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Open Letter to UAF re: Northern March Against Racism 2010

James Taylor | 05.11.2010 23:44 | Anti-racism | Repression | Social Struggles

Dear TCAR members and supporters,

The following open letter is being sent this week by the organising group for the Northern March Against Racism, after much consideration. It is a response to an unacceptable act of sectarianism by a leading member of UAF (Unite Against Fascism) to undermine the Northern March Against Racism, which has been called by TCAR. Unfortunately, this is not the first time that leading members of UAF around the Socialist Worker Party have attempted to undermine the work of other anti-racist organisations in the North East. We are writing this open letter in the hope that this issue will be addressed by UAF and that similar situations can be avoided in the future.

To the leadership and members of UAF (Unite Against Fascism):
Cc: Ken Livingstone, UAF Chair; Sabby Dhalu, UAF joint Secretary; Weyman Bennett, UAF joint Secretary; Martin Smith, SWP National Secretary

We are writing from the organising group of the Northern March Against Racism 2010, which is due to take place in Newcastle upon Tyne on 20 November. The march has been called by TCAR (Tyneside Community Action Against Racism), and is supported by over a dozen other organisations and trade union branches. We are writing concerning attempts by a leading UAF member and SWP regional organiser, Yunus Bakhsh, to undermine the Northern March.

On Monday 18 October, TCAR supporters put posters in the following shops in the Arthurs Hill area of Newcastle to publicise the Northern March:
Crossley Wine Centre
Brighton Oriental Food Stores
Fenham Call Centre
Mishti Mukh Sweet Centre
Tanveer Gents Hairdresser
M.A. Travels
Kamran's Barber Shop
Geordie Hairdressing Salon
Persian Delights
Aanchal Fashions
Sanam Travel
Heera Jewelers

By Wednesday 20 October, most of these had been removed and in their place were UAF posters advertising the march in London on 6 November. We then put up more posters for the Northern March in the same shops on 20 October, of course leaving the UAF posters in place. The Northern March posters remained until the morning of Tuesday 26 October, when someone again removed the posters from shops including:
Crossley Wine Centre
Brighton Oriental Food Stores
Fenham Call Centre
Tanveer Gents Hairdresser
M.A. Travels
Kamran's Barber Shop
Aanchal Fashions
Sanam Travel
Heera Jewelers

On enquiring with shopkeepers, several were able to confirm that a man had entered the shop, removed the posters for the Northern March, and in some cases replaced them with a poster for the UAF march. These shopkeepers confirmed from a photograph that the individual who removed the posters was Yunus Bakhsh. We have access to a shopkeeper's CCTV footage, which clearly shows Yunus entering the shop at 14:48:26 on 26 October, removing the poster for the Northern March Against Racism, before going to the counter and handing the shopkeeper a flier for the 6 November UAF march.

We are sure you will agree that this is an appalling and unacceptable act of sectarianism, which damages the integrity of the wider anti-racist movement in the region. How can any serious socialist justify this sort of behaviour? We urge you to take measures to ensure the members involved end such acts of sabotage immediately.

The Northern March Against Racism is a vital part of building positive anti-racist unity in the region. It is being organised on an open and democratic basis. The local branch of UAF were first invited to participate in building the Northern March on 14 July, including full rights to distribute their literature, display banners and have a speaker. This offer has so far been ignored, but remains open. We hope that you will take immediate action to end the removal of our posters by your members, and that UAF will start to make a positive contribution to the Northern March. We await your response, and wish you well in London on the 6 November.

Fraternally,

Organising Group
Northern March Against Racism 2010

Justice for Immigrants! Freedom for Refugees!
Together we are Stronger!
TYNESIDE COMMUNITY ACTION AGAINST RACISM (TCAR)

formerly TYNESIDE COMMUNITY ACTION FOR REFUGEES (TCAR)

James Taylor

Comments

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not surprised

06.11.2010 00:35

expect no more from the uaf. they are divisive and destructive. selling trot papers solves nothing. do not work with them

not surprised


uaf/swp

06.11.2010 10:18

usual tactics from the scum. next time they try and stick in anyone one on an action they gettng twatted.

oi oi


unimpressed by UAF tactics

06.11.2010 17:31

Didn't see anyone on today's UAF march carrying any Newcastle related banners, so if the taking down of posters for a local event was somehom meant to help bring people to London today (not that this is good logic anyway) it didn't work.

x


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EDL Exposed - Tommy Robinson & the Nazis!

07.11.2010 01:48

EDL Exposed - Tommy Robinson & the Nazis -

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uO7Iycf3n4U

Battle Royale


SWP in Newcastle didn't support UAF Demo!

07.11.2010 22:28

The person named as taking down the posters for the Northern March against Racism Yunus Bashus, didn't go on the National UAF demo as he was in Newcastle on Saturday. Trying to take over the protest against Vodaphone!

Dave


Business as usual

08.11.2010 01:34

The swp/uaf are gettin to the point of aiding and abeting the fash, some of them even support anti-semetic muslisms cause ya know brown people could never really be racist...

SWP/UAF fuckers tried to ave me nicked in Scotland for heckling a labour speaker, unreal!

The SWPs all talk talk talk and maybe the ocasional protest walk
handing out banners, shouting out chants, those nazi thugs must be shittin their pants!

Skank Antifa


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