Newcastle 14 Defence Campaign Launched – Full statement

The state is not neutral!

Newcastle 14 Defence Campaign

Sign the petition on 38 Degrees.

At approximately 12:40 on Saturday 25 May 2013, 14 anti-fascists were arrested outside the Haymarket metro station in Newcastle as they were about to join the Newcastle Unites march against the English Defence League (EDL). The youngest of those arrested was just 15. There is substantial evidence that members of Newcastle Unites played a part in the arrests. All those arrested had their homes raided while they were in custody, and police have seized mobile phones, computers, cameras, notebooks and political literature. The protesters were released without charge 10 hours later, in the middle of the night at a police station on the outskirts of Newcastle. They have been bailed until 7 August 2013.

The Newcastle 14 (N14) Defence Campaign has been set up with three aims:

  • to defend the 14 anti-fascists who were arrested on 25 May 2013;
  • to defend anti-fascist activity…

View original post 1,823 more words

Too busy to blog! Fascist manifestations this weekend.

First of all, respect to all those who turned out at short notice to oppose the EDL in Westminster last weekend, there’s a bit of comment on it below, and if you can make the counter-BNP action tomorrow, you will be most welcome. If not, you will probably find an EDL demo within gobbing distance of your living room! They are springing up like mushrooms – check social media for details.

What is going on is basically a turf war between far-right groups to exploit the horrific death of Lee Rigby. The eddles are holding simultaneous ‘wreath laying’ events at war memorials all over the land as a spoiler for the BNP’s march. Wherever they get sufficient numbers, these will most likely turn into piss-ups and drunken rampages so it’s important that none of them are unopposed.

If your area has a mass mobilisation, please support it; if they are coming to your neck of the woods and you’re the only anti-fascist in the village, you have a choice of attending one of the others or mobbing up with some of your mates – who may not agree with your politics but may not want their town centre controlled by right-wing extremists either. Failing that, if you can do so inconspicuously, hang around and take pictures, or notes, and pass your observations to the network through your local group.

Also be aware that left and radical meetings, cultural events, anti-austerity demo’s etc may be attacked and will need stewarding; union offices and Muslim businesses are also possible targets for the fascists. Whatever you do, don’t just sit at home and watch it all unfold on the Internet.

The present spike in fascist activity ought to kick us out of bed, anti-fascism is not a hobby, it’s a necessity. One observation from Monday was that whilst they outnumbered us massively, few of them were up for any contact beyond throwing stuff and threatening bystanders. The fact that they stood in the sun for hours listening to a bunch of old con-men who all hate each other indicates that many of them are completely new to this, it beggars belief that anyone would give the time of day to an arse-bugle like Yaxley-Lennon if they’d been following what’s gone on in the last few years.

So for now, it looks like the EDL have managed to pull the disaffected UKIP voters on to the streets, the facebook fascists have become fair-weather fascists, they must be discouraged before they get a taste for it.

Fascist manifestations are expected in the following locations:
Leicester, Luton, Peterborough, Dereham, Ipswich, Cambs, Sheffield, Stoke, Halifax, Leeds, Lowestoft, Wolverhampton, Islington, Manchester, Aldershot, Burton on Trent, Rochdale, Ashford (Middlesex), Stevenage, Loughborough, Bromsgrove, Preston, Sunderland, Dudley, Coventry, Takeley, Wootton Bassett, West Bromwich, Oldham, Romford, Macclesfield, Cardiff, Lewisham, Southampton, Glasgow, Ayr, Colerne, Walsall, Scarborough, Hemel Hempstead, Conwy, Chingford, Doncaster, Rotherham, Huddersfield, Bristol, Southampton, Portsmouth, Exeter, Brighton, Weymouth, Bournemouth, Slough, Reading, Oxford, Northampton and Basingstoke.

Drummer Lee Rigby’s family reject “extremist” groups using Woolwich murder for political gain – The Independent

Why take direct action against fascism?

Stop the BNP! Oppose their march from Woolwich to Lewisham, Saturday 1st June.

Anti-Fascist Network

There’s fascist gatherings all over the bloody place this weekend, if your around London though take note!

A message From London and South London Anti-Fascists –

We are calling on all anti-fascists to oppose the BNP, who are planning to march from Woolwich to Lewisham, on Saturday June 1st.

We must come together to show that their racist ideology will be opposed on our streets and in our neighbourhoods.

More details to follow.

BNP Lewisham – poster

A5 flier – flyer

View original post

COUNTERING THE RESURGENCE OF THE EDL: REPORT AND THOUGHTS FROM THE ANTI-EDL COUNTER DEMO AT DOWNING STREET

Anti-Fascist Network

This is a repost from While Rome Burns 

In the last week the extreme right has been making all the running in the aftermath of the killing of soldier Lee Rigby on Wednesday. We have seen a sudden outpouring of racism and speedily-organised mobilisations by the EDL. The demonstration at Downing Street on Bank Holiday Monday was the first ‘official’ EDL event organised in response to the killing which anti-fascists had any time to respond to. Luckily UAF called a counter demonstration so the racists did not meet unopposed. The EDL demonstration was advertised for 3pm, although they had all organised to meet up earlier in Leicester Square. The rally organised by UAF was announced for 2pm, also at Downing Street.

When I arrived, the main UAF/anti-fascist contingent were behind police lines outside Downing Street and the cops were not letting anyone else join them. There was a small number…

View original post 2,684 more words

Too familiar for comfort

No right turn, oppose the EDL tomorrow! 2pm Downing street, Westminster London.

London Antifascists

No right turn – a call for a mass mobilisation against the reactionary right!

Since the brutal murder of soldier Lee Rigby by two men in Woolwich, the xenophobic and racist EDL have sickenly tried to exploit the atrocity for their own political agenda. Backed up by a compliant media that has over the past decade fuelled the perception of the wider Muslim population as complicit to terrorism. This attack has caused a serious racist backlash to anyone that’s considered to be Muslim so that has meant alot of Asian people other ethnic minorities throughout the country have been the victims of racial violence and we also saw openly racist speeches made at the Edl Newcastle demo.

The recent electoral gains by anti-immigration party UKIP and the shift to the right by the establishment parties, poses a danger on the little freedoms and democratic power we still have left. A…

View original post 134 more words

Press release: National Garment Workers Federation of Bangladesh.

Dear Comrades,

NOT ONLY PROFIT and EXPLOITATION — WAL-MART and OTHERS MUST COME AND SHARE RESPONSIBILITY FOR SAFE WORK PLACE
National Garment Workers Federation ( NGWF )
24.05.2013

Press conference

In a press conference at 11 a.m in Dhaka Unity Hall reporters room , NGWF president Amirul haque Amin mentioned this on behalf of the NGWF. He also added that Wal-mart and other companies – those sourcing from Tazrin fashion and factories in RANA plaza must compensate the Dead’s families, Injured workers and take responsibility for proper treatment , Compensate all workers of Tazrin and 5 factories in rana plaza. NGWF also added Wal-mart , Gap and other companies must sign the Fire and building safety accord , these have yet to sign . They mentioned yesterday 23.05.13 , 38 companies signed the accord. NGWF mentioned today 24th may is 6 months since  Tazrin Fire and 1 month since Rana Plaza collapse. In the press conference , besides NGWF other leaders , 42 injured and family members of the dead of Tazrin and 35 of Rana plaza were present.

In the press conference NGWF raised 7 points as :

1. Proper and sufficient treatment for all injured of Rana Plaza and Tazrin.
2. Immediate support for all victims – families of the dead, and injured of both Rana plaza and Tazrin.
3. 3 month salary as compensation for all workers working in these factories.
4. Compensation for all dead families and injured in the line of Loss of earnings.
5. Murder cases should be filed for the highest punishment against the owners of Tazreen Fashions, Rana plaza and 5 factories in rana plaza.
6. Wal-Mart, Gap and others  companies must sign the Accord to ensure SAFE WORPLACE for the garment workers .
7. For ensuring Living wage the MNC,s must pay fair price for the garment products and have to build long term business relationship.

In the press conference NGWF also demanded withdrawal of all legal , written and unwritten barriers for the exercise of trade union rights in the garment sector.

Press secretary
National Garment Workers Federation

Tolpuddle and Captain Swing: hidden history? Saturday 1st June 2013. Dorchester 1:30 p.m. Bridport. 7:00 for 7:30 p.m.

Tolpuddle_Swing Flyer

Dr Ball will also be giving this talk at Dorset Socialists meeting in Dorchester 1:30 p.m. on the same day: Colliton Club, Colliton House, Colliton Park, Dorchester, Dorset DT1 1XJ Council car park is free at weekends.

Some interesting local events organised by others:

Tuesday, 4th June 2013.
West Dorset & Yeovil UNITE Community Group An Open Meeting (non members and other union members welcome)
7.00 pm Unity Hall, Central Road, Yeovil, BA20 1JL
(opposite the bus station).

Thursday, 13th June 2013.
Yeovil TUC + Autonomy Films present Ken Loach’s film ‘THE SPIRIT OF ’45’
7.30 pm Unity Hall, Central Road, Yeovil. BA20 1JL
(opposite the bus station). Entry by donation

Guilt by association

Statement from the Anti-Fascist Network on the Woolwich murder.

ANTI-FASCIST NETWORK

The Anti-Fascist Network deplores the murder of a young man in Woolwich yesterday and our condolences go out to his family and friends. We also deplore the use of this incident by the far right to stir up Islamophobia once again.

By calling a ‘terrorist alert’ the government has shamelessly sought political capital from what was clearly an isolated act of brutality by a couple of lone psychopaths claiming to be Muslims. There are maniacs in every community and grouping, not least the far right. The loss of a life in such horrific circumstances is always a tragedy for those involved, just as it was when fascists killed Altab Ali or when the police killed Blair Peach.

Meanwhile the Muslim community has conducted itself with dignity, and a huge number of individual Muslims have spontaneously taken to social media to disassociate themselves from any kind of sectarian violence.

Unlike the EDL, now virtually a spent force, who have chosen to use this man’s death to go on a recruiting drive and encourage attacks on minorities. The Internet is now buzzing with ‘patriots’, nationalists and fascists eager to exploit the situation – please don’t encourage them by carelessly repeating their drivel.

We will all need to be vigilant, and work with our communities against any rise in fascist activity.

We reproduce below a statement from the Muslim Council of Great Britain:

“This is a truly barbaric act that has no basis in Islam and we condemn this unreservedly.

Our thoughts are with the victim and his family.We understand the victim is a serving member of the Armed Forces. Muslims have long served in this country’s Armed Forces, proudly and with honour.

This attack on a member of the Armed Forces is dishonourable, and no cause justifies this murder. This action will no doubt heighten tensions on the streets of the United Kingdom.

We call on all our communities, Muslim and non-Muslim, to come together in solidarity to ensure the forces of hatred do not prevail.”

– Muslim Council of Great Britain