Jump to content

Unite Against Fascism: Difference between revisions

Edit links
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous editNext edit →
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
No edit summary
revert to version supported by references
Line 13: Line 13:
|website = [http://www.uaf.org.uk/ www.uaf.org.uk/]
|website = [http://www.uaf.org.uk/ www.uaf.org.uk/]
}}
}}
'''Unite Against Fascism''' is an extreme-left organisation that campaigns against [[far right]] and what it deems to be fascist organisations in Britain.<ref>UAF website, [http://www.uaf.org.uk/aboutUAF.asp?choice=1 "What is the UAF?"]</ref> Its chair is the former [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour Party]] mayor of London [[Ken Livingstone]]<ref>http://edition.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/europe/02/15/britain.livingstone/index.html</ref> and its joint secretaries are Weyman Bennett of the [[Socialist Workers Party (UK)|Socialist Workers Party]]<ref>http://www.socialistunity.com/?p=3179</ref> and the [[Anti-Nazi League]], and Sabby Dhalu, formerly of the [[National Assembly Against Racism]] (NAAR).
'''Unite Against Fascism''' is an anti-fascist organisation that campaigns against [[far right]] and [[Fascism|fascist]] organisations in Britain.<ref>UAF website, [http://www.uaf.org.uk/aboutUAF.asp?choice=1 "What is the UAF?"]</ref> Its chair is the former [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour Party]] mayor of London [[Ken Livingstone]]<ref>http://edition.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/europe/02/15/britain.livingstone/index.html</ref> and its joint secretaries are Weyman Bennett of the [[Socialist Workers Party (UK)|Socialist Workers Party]]<ref>http://www.socialistunity.com/?p=3179</ref> and the [[Anti-Nazi League]], and Sabby Dhalu, formerly of the [[National Assembly Against Racism]] (NAAR).


The organisation has signatories and members from all of Britain’s leading political parties, including [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative Party]] leader [[David Cameron]], former Conservative MP [[Teddy Taylor|Sir Teddy Taylor]] and former [[Ulster Unionist Party]] MP [[Martin Smyth|Rev. Martin Smyth]].<ref>UAF website,[http://www.uaf.org.uk/aboutUAF.asp?choice=4 "UAF supporters include:"]</ref> Another notable signatory is Holocaust survivor Henry Guterman.<ref>UAF website,[http://www.uaf.org.uk/aboutUAF.asp?choice=4 "UAF supporters include:"]</ref>
The organisation has signatories and members from all of Britain’s leading political parties, including [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative Party]] leader [[David Cameron]], former Conservative MP [[Teddy Taylor|Sir Teddy Taylor]] and former [[Ulster Unionist Party]] MP [[Martin Smyth|Rev. Martin Smyth]].<ref>UAF website,[http://www.uaf.org.uk/aboutUAF.asp?choice=4 "UAF supporters include:"]</ref> Another notable signatory is Holocaust survivor Henry Guterman.<ref>UAF website,[http://www.uaf.org.uk/aboutUAF.asp?choice=4 "UAF supporters include:"]</ref>

Revision as of 05:57, 19 October 2009

Unite Against Fascism
Formation2003
TypePressure group
HeadquartersLondon
Chairman
Ken Livingstone
Key people
Weyman Bennett
(Joint Secretary)
Sabby Dhalu
(Joint Secretary)
Billy Hayes
(Treasurer)
Lee Jasper
Websitewww.uaf.org.uk/

Unite Against Fascism is an anti-fascist organisation that campaigns against far right and fascist organisations in Britain.[1] Its chair is the former Labour Party mayor of London Ken Livingstone[2] and its joint secretaries are Weyman Bennett of the Socialist Workers Party[3] and the Anti-Nazi League, and Sabby Dhalu, formerly of the National Assembly Against Racism (NAAR).

The organisation has signatories and members from all of Britain’s leading political parties, including Conservative Party leader David Cameron, former Conservative MP Sir Teddy Taylor and former Ulster Unionist Party MP Rev. Martin Smyth.[4] Another notable signatory is Holocaust survivor Henry Guterman.[5]

History

Unite Against Fascism was formed in the United Kingdom in late 2003 in response to electoral successes by the British National Party (BNP).[6] It began as a coalition that included the Anti-Nazi League, the National Assembly Against Racism, the Trades Union Congress (TUC) and leading British unions such as the Transport and General Workers' Union (T&G) (now Unite) and UNISON. According to Red Pepper magazine, Unite Against Fascism was set up by the Socialist Workers Party and the National Assembly Against Racism.[7] In 2005, the anti-fascist magazine Searchlight disaffiliated from UAF after an argument over tactics to defeat the BNP.[8][9]

At Unite Against Fascism's 2007 national conference, speakers ranged from cabinet minister Peter Hain to Edie Friedman of the Jewish Council for Racial Equality (JCORE)[10] and Dr. Muhammad Abdul Bari from the Muslim Council of Britain, as well as figures from the major UK trade unions.[11] In November 2007, Unite Against Fascism organised a rally of over 1,000 people when BNP leader Nick Griffin and holocaust denier David Irving spoke at the Oxford Union.[12]

On 9 June 2009, UAF demonstrated against a BNP press conference given by Griffin and Andrew Brons outside the Houses of Parliament following their election as MEPs. Demonstrators marched towards the group with placards, chanting anti-Nazi slogans, and threw eggs at Griffin, forcing the abandonment of the press conference. Members of the press were also hit.[13] The protesters also kicked Griffin's car and beat it with placards as he was led away from the scene.[13] Two members of the public were hospitalized as a result of the demonstration.[14] Griffin claimed that the attack was carried out with the backing of the Labour Party.[15][16]

The following day, UAF demonstrated at the BNP's next attempt to hold a press conference at a pub in Miles Platting, North Manchester.[17] They chanted anti-fascist slogans and tried to drown out Griffin by playing Bob Marley songs at high volume.[17] One protester was arrested after spitting in the direction of a car belonging to a BNP member.[17]

Police arrested 19 protesters during a demonstration by Unite Against Fascism against the BNP's Red, White and Blue festival in Codnor, Derbyshire on Saturday August 15, 2009.[18] Four people were charged: three with public order offences and one with unlawfully obstructing the highway.[19][20][21][22] In August 2009, the English Defence League (EDL) clashed with Unite Against Fascism at a protest in Birmingham, resulting in 35 arrests.[23]

See also

References

  1. ^ UAF website, "What is the UAF?"
  2. ^ http://edition.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/europe/02/15/britain.livingstone/index.html
  3. ^ http://www.socialistunity.com/?p=3179
  4. ^ UAF website,"UAF supporters include:"
  5. ^ UAF website,"UAF supporters include:"
  6. ^ "Unite Against Fascism". Socialist Worker. 2003-12-06. Retrieved 2009-06-12.
  7. ^ "Unite Against Fascism". Red Pepper (magazine). Retrieved 2009-09-12. {{cite web}}: Text "Red Pepper" ignored (help)
  8. ^ Editorial in Searchlight, July 2005
  9. ^ Letter of resignation to UAF in Searchlight, July 2005
  10. ^ See Jewish Council for Racial Equality website
  11. ^ UAF website, "Hundreds gathered to launch campaign against the fascist BNP's May election offensive" 23 Feb 2007
  12. ^ Matthew Taylor, "Irving and Griffin spark fury at Oxford Union debate", The Guardian, 27 Nov 2007
  13. ^ a b "Egg attack on BNP leader Griffin". bbc.co.uk. 2009-06-09. Retrieved 2009-06-09.
  14. ^ "Two People In Hospital After BNP Protest". BSkyB. 2009-06-09. Retrieved 2007-06-11. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  15. ^ "BNP leader Nick Griffin pelted with eggs by protesters". The Daily Telegraph. 2009-06-09. Retrieved 2007-06-12.
  16. ^ "Why we threw eggs at the BNP". BBC. 2009-06-09. Retrieved 2007-06-11.
  17. ^ a b c "BNP's Nick Griffin finally gets to make a speech - Times Online". timesonline.co.uk. Retrieved 2009-09-13.
  18. ^ http://www.socialistworker.co.uk/art.php?id=18806
  19. ^ http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2009/aug/16/bnp-fiore-red-white-blue-protest
  20. ^ http://uk.reuters.com/article/idUKTRE57G3EI20090817
  21. ^ http://www.etaiwannews.com/etn/news_content.php?id=1033178&lang=eng_news
  22. ^ http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/top-stories/2009/08/16/protest-clash-at-bnp-festival-115875-21599848/
  23. ^ http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/politics/lawandorder/6067813/Luton-bans-marches-amid-fears-of-protests.html
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Unite_Against_Fascism&oldid=320747222"