UAF- how NOT to fight fascism
antifa | 12.12.2008 23:59
it’s unfortunate that the organisations behind them are so crap.
We think it’s worth taking the time to look at the organisation that wants your time
and money and what they do to fight fascism.
The approach of Unite Against Fascism is based on calling on people to vote for any
party which isn’t the BNP, usually Labour though, at election time to build
‘anti-fascist’ majorities and prevent fascists from being elected councillors or
MPs.
The growth of the BNP shows that this is a pitiful failure and it’s not hard to see
why.
By telling people to vote Labour or Tory to keep the BNP out they are basically
asking people to vote for the same parties that created all the problems that made
them turn to the BNP in the first place.
There is a reason people are turning to the BNP and it’s because many are rightly
pissed off at the mainstream parties. The BNP have positioned themselves as a
radical alternative meaning that demanding people vote for the parties who have done
them so much harm isn’t just a bad strategy but the worst possible strategy.
UAF is an electoral platform for anyone but the BNP which turns fighting fascism
into defending the status quo.
Beyond this basic idea there are few other ideas except vague slogans about ‘uniting
people’ or ‘smashing the Nazis’ with no action involved except organising pop
concerts, rallies or handing out leaflets. This is the sort of ‘anti-fascism’ that
involves making people feel good about themselves rather than tackling fascist
groups.
When UAF aren’t channelling people into pointless activity they’re actively harming
the anti-fascist movement.
Time and time again, UAF have collaborated with the cops on demos to prevent
effective action being taken. Recently in Derby and Liverpool the UAF leadership
worked with the police to disperse protestors, split demos and lie about what the
BNP were up to. Who appointed them leaders anyway?
This behaviour would be laughable if the situation wasn’t so serious. After being
buried at the cost of millions of lives decades ago the far right is on the rise all
across Europe.
Chanting and waving placards at fascists will do absolutely nothing to stop this.
We advise anyone serious about antifascism and tackling the BNP to get in touch with
Antifa.
www.antifa.org.uk info@antifa.org.uk PO Box 467, London E8 3QX
antifa
Homepage:
http://www.antifa.org.uk
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