UAF Conference: anti-fascism in 2015
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Nazis out of Newport: page 4 first hand reports
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'United We Stand' Unite Against Fascism Wales Newsletter email: secretary@uafwales.com
web: uaf.org.uk
Winter 2015 tel: 07704 356894
March Against Racism & Facism
Assemble 11.30am, Clare Gardens, Clare Street, Riverside. March followed by rally at City Hall.
Far right and fascist organisations are
gaining support across Europe including in Britain. Arguments wrongly blaming immigrants for the fall in standard of living, economic problems and austerity have provided the cutting edge of support for the far right, fascism and racism.
Cardiff, March 21st
Anti-Semitic attacks have also coincided with the growth in support for fascism. Black African and Caribbean communities continue to experience racism and hatred as seen with the killing of Michael Brown in the USA.
Migrants are welcome Once again many organisations have come together to reject racism, Islamophobia and anti-Semitism; to celebrate diversity and show that migrants are welcome.
UN Anti-Racism Day Islamophobia and anti-Semitism Across the globe the promotion of fear and hatred of Muslims and Islam is continuing, creating a climate of Islamophobia. This is directly leading to violent attacks on Muslim people and mosques, and other communities such as Sikhs and Hindus who are wrongly identified by racists as Muslim.
Following the success of last year’s event, another international day of action has been called coinciding with UN AntiRacism Day. UN Anti-Racism Day commemorates the victims of the Sharpeville massacre in Apartheid South Africa.
supported by:
Islamic Society for Wales
We are demonstrating our confidence in a future free of scapegoating, racism and hatred; and to remember Nelson Mandela and cherish the ideal of a free and democratic society in which all persons live together in harmony and equal opportunities.
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UAF Conference:
'build March 21st demonstration UAF Conference on Saturday 21 Feb which made an important statement against racism, Islamophobia, anti-Semitism and fascism. A strong list of speakers made powerful statements which challenged the nationwide and Europe wide rise in racism, fascism and hostility against Muslim, Jewish, Migrant, LGBT and other communities.
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Somehow the entire Muslim community is being held accountable for the activities of a handful of people. We are seeing a steady drumbeat of anti-Islamic propaganda. As a part of our antiracist work we much all be prepared to oppose this antia Muslim narrative.”
We make difference. The reason why we have defeated the BNP is not as I was told by an academic that Britain is against extremism, the reason is… that we did it ourselves
and Fascism was a repeated theme during the Conference and speakers pointed to the growth in racism and Islamophobia in this country and the rise of fascism and the far right in much of Europe. There were pledges from speakers, organisations and attendees to make this demo the biggest antiracist march of the year.
Diane Abbot MP said that at a local Mosque that had been engaged with the local community for 30 years. She was told that they “had never experienced such anti Muslim climate in this country, it was the worst it had ever been”. She went on to say how serious this was and that it was the result of the way in which a whole number of issues such as child abuse in Rotherham, the Trojan Horse affair in Birmingham, the Paris murders – even Halal food – are presented. Then there is Eric Pickles letter to every Mosque calling on them to
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Support for the March 21 demonstration against Racism
take up the issue of terrorism. Even at the height of the IRA bombing campaigns no minister wrote to Roman Catholic churches “asking them what they were doing about terrorism.
Marwan Muhammed, an adviser to the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe, asked us to compare the media response to the killing of 3 Muslim students in Chapel Hill, USA with the Paris murders.
Owen Jones started by condemning the increase in antisemitism from the likes of Golden Dawn in Greece and elsewhere. “This was unacceptable…we must say clearly to our Jewish sisters and brothers that we stand with you.” He went on to talk of the “socalled war on terror” which we have had for 14 years. Its achievements have been the limitation of civil liberties and a rising tide of hatred against Muslims – which is reflected the the rise of far right parties in Europe. In the media we see the great majority of stories about Muslims being negative and fanning
Syriza MP Nasos iliopoulos addresses Unite Against Fascism conference
they done. He said, “We m hatred. He highlighted the difference. The reason why problems we face in society: the have defeated the BNP is n largest fall in living standards was told by an since Queen Victoria, academic that B poverty, a million using against extremis food banks, 5 million on is… that we must say reason social housing waiting it ourselves. lists, a million clearly to our We need to cont dependent of legal loan Jewish sisters challenge the rig sharks - “These are the parties like UKIP responsibility of those at and brothers Jobbik to be trea the top of society”. that we stand ‘normal’ political What they try to do is parties. with you. create a politics of envy We are not seein - of us envying each same situation a other and being told to the 1930s but we turn on the immigrant. told that we would not see t You get anger and despair and of such people again. But w the end of hope. That situation is – we must raise the flag and then fed on by parties like UKIP a stand against them. I ask but he ended with a rallying call to all to organise for the March fight division, racism and poverty. demonstration.”
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Over 500 people attended the
Weyman Bennett, joint secretary of UAF, started of by thanking everyone in the room for the work
Conference speeches can a be found on YouTube here: http://bit.ly/1E5pouc
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Workshop Sessions As well as the plenary session series of workshops took up key themes and discussions: Mobilising against the far-right and fascist street movement across Europe heard from German MP Christine Buchholz, Martin Lynch (UAF Black country) and Petros Constantinou (KEERFA : Greek Anti-fascist campaign). Speakers outlined the importance of rejecting fascism and the far-right. He said we must never be complacent as a small breakthrough allows groups like Front National, Golden Dawn and Jobbik to grow and mushroom into a major political force. War torture and Islamophobia – Defend Civil Liberties and Freedom heard from Shahrar Ali (Deputy Leader Green Party), Lindsey German (Convenor, Stop the War) Mohammed Kozbar (VP, Muslim Association of Britain) Hamja Ahsan (Free Talha Ahsan Campaign) and Human Rights The panel Lawyer Louise Christian. Speakers outlined how freedom of speech should not come at the expense of attacking, demonising and criminalising Muslims. The war on terror abroad has paved the way for the war on Muslims in the UK and an encroachment of civil liberties all in the name of defending freedom.
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The Black Lives Matter: campaigning against institutional racism session highlighted the painful experiences of families whose loved ones have either been lost at the hands of the police or who face monumental barriers in seeking the truth. The police must be held accountable for the crimes it commits against Black people. To truly defend society it must not denigrate one community below the others but build trust. The first step is to stop attacking Black people which is why the call of ‘Black Lives Matter’ has resonated around the world. Speakers included: Marcia Rigg (Sean Rigg Justice and Change Campaign), Maz Saleem (Justice for Mohammed Saleem) and Brian Richardson Unite Against Fascism.
asserted that immigrants are not to blame for the economic crash, or the housing shortage and they are not responsible for clogged up motorways!
In Opposing austerity racism and scapegoating immigrants the session described the upsurge in attacks against migrants to divert attention from city bankers and those at the top responsible for the economic crisis.
The panel asserted that immigrants are not to blame for the economic crash or the housing shortage. Following Farage blaming being stuck in a traffic jam on migrants, it was also argued they are not responsible for clogged up motorways! We must stand together with immigrants against the barrage of racism in the media and exacerbated by UKIP. Speakers included Jeremy Corbyn MP; Sam Fairbairn (People’s Assembly Against Austerity), Abiola Famakinwa Let “Abiola and Her Children Stay campaign), Economist Mick Burke and Eileen Short from Defend Council Housing Never again – 70th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz was an emotional session which heard from Colette Levi, Gerry Gable (Editor of Searchlight) and members of the UAF delegation to Auschwitz. The panel described how anti-Semitism was allowed to run rampant and unchecked which enabled the growth of Nazis. So our efforts today in Europe are important now more than ever to fight fascism and the far right.
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unite against fascism wales
Stand up to UKIP heard from Diane Abbott MP, Steve Hart (Unite the Union) Jo Cardwell (Stand up to UKIP), Laurentiu Dumitru (Alliance Against Romanian and Bulgarian Discrimination) and Denis Fernando (Rainbow Coalition Against Racism) who outlined the importance of challenging the racism and division of UKIP and the ongoing campaigning work of Stand up to UKIP which has campaigned at a local and national level to ensure that Farage and UKIP have been exposed for the divisive politics that they promote.
Je ne suis pas Charlie: incitement is not freedom of speech outlined that whilst the murder of Charlie Hebdo’s writers was brutal, embracing the racist and islamophobic content of Charlie Hebdo is not the most effective response. Speakers outlined that it is unacceptable to denigrate and demonise an already attacked community and cite freedom of speech. Freedom of speech should not come at the expense of inciting racial hatred or any kind of hatred against one community. Speakers included Phil Turner (NUJ); Nadia Henni-Moulaï – Journalist, author and Huffington Post columnist (France); Azad Ali from MEND and Ava Vidal, Comedian and Writer Keep racism out of the general election – no scapegoating immigrants heard from Zita Holbourne (PCS NEC & BARAC), Saira Grant (Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants), Don Flynn (Migrant Rights Network), Sabby Dhalu (Stand up to Racism) and Wilf Sullivan (TUC). They outlined how this general election is set to be a racist one with whipping up of racism against immigrants as par for the course. Immigrants sustain our NHS providing invaluable contributions to our society. We must continue to defend immigrants from racist attacks.
Newport see's off the Nazis Having failed to march through Cardiff as they wanted in December last year the Welsh Alliance thought they would have a go at Newport on January 31 . If they thought it would be an easier target, they were very mistaken. A clue to the resistance they would meet was made obvious by the 50 strong UAF organising meeting convened by Mubarek Ali. st
On the day around 200 people marched through the town centre to a rally in Westgate Square - with not a nazi in sight. The unity of the marchers was shown in the range of speakers from political parties, trade unions, community and religious groups. It was later revealed that whilst we were demonstrating a very small group of so-called Welsh Alliance speakers from outside Newport were sheltering in a local pub until they were escorted to the rail station and sent home.
Where's your leader gone? The leader of the Welsh Alliance who had called the demonstration was unable to attend as just that week he started a 17 year jail sentence for the raping three girls aged 8-10 years old. Merfyn Jones, from Shotton had denied 13 offences of rape, attempted rape and indecent assault against four complainants, when they were children, dating back to the 1990s.
Jones was convicted of six charges of rape, one charge of attempted rape and six charges of indecent assault. he has been placed on the sex offenders' register for life.
later campaigned with the BNP against supposed Muslim "grooming gangs".
Yes, Jones was a 'campaigner' against grooming and other far-right favourites. He Jones led the North Wales Alliance (NWA) now joins a long list of British fascists with after a split in the English Defence League convictions against children. (EDL) and the Welsh Defence League (WDL), but he still worked closely with the EDL, and the Scottish Defence League (SDL).
The offences dated back to the 1990's when He was also well known in British National Jones repeatedly raped and abused four Party (BNP) circles and joined the party in a young girls. campaign against a local Muslim centre and
Join UAF Wales! ‘The threat from the BNP and fascist groups in Wales is real and immediate.They bring division to our communities and all thinking, compassionate people should oppose them. Now is the time to mobilise on an all-Wales basis, to meet the threat from these racist, fascist thugs as it arises.’ Peter Hain MP Name/organisation ................................................................................Email.................................................................. Address ............................................................................................................................................................................. ............................................................................................................................................................................................ Phone ................................................................................................Union ...................................................................... UAF Wales annual membership fees are: Individuals: £5 and £2 for concessions Organisations: Local £20, Wales unfunded £40, Wales funded £100 Return to: UAF Wales, 271 Cowbridge Road East, Cardiff CF51JB
Honorary President: Peter Hain M.P Chair: Ali Ahmed Vice-Chair: Maggie Simpson Treasurer: Amarjite Singh Secretary: Julian Goss Liaison: Kristina Hedges