The British National Party chairman Nick Griffin is coming to Hastings on Monday, sparking a storm of controversy...
Hastings MP Michael Foster and a host of councillors have spoken out against the visit, saying the right wing leader is not welcome here.
He is due to address a supporters' meeting at a venue which is not being disclosed for fear the gathering may be disrupted by protestors.
Invitations have been sent out to local British National Party (BNP) members calling on them to meet in Hollington on Monday evening.
From there, they will be bussed to the secret venue where Mr Griffin will address them.
Andrew McBride, the BNP's south east regional organiser, said: "We always have a redirection point for safety reasons. The meeting is for members and supporters only."
Borough Council leader Peter Pragnell is appalled the BNP chairman has chosen to visit Hastings.
He added: "This is what they do - target areas which are predominantly white and working class. I am neither pleased nor impressed they have chosen to try and preach their abhorrent politics to the people of Hastings.
"As far as I am concerned the BNP stands for nothing more than the Bloody Nasty Party.
"Hastings is a culturally diverse town with more than 90 different nationalities living side-by-side and generally getting along fine. We do not need the BNP stirring things up.
"This is the price of democracy and free speech which we have to swallow occasionally but they are not welcome here and never will be."
Searchlight says
In the past few months BNP branches on the South Coast have witnessed an extraordinary level of claims and counterclaims over alleged seizures of branch funds that spiralled into a Griffin supporter in the current party split head-butting a member during a meeting of the party's Brighton branch. Griffin has so far left it to Andy McBride to carry out his dirty work locally but now finds it necessary to visit Hastings himself to try and rally his supporters.
A poll in the Hastings Observer asks readers whether Griffin is welcome in Hastings. At 10.00 on 15 February 6% had said yes and 94% no.
Date: 15 February 2008
Source: Hastings Observer
Reposted: Stop the BNP
He is due to address a supporters' meeting at a venue which is not being disclosed for fear the gathering may be disrupted by protestors.
Invitations have been sent out to local British National Party (BNP) members calling on them to meet in Hollington on Monday evening.
From there, they will be bussed to the secret venue where Mr Griffin will address them.
Andrew McBride, the BNP's south east regional organiser, said: "We always have a redirection point for safety reasons. The meeting is for members and supporters only."
Borough Council leader Peter Pragnell is appalled the BNP chairman has chosen to visit Hastings.
He added: "This is what they do - target areas which are predominantly white and working class. I am neither pleased nor impressed they have chosen to try and preach their abhorrent politics to the people of Hastings.
"As far as I am concerned the BNP stands for nothing more than the Bloody Nasty Party.
"Hastings is a culturally diverse town with more than 90 different nationalities living side-by-side and generally getting along fine. We do not need the BNP stirring things up.
"This is the price of democracy and free speech which we have to swallow occasionally but they are not welcome here and never will be."
Searchlight says
In the past few months BNP branches on the South Coast have witnessed an extraordinary level of claims and counterclaims over alleged seizures of branch funds that spiralled into a Griffin supporter in the current party split head-butting a member during a meeting of the party's Brighton branch. Griffin has so far left it to Andy McBride to carry out his dirty work locally but now finds it necessary to visit Hastings himself to try and rally his supporters.
A poll in the Hastings Observer asks readers whether Griffin is welcome in Hastings. At 10.00 on 15 February 6% had said yes and 94% no.
Date: 15 February 2008
Source: Hastings Observer
Reposted: Stop the BNP
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