| Unite Against Fascism | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Formation | 2003 |
| Type | Pressure group |
| Headquarters | London |
| Chairman | Ken Livingstone |
| Key people | Weyman Bennett (Joint Secretary) Sabby Dhalu (Joint Secretary) Billy Hayes (Treasurer) Lee Jasper |
| Website | http://www.uaf.org.uk www.uaf.org.uk |
Unite Against Fascism is an anti-fascist organisation in Britain. It describes itself as a national campaign with the aim of alerting British society to the threat of the far right — in particular the British National Party (BNP) — gaining a foothold at local, national and European elections.[1]
Its chair is the former Labour Party mayor of London Ken Livingstone[2] and its joint secretaries are Weyman Bennett of the far left Socialist Workers Party and the Anti-Nazi League, and Sabby Dhalu, formerly of the National Assembly Against Racism (NAAR).
Stating that it seeks to unite a broad spectrum of society, the organisation has signatories and members from other mainstream political parties, including Conservative leader David Cameron, as well as trade union leaders, prominent members of the arts, bands and other organisations.[3]
Contents |
Unite Against Fascism (UAF) was formed in the United Kingdom in late 2003 in response to electoral successes by the British National Party (BNP).[4] 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, UAF was set up by the Socialist Workers Party and the National Assembly Against Racism.[5] In 2005, the anti-fascist magazine Searchlight disaffiliated from UAF after an argument over tactics to defeat the BNP.[6][7]
At UAF's 2007 national conference, speakers ranged from cabinet minister Peter Hain to Edie Friedman of the Jewish Council for Racial Equality and Dr. Muhammad Abdul Bari from the Muslim Council of Britain, as well as figures from the major UK trade unions.[8] In November 2007, UAF organised a rally of over 1,000 people when BNP leader Nick Griffin and holocaust denier David Irving spoke at the Oxford Union.[9]
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.[10] The protesters also kicked Griffin's car and beat it with placards as he was led away from the scene.[10] Two members of the public were hospitalized as a result of the demonstration.[11] Griffin claimed that the attack was carried out with the backing of the Labour Party.[12][13]
The following day, UAF demonstrated at the BNP's next attempt to hold a press conference at a pub in Miles Platting, North Manchester.[14] They chanted anti-fascist slogans and tried to drown out Griffin by playing Bob Marley songs at high volume.[14] One protester was arrested after spitting in the direction of a car belonging to a BNP member.[14]
On 8 August 2009, UAF supporters and English Defence League supporters clashed at a protest planned by EDL in Birmingham, resulting in 35 arrests.[15][16] On 19 August 2009, police arrested 19 protesters during a demonstration by UAF against the BNP's Red, White and Blue festival in Codnor, Derbyshire.[17] Four people were charged; three with public order offences and one with unlawfully obstructing the highway.[18][19][20][21] On 10 October 2009, 1,400 UAF supporters gathered to oppose an EDL-organised demonstration in Manchester. Forty-eight people were arrested during the protests.[22][23] On 22 October 2009, a UAF demonstration against Nick Griffin's appearance on the BBC's Question Time programme resulted in injuries to three police officers.[24]
On 31 October 2009, about 1,500 UAF supporters met in Leeds city centre to stage a demonstration in opposition to a protest organised by the EDL, which was attended by up to 900 of their supporters. Eight people were arrested for public order offences after minor scuffles. West Yorkshire Police and Leeds City Council issued a joint statement in which they thanked the participants for their patience and consideration.[25][26]
In January 2010, when the Pendle branch of the UAF removed a wreath from the War Memorial in Nelson that was laid down by a British National Party member.[27] Richard MacSween of the Pendle UAF said "The BNP have left a wreath and we have removed it because we don't approve of fascism." In response, Councillor George Adam, from the Nelson and District branch of the Royal British Legion, said: "I'm annoyed - they have no right to remove that wreath. The BNP is a legitimate political party and they have a right to lay down a wreath just ad any other members of the public do."[28] BNP Councillor Brian Parker added: "It's disgusting, and it's theft."
   | Unite against Fascism website - Unite Against Fascism - stopping the rise of the BNP and the extreme right |
| | Letter of resignation to UAF - Searchlight Magazine: Letter of resignation to UAF |
| | Jewish Council for Racial Equality website - JCORE - Jewish Council for Racial Equality |
| | "Irving and Griffin spark fury at Oxford Union debate" - Irving and Griffin spark fury at Oxford Union debate | UK news | The Guardian |
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