BNP @ Durham University
Email from Unite Against Fascism North East | 04.02.2010 23:48 | Anti-racism
Unite Against Fascism has called a demonstration on Friday 12 February to oppose the disgraceful decision by Durham University's debating society to invite two leading BNP Nazis on to its premises.
Andrew Brons and his sidekick Chris Beverley will be given an officially sanctioned platform at the university to launch an attack on our multicultural society. They will be "debating" whether black and Asian people belong in this country, speaking alongside two Tories.
The debating society has tried to justify its invitation by talk of "freedom of speech". But it is under no obligation to give the BNP a platform to spread lies and race hatred. It has chosen to roll out the red carpet to a pair of Nazis.
By doing so it has sent a signal to every racist, fascist and bigot in the country that they are welcome at Durham University campus and that their hate-filled views are considered "legitimate".
It has also sent a signal to every black and Asian person that their very physical presence in this country is considered a suitable matter for "debate" with Nazis.
Andrew Brons is a lifelong Nazi with a long history of inciting hatred against minorities. He joined the National Socialist Movement, an openly pro-Hitler organisation, in the 1960s. Its street thugs were responsible for a wave of arson attacks on Jewish property and synagogues.
Brons later joined the National Front (NF), a party that incited violent attacks on African Caribbean, Irish and Asian people. In 1981 he led a rally in Fulham chanting, "If they're black, send them back." In October 1983 he led a group of his thugs through the streets of Leeds chanting "white power" and "death to the Jews".
Chris Beverley is a BNP councillor in Leeds and is responsible for the party's links with the NPD, Germany's leading neo-Nazi party. He was a speaker at the European National Front conference in February 2007, a network that brings together Europe's most vicious racist and fascist organisations.
Unite Against Fascism is calling on the university authorities to repudiate this invitation and reaffirm their commitment to a multiracial and multicultural Durham University where ethnic minorities can work and study in an environment free of race hate. UAF supporters will demonstrate outside the debating chamber on Friday 12 February, assembling at 6pm, Palace Green, Durham
Andrew Brons and his sidekick Chris Beverley will be given an officially sanctioned platform at the university to launch an attack on our multicultural society. They will be "debating" whether black and Asian people belong in this country, speaking alongside two Tories.
The debating society has tried to justify its invitation by talk of "freedom of speech". But it is under no obligation to give the BNP a platform to spread lies and race hatred. It has chosen to roll out the red carpet to a pair of Nazis.
By doing so it has sent a signal to every racist, fascist and bigot in the country that they are welcome at Durham University campus and that their hate-filled views are considered "legitimate".
It has also sent a signal to every black and Asian person that their very physical presence in this country is considered a suitable matter for "debate" with Nazis.
Andrew Brons is a lifelong Nazi with a long history of inciting hatred against minorities. He joined the National Socialist Movement, an openly pro-Hitler organisation, in the 1960s. Its street thugs were responsible for a wave of arson attacks on Jewish property and synagogues.
Brons later joined the National Front (NF), a party that incited violent attacks on African Caribbean, Irish and Asian people. In 1981 he led a rally in Fulham chanting, "If they're black, send them back." In October 1983 he led a group of his thugs through the streets of Leeds chanting "white power" and "death to the Jews".
Chris Beverley is a BNP councillor in Leeds and is responsible for the party's links with the NPD, Germany's leading neo-Nazi party. He was a speaker at the European National Front conference in February 2007, a network that brings together Europe's most vicious racist and fascist organisations.
Unite Against Fascism is calling on the university authorities to repudiate this invitation and reaffirm their commitment to a multiracial and multicultural Durham University where ethnic minorities can work and study in an environment free of race hate. UAF supporters will demonstrate outside the debating chamber on Friday 12 February, assembling at 6pm, Palace Green, Durham
Email from Unite Against Fascism North East
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andrew brons
05.02.2010 13:04
steve scum
e-mail:
swellbelly@hotmail.co.uk
Cancelled
05.02.2010 15:30
To all Durham University staff members and visitors (Please disseminate or copy this note to any colleagues who may not have email access, as required)
Please find below a new statement issued jointly by Durham Union Society and Durham University to students and staff, and in response to external enquiries.
A JOINT STATEMENT FROM DURHAM UNION SOCIETY AND DURHAM UNIVERSITY
Durham Union Society (DUS), with the support of Durham University, has today announced that it has had to cancel plans for a debate entitled
'This House believes in a Multicultural Britain' in Durham City, scheduled for Friday 12 February.
The DUS had invited political commentator and advisor, Kulveer Ranger, and Conservative MP Edward Leigh to propose the motion, and elected British National Party (BNP) representatives Andrew Brons MEP and Councillor Chris Beverley to speak in opposition.
The decision to cancel the debate was taken by both the DUS, a long-established, independent debating society, and the University, after extensive consultations with the Police on the issue of public safety. While the debate was to be open to DUS members only, evidence of an escalation in planned protests and violence outside the chamber from both anti-fascist and fascist groups had increased the risk of public disorder and intimidation to students and staff.
DUS President Anna Birley said: "There has been mounting interest in the debate with both concerned and very supportive feedback from students and staff. I am confident that the debate would have been intelligent and responsible and an opportunity for our membership to expose and challenge any offensive views. I am disappointed that the focus has been moved away from a debate about multiculturalism to a planned confrontation outside of the chamber.
"I respect the right of groups to protest peacefully, but when a minority of both fascist and anti-fascist groups use peaceful protests and a controversial debate as a pretext for threatening behaviour, we must prioritise the safety of students attending the debate. I'm particularly concerned that the National Union of Students (NUS), which the DUS has no affiliation with, had planned to go out of their way to bring coaches of students to Durham, putting both their students and our members between rival groups of impassioned demonstrators."
The University, which had initially given consent for the debate to take place on its premises after careful consideration of its code of practice and statutes which preserve 'freedom of expression' within the University's estate, was supportive of the Society's decision to call-off the debate when it became clear that the safety of students, staff and visitors outside of the debating chamber could not be guaranteed.
Carolyn Fowler, the University's Registrar said: "The welfare of students and staff has always been our first priority and the University statutes clearly state that any threat to public safety supersedes the importance of freedom of expression, so we fully support the decision of DUS to cancel the debate on these grounds. The University was not prepared to provide an occasion for external extremist groups to engage in provocative and intimidating demonstrations that could endanger people and property.
"The views of the BNP are diametrically opposed to Durham University's expressed ethos of cultural-diversity and tolerance. We welcome staff and students of all cultures and faiths and from all parts of the world."
Durham University has the highest percentage of international staff of any UK University and is proud to welcome more than 1800 international students from over 160 countries.
-ends-
Many thanks
Director of Communications
another email
Simples.
09.02.2010 15:39
Simple as.
@iccus Finch