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Over 200 protest against BNP conference

Lancaster Unity | 17.11.2008 00:55 | Anti-racism | Repression | Social Struggles | Liverpool

Report on Saturday's demo at the New Kimberley Hotel, Blackpool

Well over two hundred anti-fascists attended an enthusiatic and lively demonstration outside the wretched New Kimberly Hotel in Blackpool yesterday, in a protest at the British National Party bringing its conference to Blackpool for the third year in a row. Protestors and speakers came from as far away as Oxford and speakers for the day represented numerous organisations including Blackpool and Fleetwood UAF, UNISON, Blackpool, Fylde and Wyre TUC, Barrow and South Cumbria UAF, Lancaster University SAAR, North-West UAF, the NUT, national UAF, Manchester UAF, Gay Activist's Alliance International and the CWU.

The demo began with us gathering outside the rear entrance to the Winter Gardens, where a couple of pro-BNP louts shouted abuse for no apparent reason. We heard a number of speakers there, then marched briskly along the prom, giving out hundreds of leaflets and receiving many supporting cheers on the way to South Shore where we gathered for the demo proper outside the grimy New Kimberly Hotel  http://lancasteruaf.blogspot.com/2008/09/grimy-bnp-link-hotel-hazard-to-humans.html , a hazard to humans though not, apparently, to members of the BNP, which tells us quite a lot about the party.

There is a reasonable report on the demo (that sadly includes a moment of Nick Griffin) which you can access by going here  http://www.itvlocal.com/granada/news/ and clicking on Latest News Bulletins over on the right. Just select the one for Saturday and there we are.

To stop them making abusive gestures (as they have in previous years) and generally attempting to intimidate protestors, the BNP conference delegates (once again, about sixty of them, according to an ITV reporter who had been inside the rathole) were ordered to remain behind the closed and filthy curtains of the New Kimberly by the police. To be fair, most of them did as they were told, with the exception of Clive Jefferson, who seems to be the current head of security and the Cumbria organiser, who stuck his ugly mug out on at least a half-dozen occasions.

According to our man in the BNP's security team, they spent most of the day concerned with the seating arrangements for lunch and dinner - at least until someone asked for a glass of water and nobody could find any. Headless chickens, was the phrase used. Here's a tip for future members of possibly the most idiotic security team the BNP has ever put together - use the tap.

Security spent a good deal of Saturday worrying about someone who was round the rear of the Kimberly, apparently taking photographs of the hell-hole from the back. This caused major panic, mostly because with the police in close proximity the heavies couldn't just go out and beat the crap out of the guy and nick his camera. Jefferson was eventually forced to order the bovine Martin Reynolds to go and speak to the police while his mates took a note of the photographer's vehicle registration number - no doubt soon to appear on Redwatch. Reynolds had no idea how to do this and was humiliatingly lectured by the appallingly arrogant Jefferson on what he should say, how to say it and told in no uncertain terms to get on with it.

A demo is useful for a number of reasons, not the least of which is to let the BNP know (and to continue letting them know) that there is opposition to their fascism out here and that there are people who are prepared to stand up and voice that opposition despite intimidation from the lunatic element of the far-right party. One demonstrator, who was waiting to meet up with some friends after the demo, was abused and spat at by a BNP supporter. Rather than putting her off organising against the far-right party, this has added to her determination to do all she can to fight against it. Demo's are also usueful for making new contacts or re-establishing old ones - a fact that was borne out when I got back and realised that I'd collected twenty-odd email addresses and phone numbers to go on our contact list.

Thank you to everyone who made the effort to turn out, particularly to our many friends who travelled from well out of the area. Many thanks also to our speakers who all did a sterling job and our thanks to the many members of the Blackpool public who stopped to chat or who were driving past but gave us the thumbs-up. Even the weather behaved itself (for a change).

Remember, this 'conference' was the starting point for Nick Griffin's attempt to heave himself on to the European Parliament. They started their campaign for Europe at Blackpool - for no reason other than that the New Kimberly is the only rancid shithole in the country that will take the scum of the BNP for a whole three days. Saturday's demonstration should be seen as the beginning of a massive and unrelenting campaign to keep Griffin and the rest of his party out of Europe. Let's keep them out.

Video and images here:  http://lancasteruaf.blogspot.com/2008/11/over-200-protest-against-bnp-conference.html

Lancaster Unity

Comments

Hide the following 14 comments

The BNP crawls up the backside of hate given out by mainstream politics

17.11.2008 02:18

but there are still many MPs & Euro mps as well as many millions who oppose the BNP. The BNP know nothing about democracy except how to try manipulate & destroy it, if you get in anywhere the majority of people there will live to regret it.
The BNP represent a vote for hate&lies, they arent even a protest vote, that goes to the independents& greens.

James


Over 200

17.11.2008 02:20

I was there voicing my concern over the bnp having there tea party in the town i live and there wasn't 200 unless you included the police in that guestimate.

And what do you mean by accept democracy jim anarchists agree with direct democracy and we anarchists shouldnt just be worried about the fascist right we should also be weary of trots etc cuz if they get in power we're just as screwed as we would be if the fash got in.

Anarchy for a free humanity fop all.

A concerned resident


Funny

17.11.2008 08:36

What was funny, was to see coke head Clive Jefferson ordering Martin Reynolds about.
Reynolds has only been in the BNP for two years, but he is pushing Reynolds out of his job.

Jefferson has told Griffin Reynolds is too thick to be the head of security, and he should have the job.
Martin is not a happy bunny, can't blame him when you have someone like Jefferson(real name Atkins), with his shady past, trying to steal your job.

Paul


Excellent

17.11.2008 10:09

I was at the demo last year and this and there certainly wetre more this year than last. I'm no estimator but I reckon a good couple of hundred.

"The demo organized by Lancaster Unity"

Just shows how much you know. Lancaster Unity were not the organisers this year but happily worked alongside the organisers who included the newly-formed and very active Blackpool and Fleetwood UAF.

Well done everyone. Don't let the nay-sayers get to you whichever side they bsay they're on.

JP


A couple of hundred...my arse

17.11.2008 12:19

So basicaly UAF organised the demo. And i didnt know there was a very active newly formed branch of the uaf in blackpool. How can i get in touch with them as i would like to be involved in anti-fascist activity all year round in my home town rather than just 1 day a year.

I live in Blackpool


A couple of hundred...my arse?

17.11.2008 15:14

"A couple of hundred...my arse"

And you think a comment like that will get you contact info? Not a chance, boyo.

Nick Griffin


UAF? ha ha ha

17.11.2008 17:33

If you are interested in Anti-fascism seriously, UAF is a last place you should go.
Check www.antifa.org.uk

anti-fascists


Was the UAF actually there ?

17.11.2008 17:57

I pose the question because the 'report' is about as far from the truth as it's possible to get.
We all know that the hard-left live in a dreamworld (nightmare ?) based on their own hate-filled pre-conceptions, but sometimes the stories they come up with expose not just their dishonesty, but their crass stupidity.
I won't comment on the nonsense they make up about their oh, so quiet, innocent, peaceful demonstrators being 'abused' by wicked BNP supporters - pretty strange from an organisation whose standard behaviour is more often than not openly aggressive, violent and hysterical towards the BNP, the police, uninvolved passers-by and shopkeepers, and even children, and whose language & phraseology is invariable ugly, crude, and very, very abusive; I won't even comment on the "200" figure which even participants seem to doubt; but as the Conference was filmed, anyone looking at the main BNP website can see for themselves if "sixty" bears any relationship to the number of delegates (can't their claimed inside contact either count, or read ?).
Observers might also want to contrast the appearance of the average British National Party delegate with that of the rabble who turn out for the UAF and the Communist Party (yes, it's still going). Apart from Security personnel, who are obviously selected for their toughness, the representative and highly respectable nature of the rapidly growing BNP is there for all to see.

D King
mail e-mail: DaveKing05@aol.com


Antifa

17.11.2008 21:13

"If you are interested in Anti-fascism seriously, UAF is a last place you should go."

And you'd suggest Antifa presumably, who sit around pubs talking most of the time. At least this lot had the balls to get out and make their voices heard. What did you do?

Sam


Troll

17.11.2008 21:16

D King is a pro-BNP troll. I thought they weren't allowed here.

By the way, I know the woman who was abused and spat at, so fuck off King if that's your name.

Sam


Another attack

17.11.2008 21:30

Perhaps D King would like to deny this attack too? Or, don't tell me, Lancaster Unity/UAF attacked the person themselves, maybe? Article from Blackpool Gazette.

"BNP protester attacked in Blackpool

A MAN was left with a broken nose when he was attacked after leaving an anti-BNP demonstration in Blackpool.

His companion suffered cuts and bruises during the altercation.

It happened after the pair had walked away from a Unite Against Fascism protest held outside the Kimberley Hotel on South Promenade where the BNP was holding its annual conference.

The demonstration itself was heavily policed and went off without any trouble, but the victims had left the vicinity of the hotel when the incident occured.

The Socialist Party, of which they are members, believes the attacker was a far right supporter.

But the BNP today dismissed claims that it was someone attending their event.

Blackpool Police has confirmed the attack took place at around 2.30pm on Saturday, but said they could not link it directly with the BNP conference."

qwerty


Uaf stop wankin' over ur BNP porn collection

18.11.2008 00:26

The uaf arent very nice are they, refusing to give someone there contact details because s/he exposed the innacuracies in there story even the blackpool gazette estimated at 100. I bet theres not a very active branch in blackpool and your just saying that there is to make it sound like your actualy doing summat instead of sitting in the pub spending the money that people donate to you.

Wheres the unity!?


BNP protester attacked in Blackpool

18.11.2008 03:10

I think the attack on Saturday shows the true face of the BNP. And before someone claims the BNP were all in the conference are they saying they only have about 60 members? How many of the Blackpool or Fleetwood branch were in the conference? Who was the BNP member filming the protest?

The newly formed Blackpool and Fleetwood UAF can be contacted at:

Website:  http://blackpoolandfleetwooduaf.blogspot.com/
Facebook Group:  http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=31196978594
Email: fleetwooduaf @ live.com

Blackpool and Fleetwood UAF
- Homepage: http://blackpoolandfleetwooduaf.blogspot.com


denials

20.11.2008 11:09

"I won't even comment on the "200" figure which even participants seem to doubt; "

what a surprise, the BNP denying yet another set of numbers! or is just good old fashioned innumeracy?

doc


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