Sunday 12 October 2014

Another Bad Day for the EDL in Portsmouth.They did not go where they want.


All Photographs Sion Reynolds.


By Simon Magorian

UAF

The EDL had another bad day in Portsmouth.The pretence that this was not an EDL march didn't last long.At Lake rd ,when they assembled near the Al Madani School , the air was rent with cries of E-E EDL.The initial intention of the march organisers had been to march down Albert Road.

Albert Road is widely regarded as Portsmouth's Brick Lane . It is where all the small Asian businesses are, the location for world food restaurants and is regarded as the multicultural centre of  Portsmouth.
Unite Against fascism contacted both the Police and Council to oppose their right to walk down such a contentious area. We had also encouraged other people to contact the authorities and complain. The day before the protest police informed them  that they  would not be allowed to march through that area.
On their Facebook pages they declared they would ignore the route they had been given and would  march through anyway.The slogan they use is 5w,meaning "We go where we want". As it turned out with only about 40 people the idea of pushing through the police line did not seem a particularly good idea to them.

So it was not so much "We go where we want" as "We go where we're told to ! "

Also,some people who had turned up believing that this was a dignified protest to commemorate the brutal murder of Alan Henning by Isis left in disgust when they realised who was behind the protest.

The Anti Fascist protest was much more diverse,and much, much larger .After the Fascists left we marched down to the Guildhall led by Jon Woods President of Portsmouth Trades Council with their banner.Also there were the stalwarts of NAS/UWT ,Portsmouth Unison and Unite Community Group, with their banners.It was good to see the women from UCG as there had been an attempt by the EDL to intimidate some women from the group after a recent Gaza demonstration. It was heartening to see that they refuse to be intimidated.

We marched down to Guildhall Square on the way there,there were a couple of incidents.A group split off from the EDL march and shouted outside the Mosque for a few minutes, before they were ejected and a group came alongside our march screaming drunken obscenities.



When the whole thing came to an end in Guildhall Square they appeared to have been whittled down to about 28.They ended up on the Guildhall steps and demonstrated their rather limited repertoire of "English till I die" and "E-E-EDL ",and that was about it.
We stood outside the Civic Offices opposite and had a rally.People queued up to speak from Trade Unions, UAF and the local Mosque to talk about defending multiculturalism and opposing Fascism.There also seemed to be a large number of Students amongst us and people who had never been on one of our protests before.
 It was pointed out that they had been organising on the sly and had managed to mobilise around 45 people and we had managed to pull about 100 people together in 48 hours.It was speculated that the human debris opposite represented the Fascists who were banned from Public Transport or were too lazy to join their mates in Birmingham.
Apart from a handful of them running up the stairwell of the Civic Offices to spit at people and throw coins before being removed by the Police,that was it.They then ambled off in a desultory manner to find a pub to get even more drunk.

We outnumbered, outchanted and outstayed them.

Our protest represented the real Portsmouth, Trade Unionists ,Black and White,Jewish and Muslim ,LGBT and students.It was diverse and powerful..It was a source of considerable pride for our town.We clearly outnumbered them .

A brilliant day for Anti-Fascists.


Thursday 9 October 2014

"EDL " Fascists to hold another protest in Portsmouth.Sat 11th.




There is to be another EDL type march to be held in Portsmouth.Although this is not an "Official " EDL march many of the usual suspects are involved.
 .
The march is being called with the  support of a ragbag of Fascist and Racist groups.Ignoring the wishes of Lee Rigby's family they are using his tragic death to promote race hate.

They are calling the march,depending on which post you read ,for the following : to remember Lee Rigby,stop Muslim Schools ,stop more Mosques being built, to oppose Isis and to oppose multiculturalism.

The Nazis are crowing that the Police are planning to allow them to march through highly contentious areas.They are claiming they will be marching up Albert Road (where many Asian businesses are) and also past the two main Portsmouth Mosques.

This is from one of their supporters on Facebook that Portsmouth Nazi Watch posted :

"Hello everyone please can everyone share this we have organised a march for this Saturday the 11th start in at 12 noon the route Starts at the muslim school in lake road....down fratton, then onto Victoria Road South past the jami mosque then onto Albert road, back up Lawrence road, onto fawcett road back onto fratton road back at start point!!! This is a protest for our country to stop moscs Islamic schools n there law bring as many people as u can its time to take back wat our ancestors thoughts wars to keep be with us or against us hope to see u all there "


This also has been doing the rounds.


 
The Police have not finalised the route , this has to be sorted out and agreed by the Police and the local council.,so I suggest you get on the phone right now.


  The racist march is being publicised on South East Alliance,NF and other EDL breakaway forums.This will attract all sort of Fascists and Racists.


They have to be opposed.





We need to sort out the largest possible mobilisation.

We will be assembling at Lake Road near The Madani Academy at 11.45 AM. Obviously details may change.


Facebook page for our counter protest.

Link here.


Oppose Racist and Sectarian March in Portsmouth.Portsmouth UAF







 It will be updated but please use it as an organiser.








Thursday 17 July 2014

Love Music Hate Racism Presents :Summertime Blues and Funk and Hip Hop.





A great night of music and fundraising.

There will also be a stall with LMHR merchandise, including a new range of  T shirts badges etc.



There will be tickets available on the door, however we would advise people to get them from The Wedgewood Rooms box office in advance.

The Box Office is open to personal callers on Thursday & Friday  from 3.30pm until 7.00pm (10.00pm on a show day),  12noon - 6.00pm on Saturdays and when the doors open for a Wedge event.

Telephone calls and orders are taken from
12noon - 7.00pm Monday to Friday
and 12noon - 6.00pm on Saturdays.

You can order online through our 24 hour secure server or by sending a Cheque or Postal Order (Payable to: Wedge & Edge Ltd) to:

The Box Office
147b Albert Road
SOUTHSEA
PO4 0JW 


You can also get them online here.

Facebook Page here.

Hope to see you there !

Wednesday 4 June 2014

Stand Up to Ukip formally launched .Sign the Statement!





by Simon Magorian.

In the wake of the general election results SUTU have launched a National campaign against Ukip.
It has been signed by leading trade unionists, MPs and campaigners including Len McCluskey, Diane Abbott, Sally Hunt and Manuel Cortes .

We will be urging local Trade Unionists, Community activists and local cultural figures to sign up to it.




Please copy it and help build the Statement against Ukip's politics of hate and division.

Link here.



In Portsmouth there was a magnificent 100 strong rally to oppose Nigel Farage when he came here.











However,there is no escaping the fact that Ukip did exceptionally well here.Obviously there were the factors of there being a backlash against the  Lib Dems and there has been a lengthy period of tabloid scrutiny over Mike Hancock's private life. Over 10,000 people voted for Ukip and there is no escaping the reality that we have our work cut out for us.

 The Elections now over,now is perhaps time for some reflections on how they went and some thoughts on how the campaign against the far right weathered and where we should be going in future.

When looking at the results for Ukip in the council elections as opposed to the European elections one thing was abundantly clear. The surge for Farage and co really happened last year and he has probably peaked.In 2013 Ukip managed to get 23% of the vote and this year they managed to get 16%. This does not mean there is nothing to worry about,it means that they have managed to consolidate their base and this is extremely worrying.The problem with Ukip is not just one of Europhobia ,but the emergence of a right wing populist movement ,vying to become a British version of the Tea Party movement in the States.
One of the most telling incidents during the campaign was having an argument with a Ukip supporter to be told: " Don't talk to me about facts, I'm angry !" Ukip is very much an angry white man's movement.
The reality is that most of Ukip's policies are basically very old fashioned conservative policies .
A you gov poll found that Europe was the third most important  issue for Ukip voters at 36%  with Asylum and immigration topping the poll at 83%.
It would be foolish to pretend that Ukip were not taking votes away from Labour they clearly are,however they are predominantly chipping away at the conservative base.In London Ukip barely made itinto double figures and their four Councillors in Barking were unseated.Labour gained Hammersmith and Fulham, Croydon and Amber Valley from the Tories.
Rotherham Council where Ukip did well had exceptional circumstances.It was one of the areas in Britain which is referred to as "Post Industrial," where the local industries were decimated by Tory policies and neglected by the Blair government.These were seen as target areas for the BNP.During the 2008 high point for the BNP they had two Councillors elected there.Rotherham was also the centre for one of the most notorious "grooming" cases.Which resulted in a court case where several British-Asian men received lengthy jail terms  for sexual abuse of children as young as 12. In the aftermath the  Home Affairs Select Committee criticized the South Yorkshire Police force and Rotherham Council for their handling of the abuse.They recently had a by-election when the local MP Denis Mcshane had to stand down after being charged over fiddling his expenses.He was subsequently jailed for six months.
The abuse scandal has been ruthlessly exploited by The English Defence League .In the last eighteen months the people of Rotherham have had to endure not one, not two, but three EDL protest marches in the city.Even with local opposition these events could not fail to have an effect. It is however important to point out that Labour still have 50 of the authority's 63 Councillors.

IMPORTANT EVENTS.


It is important that we get opposition to Ukip up and running.The launch of Stand Up to Ukip will be widely discussed at the forthcoming Unite Against Fascism  Conference.


 9.30 – 5pm
Saturday 14 June
Trade Union Congress
Congress House
Great Russell Street
London WC1B 3LS

I would urge everyone to attend. Themes include: Challenging racist scapegoating of immigrants ● No to Islamophobia and Islamophobic attacks ● Celebrating diversity ● Busting the myths on immigration ● Responding to racism and fascism in Europe ● Stand up to UKIP.

You can book here. 



                                                       THE INVESTIGATION.

There will also be a public reading of an edited version of The Investigation on Thursday June 12th at the D-Day Museum in Portsmouth.
This is an extraordinary work about The Holocaust and I would ask everyone to support this. More details here.



Please note there will be A Love Music Hate Racism gig at The edge of the Wedge.

Tuesday 17th June.

Music from :
Rex Domino
 The midnight 23s
 and Megan Linford.
Admission £5 waged.£3 unwaged.
Right of admission reserved.
Bill may subject to alteration.


Venue:
The edge of the wedge.   

More Details.

There will be the launch meeting of Portsmouth Stand Up to Ukip on Friday 20th June at 7.30 at Portsmouth Community Centre.

More details to follow.

Please download the sign up sheet to get things moving,and once again  please support these events.

Best Wishes.

Simon Magorian.

07758112931




 

Tuesday 3 June 2014

The Investigation. A story for our time ,and all times.





The Work-In-Progress Theatre Group proudly present a reading of an abridged version of The Investigation by Peter Weiss. Edited and directed by Waldemar Maxim.

This play is based on the transcripts of an actual trial in Germany in 1965 at which the survivors of Auschwitz tell their story and the camp personnel attempt to explain/deny their role in the mass murder.

This play was put on at the Arcola Theatre in London seven years ago and had full houses. The cast is very strong and the evening, if not enjoyable, will certainly be memorable.

Limited seating so book your tickets early.


D-Day Museum 023 9282 6722
W-I-P Theatre Group 07968 262 805


This is a public reading of one of the most celebrated works of the 1960's documenting the Frankfurt Auschwitz Trials of 1963-1965.

It is one of the most compelling works that deals with the Holocaust and is a truly unforgettable experience.
It was recently revived by a Congolese theatre company to examine the experience of the Rwandan massacre.The cast was made up entirely of survivors of the massacre and toured extensively across Africa.

Where people are demonised and objectified it is a pertinent examination of what leads societies to commit such horrors.

It is a difficult and necessary work of art.

This is a truly extraordinary work ,please come out and support it.

Friday 2 May 2014

UAF calls for vote against UKIP



Unite Against Fascism
Date: Friday 2 May 2014
News release: For immediate release
Unite Against Fascism (UAF) calls on the British electorate to vote against UKIP on 22 May in the Euro elections. This follows media reports  linking UKIP candidates with the British National Party (BNP) and English Defence League (EDL), and on-going exposure of racism, Islamophobia, sexism and homophobia. 
Gary Port a UKIP candidate in Greenwich admitted liking a group devoted to the British National Party (BNP) on Facebook and said: “I don’t think it’s clear whether the BNP are racist…”. Heino Vockrodt, a UKIP candidate in Brent described members of the English Defence League (EDL) as “honest normal people.” This follows racist comments by William Henwood who was forced to resign from UKIP after suggesting Lenny Henry should emigrate to “a black country” and comparing Islam to the Third Reich; and explicitly racist comments by UKIP member Andre Lampitt. UKIP donor Demetri Marchessini claimed that rape cannot exist within a marriage and UKIP Roger Helmer said in 2000 that homosexuality was “abnormal and undesirable”. (http://www.standard.co.uk/news/politics/ukip-local-elections-candidates-racist-language-is-exposed-9310580.html)
Sabby Dhalu, UAF Joint Secretary said:
“There appears to be a racism epidemic in UKIP, coupled with Islamophobia, sexism and homophobia. The media has been littered with such reports of UKIP, clearly these are not isolated incidents or individual cases. Any organisation with links to the BNP, EDL, racism, sexism and homophobia has no place in a free, fair and democratic society. We urge the British public to vote against UKIP on 22 May and call on the Standards Board for England to investigate UKIP.” 
Weyman Bennett, UAF Joint Secretary said:
“Earlier this week, Deputy Chairman of UKIP Neil Hamilton said UKIP was taking votes off the BNP, saying that former BNP voters feel their communities are being ‘swamped by immigrants’ and that some of these people are now voting UKIP. This follows the election adverts produced by UKIP attacking immigrants for taking the jobs of established British communities – a cynical attempt to score points prior to the Euro elections by wrongly blaming immigrants for the cost of living crisis for the majority of the population, instead of blaming those responsible for the economy and the welfare of British people. This is whipping up racism and is the sort of climate that breeds hatred and violent racist attacks on Britain’s streets.”

Saturday 26 April 2014

Two Important events for Anti-Racists. Sunday : Say No to the MFE Fascists in Brighton.Monday say no to racist Farage in Portsmouth.






 A horror double bill.

March for England  on Sunday .

Farage and his South Coast UKIP launch on Monday.


March for England Sunday 27th Brighton.

                                                                            Last year.

Lewis Nielsen Brighton UAF :

"For those of you who don't know, this Sunday, March for England (MfE) are planning to march along Brighton seafront. MfE are a racist, far-right organisation that has links with the English Defence League.
In previous years, MfE supporters have made Nazi salutes, and shouted racist, sexist and homophobic abuse at passers by.
Its important that we get as many people as possible to join the counter demonstration to show MfE that racists aren't welcome in Brighton, or anywhere else. So bring your friends and join the counter demo this Sunday at 11.30am at the seafront side of West Street."
 Part of the police instructions for MFE are as follows.
"Those taking part in the march are not allowed to carry banners, other than those in support of the March for England or the cross of St George, engage in any unlawful behaviour or display Nazi salutes."

Nazi Salutes?

Why would they need to say that?

Because they're Nazi filth.

The Brighton Unity statement is here. 

Anyone coming from Portsmouth please contact Simon Magorian 07758112931


Stand Up to UKIP Protest Farage and his racist chums.
 Portsmouth Guildhall Square 7.00 PM Monday 28th.


Whilst it is undeniably true that UKIP are a democratic and not a Nazi party ,they are a thoroughly racist organisation.The growth in their support creates the situation where the other parties attempt to outflank them and public discourse moves in an evermore racist direction.
This leads to a situation which creates a space for fascist organisations to grow.

It is also important to point out that their policies far from being new and fresh are just very right wing.

They represent the Tory Party of the 1950s,when racial minorities were marginalised the LGBT community was invisible and fearful, and women were expected to be  well tailored and quiescent accessories.

It is important we have a vibrant and noisy demonstration against Farage and co.

Bring Trade Union and Community banners and placards.

Let's send them packing with a flea in their ear !

Facebook event site here.

https://www.facebook.com/events/238105376375668/241992522653620/?notif_t=like

More info contact Stand Up To UKIP

Simon Magorian:07758112931





THEY WANT TO TAX THE POOR NOT THE RICH.
UKIP wants to introduce a flat rate
income tax of 31 percent. That means low-paid workers would face a huge tax hike—while the Duke of Westminster, who is worth a cool £7.8bn, would have his tax cut.

FARAGE IS A TAX DODGER.
UKIP leader Nigel Farage says he is a man of the people. The
Daily Mirror proved he is not. It exposed the fact that Farage opened a
trust fund in an offshore tax haven,in a bid to save thousands of pounds in tax—
money that could be spent on schools, hospitals and public housing.
NIGEL ( SNOUT IN TROUGH) FARAGE IS AN EXPENSES FREELOADER WHO MAKES MARIA MILLER LOOK LIKE AN AMATEUR. 
  
UKIP claims to be anti-establishment. But Farage is
a private school educated,ex-Tory City broker. On topof his £81,500 a year salary as an MEP, he has claimed £2m of taxpayers’ money in expenses and
allowances. Not bad for someone who claims to oppose the EU.
THE POLITICS OF SCAPEGOATING.
UKIP blames migrant workers from Eastern Europe for the economic crisis,
unemployment and lack of housing.
This is a lie: the bankers and their rich friends in the City created the crisis—and they want the poor to pay. Immigrants haven’t shut
down major employers, closed hospital services or
sent your gas and electricity bills through the roof.

 
BIGOTS AND RACISTS.

UKIP is riddled with racists, sexists,homophobes and bigots. Nigel Farage
says his political hero is Enoch Powell, whose 1968 ‘Rivers of Blood’
speech has been a touchstone for racists and fascists
ever since. When fascists were exposed among UKIP
election candidates, Farage admitted the party
couldn’t vet its candidates to keep them out.
AGAINST HUMAN RIGHTS.
UKIP wants to take money awayfrom state schools and give it to
private schools like Eton.UKIP boasts that if it got into
power it would scrap the European Convention
on Human Rights.
This act protects us all.
Its measures include our right to a fair trial and to freedom of
assembly. It bans slavery andtorture.
AGAINST EQUAL RIGHTS FOR LESBIANS AND GAYS.


UKIP opposes same-sex marriage. They
say there is no demand for same-sex marriage, ‘apart from
a small but noisy minority within the gay community’. They claim same-sex
marriage will ‘undermine the position of the church’.
ANTI ENVIRONMENT AND WANTS CASH FOR ARMAMENTS.
UKIP pledges to massively increase military expenditure,
building seven aircraft carriers.This would cost around £48.3bn—
almost half the NHS budget for a year.
UKIP wants to slash the number of wind farms and
launch a £90bn nuclear power programme.

Friday 25 April 2014

Brighton Unity Statement against the March for England 2014


 Last year, around 1500 Brighton residents from different backgrounds came out in unity to show the racist MfE that they are not welcome in brighton. Below is a Unity Statement against the March For England signed by various Brighton groups and trade unions. We welcome support from all groups and individuals who want to sign up to the statement. To add your organisation just email brighton@uaf.org.uk
Brighton is a brilliant and vibrant city where many people of different cultures, backgrounds, abilities and faiths come together. It has a positive and unique character which its residents enjoy and embrace. Brighton people live here in the knowledge that they will be valued and that the things which make each individual different are celebrated here – not despised. We take great pleasure and pride in being surrounded by humanity in all its exciting diversity.
Because of this it is very saddening to discover that the far right group March for England, which is a division of the violent and racist organisation the English Defence League, is to march in Brighton (on April 27 2014). In previous years, participants in the March for England have made Nazi salutes and shouted homophobic, sexist and racist abuse at passers-by.
When groups like this come to Brighton it is because our multicultural city in all its diversity proves that their own doctrine of hate is wrong, and they want to damage our unity. That is why we stand together: black, white and Asian; people of all faiths and of no faith; trade unionists; people of different political persuasions; University, school and college students; people of all abilities; whatever our sexuality.
In Brighton we all stand together. And when someone tries to threaten our community we must stand together even more firmly and join the counter demonstration on 27th April, meeting at 11.30am at the bottom of West Street.
Caroline Lucas MP
Nancy Platts, Labour Parliamentary Candidate for Brighton Kemptown and Peacehaven
Brighton and Hove Unite Against Fascism
Stop the March for England
Brighton Trades Council
Brighton and Hove Unison
Brighton University UCU
Brighton and Hove NUT
University of Sussex Students Union
Brighton Love Music Hate Racism
Phélim MacCafferty, Green Party Councillor for Brunswick and Adelaide
Sussex Partnership Unison branch
Sussex LRC
Councillor Warren Morgan, Labour and Co-operative Councillor for East Brighton, Leader of the Labour and Co-operative Group
Geoffrey Bowden, Green Party Councillor for Queen’s Park
Ruth Buckley, Green Party Councillor for Goldsmid
Lizzie Deane, Green Party Councillor for St Peter’s and North Laine
Ben Duncan, Green Party Councillor for Queen’s Park
Chris Hawtree, Green Party Parliamentary candidate Hove and Portslade
Rob Jarrett, Green Party Councillor for Goldsmid
Davy Jones, Green Party Parliamentary candidate Brighton Kemptown
Mike Jones, Green Party Councillor for Preston Park
Leo Littman, Green Party Councillor for Preston Park
Lisa Murray, Chair Brighton Hove Green Party
Phélim Mac Cafferty, Green Party Councillor for Brunswick and Adelaide
Alex Phillips, Green Party Councillor for Goldsmid
Steph Powell, Green Party Councillor for Queen’s Park
Bill Randall, Green Party Councillor for Hanover and Elm Grove
Sven Rufus, Green Party Councillor for Hollingdean and Stanmer
Sue Shanks, Green Party Councillor for Withdean
Ollie Sykes, Green Party Councillor for Brunswick and Adelaide
Liz Wakefield, Green Party Councillor for Hanover and Elm Grove
Pete West, Green Party Councillor for St Peter’s and North Laine
Dr. Peter Kyle, Labour Parliamentary Candidate for Hove & Portslade
Purna Sen Labour parliamentary candidate, Brighton Pavilion.