TUC Regional Secretary said:
'The TUC is fully behind this demonstration. Trade unionists from Yorkshire and beyond will be in Leeds to show their solidarity against those that are attempting to divide us. Workers and their families belong to all different communities and groups, and the regional TUC fully support this show of solidarity and unity by trade unionists, workers and citizens alike. Our coming together as a coalition celebrates all that is good in cultural diversity, something that trade unionists celebrate, rather than fear.'

Linda Riordan MP said:
'This protest will show a strength of unity in opposing racism and hatred in all its forms. It speaks volumes about the BNP that we now have their national leader and their leader on Calderdale Council both in court. Their national leader charged with incitement to racial hatred, the other charged with benefit fraud. For a party that often claims to be the upholder of law and order that does not seems like a record to be proud of.'

Linda McAvan MEP said:
'The Unite Against Fascism campaign shows how people with very different political views are coming together to oppose the divisive politics of the BNP. I hope the message that will come out of the demonstration in Leeds is loud and clear: that our communities are determined to work together, not be driven apart by extremists.'

John Campbell, Yorkshire and Humberside Unite Against Fascism Convenor said:
'The BNP is a fascist organisation that stands for an all white Britain. This protest will unite trade unions, black, white, Asian, Muslim, Jewish, Christian, lesbian and gay communities and will demonstrate that the vast majority of British people oppose the BNP's politics of hate.'

Protest coinciding with the start of Nick Griffin and Mark Collett's trial
Monday January 16th 2006, 8.30am
Protest outside Leeds Crown Court, Oxford Row
Followed by rally at 12 noon outside the Art Gallery

Speakers include: A representative from Anthony Walker's family, David Lascelles, TUC General Council, Tony Kerns, Deputy General Secretary of CWU, Quri Mohammed Tariq, Grand Mosque Leeds, Pav Akhtar, NUS Black Students Officer, Kevin Kelly, Vice President of PCS, Jerry Bartlett, Deputy General Secretary of NASUWT, Dave Renton, National Equal Opportunities Officer from NATFHE, Weyman Bennett & Sabby Dhalu, Joint National Secretaries of UAF

Organised by Yorkshire and Humberside TUC and Unite Against Fascism and supported by the following Trade Unions: PCS, NASUWT, TGWU, GMB, AMICUS, USDAW, UNISON, CWU, WY NAPO, UCATT, FBU, NATFHE and the following Trades Councils: Leeds, Sheffield, Barnsley, Rotherham, Doncaster and Wakefield, plus: Muslim Association of Great Britain, MAB, local community and religious groups and the National Union of Students

Let's get Griffin and Collett off our streets and into jail where they both belong!