Organising a network against EDL Racism and BNP Fascism
Dave Matthews | 23.02.2010 20:37 | Anti-racism | Sheffield
Unite black, white and Muslim workers against racism and fascism!
ORGANISING AGAINST EDL RACISM AND BNP FASCISM
A conference to discuss building a working-class anti-racist and anti-fascist network
ORGANISING AGAINST EDL RACISM AND BNP FASCISM
A conference to discuss building a working-class anti-racist and anti-fascist network
27th March 2010
11am – 3pm
Queens Walk Community Centre, Queens Walk, The Meadows, Nottingham
(10 minutes walk from Nottingham train station)
Sounding the alarm
The growth of the British National Party and the emergence of the ‘English
Defence League’ have sounded the alarm for all those who oppose racism and
fascism. What to do about the fascists and racists of these two organisations is a
major topic of debate in the national press, in our trade unions and in the wider
community. It is clear that the existing anti-fascist campaigns – Unite Against
Fascism and Searchlight – are not up to the job of stopping them.
Organising
We believe that working-class, community based campaigns are the best way to
organise. This means building groups that can respond to local BNP organisation:
where the BNP organise for hate, we must organise for solidarity. The growth in
support for racist and fascist organisations and the experience of recent
mobilisations – Codnor, Liverpool, Harrow, Manchester, Leeds and Nottingham –
demonstrate the need for a different sort of anti-fascist, anti-racist movement.
Politics
Simply pointing out that the BNP and EDL are racist and fascist is not enough. To
a great extent, people are attracted to these organisations because they offer an
‘alternative’ to the failed policies of successive governments. We need to
articulate our own ideas and the ideas of our wider movements – we need to talk
about and organise for working-class politics.
Racism
The BNP and EDL feed off wide-spread and largely unchallenged racism in
society. This racism has not magically emerged in the heat of an economic crisis;
but the crisis has brought it out of the woodwork. We need to challenge and
educate against this racism whether it be against the immigrant or other
minority groups.
Solidarity
Solidarity can beat back the BNP and EDL. Working in solidarity means organising
open and democratic campaigns. It means sharing our ideas and experience and
supporting each other when action needs to be taken. If you want to discuss
these ideas further and if you want to help organise along these lines, come to
conference.
11am – 3pm
Queens Walk Community Centre, Queens Walk, The Meadows, Nottingham
(10 minutes walk from Nottingham train station)
Sounding the alarm
The growth of the British National Party and the emergence of the ‘English
Defence League’ have sounded the alarm for all those who oppose racism and
fascism. What to do about the fascists and racists of these two organisations is a
major topic of debate in the national press, in our trade unions and in the wider
community. It is clear that the existing anti-fascist campaigns – Unite Against
Fascism and Searchlight – are not up to the job of stopping them.
Organising
We believe that working-class, community based campaigns are the best way to
organise. This means building groups that can respond to local BNP organisation:
where the BNP organise for hate, we must organise for solidarity. The growth in
support for racist and fascist organisations and the experience of recent
mobilisations – Codnor, Liverpool, Harrow, Manchester, Leeds and Nottingham –
demonstrate the need for a different sort of anti-fascist, anti-racist movement.
Politics
Simply pointing out that the BNP and EDL are racist and fascist is not enough. To
a great extent, people are attracted to these organisations because they offer an
‘alternative’ to the failed policies of successive governments. We need to
articulate our own ideas and the ideas of our wider movements – we need to talk
about and organise for working-class politics.
Racism
The BNP and EDL feed off wide-spread and largely unchallenged racism in
society. This racism has not magically emerged in the heat of an economic crisis;
but the crisis has brought it out of the woodwork. We need to challenge and
educate against this racism whether it be against the immigrant or other
minority groups.
Solidarity
Solidarity can beat back the BNP and EDL. Working in solidarity means organising
open and democratic campaigns. It means sharing our ideas and experience and
supporting each other when action needs to be taken. If you want to discuss
these ideas further and if you want to help organise along these lines, come to
conference.
Dave Matthews
e-mail:
nottmstopbnp@yahoo.co.uk
Homepage:
http://nottmstopbnp.wordpress.com/
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