Unite Against Fascism

Some 200 campaigners turned out for Unite Against Fascism’s first day of action against the Nazi BNP in Barking & Dagenham.

The activists delivered leaflets from UAF and Barking Says No, a local community campaign against the BNP, to every home in Alibon, Parsloes and Goresbrook wards. The NUT teachers union supported the day of action by hiring an ad-van to tour Barking & Dagenham with a billboard urging people to vote against the fascist BNP.

“It was a brilliant day,” said Caroline from the Barking Says No campaign. “We’re really grateful that so many people came to support to support our efforts in fighting the far right and their political agenda in this borough. I’d urge everyone to come along next time to help the local community in Barking say no to the BNP”

Milton McKenzie, a local councillor in Barking & Dagenham, said in a personal capacity: “I personally would like to echo a deep thanks to all those who devoted their time to joining together in Barking & Dagenham to fight the atrocity of racism – and in particular the BNP and the racist lies they are peddling. There is no place for the BNP and once again I thank everyone that came out in such huge numbers for their effort.”

“It was great to see so many people out to stop Nick Griffin and the BNP in Barking & Dagenham,” said Alice from Bethnal Green in east London. “We had a warm reception among people in the borough, black and white, who are fed up with the Nazi BNP and welcome people standing up to them. I’ll definitely be back for future campaign days – and I’ll be bringing more people with me.”

Barking & Dagenham UAF will be holding two more days of action in coming weeks on Saturday 6 February and Sunday 21 February, as well as further dates in March and April. We are aiming for a high profile and visible campaign that raises the confidence of the anti-fascist majority in Barking & Dagenham and sends a clear message to the BNP that they are not wanted in the borough.

The jailing of BNP member Terrance Gavan for 11 years on explosives and terrorism charges highlights the true nature of the British National Party, anti-fascist campaigners said today.

“This by no means an isolated incident,” said Weyman Bennett, joint secretary of Unite Against Fascism. “Two years ago BNP candidate Robert Cottage was jailed for bulding up an arsenal of illegal explosive chemicals at his Lancashire home. Just over ten years ago former BNP steward David Copeland murdered three people in his nailbomb campaign across London.

“All these incidents show why we say the BNP is not a legitimate democratic party and should not be treated as one. It is a Nazi organisation dedicated to spreading racial terror on the streets. There is a direct line between Gavan’s bombmaking and Nick Griffin’s politics of hate. That is why we need to take a stand against the BNP and drive these fascist thugs out of politics and out of our lives.”

We have updated our model motion for trade union branches and other organisations seeking to affiliate to Unite Against Fascism.

The model motion outlines the nature of the threat posed by the BNP and EDL, and calls on the union to support UAF’s campaigns against fascism in the coming months.