The EDL thugs want to stir up racism and division among the city’s diverse community. But people in Leicester have already shown the EDL is not wanted in Leicester – thousands turned out to show their opposition to the EDL and in October 2010.

Now black, white and Asian people are set to show their unity against the EDL again at a ‘Love Leicester, Hate Racism’ demonstration organised by UAF in the city centre on 4 February.

Details

The protest against the EDL will assemble at 11am on Saturday 4 February at the Clock Tower, Leicester City Centre.

The antiracist, antifascist event is supported by CWU Leicestershire branch, Leicestershire County Unison, PCS Leicester and Leicestershire branch, Stoneygate Labour Party, Unite 0168M branch and Leicester District Trades Council.

Please join the protest against the EDL – bring your banners!

>> Get leaflets here

Last week, a packed public meeting heard UAF speakers, local trade unionists, community leaders, youth activists and Labour councillors urge unity against the EDL.

The two organisations are seeking to exploit a serious court case to stir up racism and division. Local people are determined to show a unified community response to the BNP and EDL.

The problems in our society will not be solved by fascists and racists.

Statement: BNP and EDL not welcome in Liverpool

The British National Party and English Defence League have announced their intention to hold a protest at Liverpool Crown Court on Monday 6 February. They are exploiting a case of 11 Asian men from Rochdale who have been charged with child exploitation and sex offences, to bring their racist message to the streets of Liverpool.

We believe that this case is a matter for the police and courts. Furthermore, the BNP and EDL’s cynical exploitation of the case for its own ends, does nothing to help the suffering of victims of such abuse.

If the men involved were not Asian then it is clear that this protest would not be taking place. We believe that the BNP and EDL are using this case to attempt to whip up racism and foster division.

We call on everyone to join a dignified counter-protest at Liverpool Crown Courts. Let the racists and fascists of the EDL and BNP know that they are not welcome here.

8.30am Monday 6 February
Liverpool Crown Court
Derby Square
Liverpool L2 1XA

Signatories

Cllr Joe Anderson – Leader of Liverpool City Council
Cllr Louise Baldock – chair of equality and diversity, Liverpool City Council
Merseyside Unite Against Fascism
Liverpool Trade Union Council
Liverpool University UCU branch
Donna Davies, Unite regional officer (personal capacity)
Ian Seddon, secretary, Unite Merseyside Finance branch (personal capacity)
Merseyside Love Music Hate Racism

>> Download statement as a petition

For more information, email Liverpool UAF.

The north London event, under the title ‘Celebrate diversity, defend multiculturalism, oppose Islamophobia and racism’ starts at 7pm on 25 January at Finsbury Park Mosque, 7-11 St Thomas’s Road, London N4 2QH.

Mosque

The meeting is supported by Islington Trades Council, Finsbury Park Mosque, Islington Hands Off Our Public Services and Muslim Welfare House.

Hassan Mahamdallie, editor of the book Defending Multiculturalism, Islington Council leader Catherine West, Rev Jennifer Potter of Islington Inter Faith Forum and Imam Ahmed Saad of Finsbury Park Mosque will speak alongside Jeremy Corbyn (pictured) and Emily Thornberry.

They will be joined by UAF joint secretary Weyman Bennett and Mark Campbell from the NEC of the University an College Union.

>> Download a leaflet

UAF supporters will be joining events around the country to remember the Holocaust – see below for listings.

Remember

We believe it is important to remember the reality of what it means when fascists take power – so we can redouble our efforts to drive back the fascists today.

When Hitler’s Nazis came to power in Germany, they smashed working class organisations, political opposition and civil institutions – right down to the Boy Scouts – paving the way for the Holocaust.

In the Holocaust, the Nazis murdered six million Jews, along with millions of others who the fascists considered to be “undesirable” or “inferior”, including Roma people, socialists and communists, trade union members, gay men and lesbians, disabled people, black people, and non-Jewish Polish and Russian people.

The mass murder of the Holocaust was carried out on an industrial scale and has been called killing “by assembly line”, with death camps linked by the European rail network.

Today’s targets…

Today, in Britain and across Europe, fascist parties are again attempting to grow. They range from the serious electoral threat of the Front National in France to Hungary’s Jobbik, with its huge paramilitary wing. New groups such as the racist and fascist street thugs of the English Defence League have emerged.

While in the 1930s and 1940s the Nazis’ main targets were Jews, in recent years the fascists’ main targets have been Muslims and, especially in Eastern Europe, Roma people.

Holocaust deniers, such as BNP leader Nick Griffin, want to pretend the Holocaust didn’t happen and to disguise the reality of fascism. They try to pose as respectable politicians and slip into the mainstream of political life. The millions murdered by Hitler mean nothing to the likes of Griffin.

That is why events like Holocaust Memorial Day are important. We remember the Holocaust in order to learn the lessons of history and redouble our campaigning against racism and fascism today.

We cannot let Muslims, Roma or anyone else be scapegoated, isolated and murdered the way Jewish people were under the Nazis.

When we remember the Holocaust, we say: ‘Never again!’

Find out more

There are many sources of information about the Holocaust, but for a quick, concise guide with facts, figures and dates, you can view or download this very useful wallchart produced by the University and College Union (pdf file). It includes a section on resistance to fascism in more recent times.

Holocaust Memorial Day events

Here is a brief selection of events taking place on or around Holocaust Memorial Day this year. You can find a full listing on the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust website. Most events are free but booking is sometimes required.

London

North London Thursday 26 January 2012, 7:30pm
Eve of Holocaust Memorial Day Meeting – Questions and Answers, with Auschwitz survivor Anita Wallfisch, Rabbi Bernd Koschland – Kindertransport and child survivor, Ulrike Schmidt from Amnesty International speaking about the threat to Roma people in Hungary, UAF joint secretary Weyman Bennett and others. Organised by UAF. Muswell Hill Library (off the Broadway), 1 Queens Avenue, London N10. Free. >> Download leaflet

East London Sunday 29 January, 3pm-6pm
With speakers Jean Lambert MEP, Weyman Bennett (UAF), Sandor Szoke (Hungarian Civil Movement), Ladislav Balaz (Roma representative and advocate, Czech Republic), Amnesty International, plus music by Pjotre Jordan & Dunajska Kapelye. Organised by Amnesty Insternational and UAF. 10 Harmony Hall, Truro Road Walthamstow, London E17 7BY. £4/£2.>> Download leaflet

>> more on these events and others in London

North East

Newcastle Sunday 29 January, 3pm
Newcastle Holocaust Memorial Commemorative Event “Speak Up, Speak Out”, with speakers Ed Vulliamy, Nerma Jelacic and Ruth Barnett, plus performance by Ouseburn Young Voices and personal testimonials from students who took part in the ‘Lessons from Auschwitz’ project. Newcastle Civic Centre. Free, but please register.

Newcastle 27 January to 2 February
Anne Frank exhibition at Gosforth library, Regent Farm Road, Gosforth, NE3 3HD.

>> more details of these and other North East events

North West

Barrow in Furness Thursday 27 January, 7pm
Remember the Holocaust – Speak Up, Speak Out. An evening of commemoration for the victims of the Nazi Holocaust, with survivor testimony and a presentation entitled ‘Sophie Scholl Fighter Against Nazism’ by Professor Frank McDonough. Speakers include John Woodcock MP. Organised by UAF. Trinity Church Centre, Warwick Street, off Abbey Road, Barrow.

Manchester Monday 30 January, 5.15pm
Speak Up, Speak Out: Survivor Story. We are honoured to welcome back Holocaust survivor Arek Hersh MBE, with special screening of a film about his life, followed by a question and answer session. Imperial War Museum North, The Quays, Trafford Wharf Road, Manchester,M17 1TZ. Free, but booking required.

>> more details of these and other North West events

Yorkshire and Humber

Kirklees Tuesday 24 January, 7.15pm
Speak Up, Speak Out: Conversations in Kirklees. With Mayor of Kirklees, Cllr Eric Firth, plus Thornhill Junior School Choir and Hungarian Roma children sharing song, Ice & Fire Theatre Co presenting testimony, Holocaust survivors and Muslim students sharing stories. Huddersfield Town Hall, Ramsden Street, Huddersfield HD1 2TA. Free.

Barnsley Sunday 29 January, 6pm
Barnsley Holocaust Memorial Day Service. Speakers include Holocaust survivor Iby Knill, Dan Jarvis MP, Karen Dyson, Mayor of Barnsley, plus students from Barnsley College, Wombwell Mixed Voice Choir and a speacial guest speaker Milo Milinkovic. Barnsley Baptist Church, Sheffield Road, Barnsley S70 1JJ. Free.

>> more on these events and others in Yorkshire and Humberside

East Midands

Northampton Monday 30 January, 6.30pm
Holocaust Memorial Day Event. Performances and short presentations by children, young people and adults; candle-lighting and traditional prayers. With Lumbertubs Primary School and Northampton Youth Forum. The Great Hall, The Guildhall, St Giles Square, Northampton NN1 1DE. Free.

Derby Thursday 26 January 2012, 11.20am
Talk by Holocaust survivor Simon Winston who, as a young child with his parents and younger brother, lived on the run from the Nazis for two years. Followed by a Q&A session. Multi-Faith Centre, University of Derby, Kedleston Road, Derby.

>> more on this event and others in the East Midlands

West Midlands

Shrewsbury Friday 27 January, 5.15pm procession, 6pm event.
Speak Up, Speak Out. Candlelight procession from Shrewsbury College of Ats and Technology, London Road to the Shirehall. The event at the Shirehall includes drama an mime by students, a Klezmer band and a Malenka singing group. Free but please book for the event as space in the council chambers is limited. Contact contact Kal Parkash on 01743 252056 or email.

Redditch Sunday 29 January
Redditch Speaks Up, Speaks Out. Annual Holocaust Memorial event.
11.30 am – Procession from Holocaust Memorial Marker, Church Green.
12 noon – commemorative event with readings and music in Worcester Square, Kingfisher Shopping Centre, Redditch. 1pm – Holocaust survivor Simon Winston tells his story – Ecumenical Centre, Evesham Walk, Redditch.

>> more on these events and others in the West Midlands

South East

Romford, Essex Thursday 26 January, 6pm
Living Memories. With Holocaust survivor George Vulkan. Gidea Park Library, Balgores Lane, Gidea Park, Romford
RM2 6BS. Free but donations requested for the London Jewish Cultural Centre.

Southampton Thursday 26 January, 6pm
Speak Up, Speak Out – Southampton Holocaust and genocide memorial event with slides and music from the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust and speakers, plus students from Itchen College reflect on Holocaust testimony and students from Southampton Solent University perform a short work based on the testimony of Holocaust survivor Alice Sommer. Sir James Matthews Building, Southampton Solent University, Above Bar, Southampton. Free.

>> more on these events and others in the South East

South West

Bath Thursday 26 January, 6pm
Bath and North East Somerset Council’s Holocaust Memorial Day commemoration, with survivor of Bergen-Belsen concentration camp Professor Ladislaus Lob. Please respond to Cllr Sarah Bevan by email. Guildhall, High Street, Bath
BA1 5AW. Free.

Taunton Friday 27 January, 12.30pm
Speak up, Speak out Holocaust Memorial Day event – including readings, music, candle-lighting and the laying of a wreath. Event supported by Somerset County Council, Taunton Deane Borough Council, Somerset College of Arts and Technology, trade union UNISON and the Church of St John the Evangelist. People of all faiths and none are welcome. The Church of St John the Evangelist, Park Street, Taunton, Somerset TA1 4DG. Free.

>>more on this event and others in the South West

East of England

Cambridge Friday 27 January, 6.30pm
With speakers Martin Bell, the former BBC war correspondent and now UNICEF ambassador and Zuza Vrbova, the daughter of Auschwitz escapee Rudolph Vrba who prouced a detailed eyewitness account of what he had seen in an attempt to warn the world. Zuza will be assisted by a group of sixth form students who have helped create an exhibition about his escape. The Guidhall, Guildhall Street, Cambridge. Free.

>> more on this event and others in the East of England

Wales

Swansea Open now, runs until 5 February 2012
Jewish Refugees in South Wales, 1933-1945. West Glamorgan Archive Service has prepared an exhibition on the history of Jewish refugees from Nazi Germany who came to South Wales, and their thought-provoking, poignant but inspirational histories. In the foyer of the Civic Centre, Oystermouth Road, Swansea SA1 3SN. Free.

>> more on this event and others in Wales

Scotland

Glasgow Monday 30 January, 7pm
Speak Up, Speak Out. Short film, drama production and talk by sixth year students who have visited Auschwitz. Eastwood Park Theatre, Eastwood Park, Rouken Glen Road, Giffnock G46 6UG. Free.

>> more on this event and others in Scotland

Pics: Nazis round up Jews in the Warsaw Ghetto, and the remains of the railway line into Auschwitz (modern photo)

The racist and fascist EDL has announced plans to come to Leicester on 4 February.

Last night’s meeting of around 170 people – white, black and Asian – showed a determination to stand up in unity against the EDL.

Banners from the East Midlands regions of the Unite and Unison unions decorated the walls of the Highfields Community Centre, where community leaders, local councillors, trade unionists and local young people came together.

They heard Sital Singh Gill, general secretary of Indian Workers Association, Priya Thamotheram from the community centre, local youth activist Az and UAF’s Simon Assaf speak from the platform, along with Councillor Lucy Chaplin, who brought greetings from Leicester West constituency Labour Party and from former council leader Ross Wilmott.

Leicester councillor and Communication Workers Union branch secretary Andy Connelly also sent a message of support.

The meeting discussed the planned counter-demonstration against the EDL.

This will assemble in Leicester City Centre on Saturday 4 February – more details to follow. The antiracist, antifascist protest is supported by CWU Leicestershire branch, PCS Leicester and Leicestershire branch, Stoneygate Labour Party, Unite 0168M branch and Leicester District Trades Council.

Speaking from the floor, councillor Patrick Kitterick told the meeting:

This is my city, these are my streets. We need to draw a line and say no further to the EDL.

Huge counter-mobilisations against the EDL in Leicester in October 2010 showed the racists and fascists were not welcome then – now Leicester is set to unite against the EDL once again to drive the message home.

UPDATE note new assembly point: the emergency protest against the EDL will assemble at 12 noon, at Barking market, junction of Ripple Road and East Street on Saturday 14 January.

The EDL is an organisation of racist and fascist thugs, who particularly target Muslims.

They plan to march through Barking as part of its attempts to stir up racism and division in the area. EDL supporters have aready staged a series of demonstrations in Dagenham against a proposed mosque.

In September, three thugs were jailed after they tried to smash their way into a mosque in the neighbouring borough of Redbridge, attacking the imam. One of the thugs screamed ‘EDL’ during the violent attack.

But people in Barking and Dagenham have shown they are fed up of racists and fascists trying to spread their poison in the area. In the 2010 elections, Barking and Dagenham voters kicked out the fascist British National Party’s 12 councillors and sent BNP leader Nick Griffin packing, with a crushing defeat in the Barking parliamentary seat.

Now former BNP members are draining into the EDL – and local antifascists are determined to show that the EDL’s racist and fascist thugs are not welcome in Barking either.

The emergency protest against the EDL will assemble at 12 noon, at Barking market, junction of Ripple Road and East Street on Saturday 14 January.

The Unite Against Fascism 2012 conference on 25 February is a chance for antifascists and antiracists to plan our campaign for the coming year.

Antifascists have staged successful mobilisations against the English Defence League around the country and this year also saw a successful campaign to boot the fascist British National Party out of Stoke-on-Trent and other key areas at the local elections.

But the threat of the EDL – now turning its violence against trade unionists and the left as well as Muslims – has not gone away. And now it has teamed up with BNP splinter group the British Freedom Party, creating a new alliance with both an electoral wing and a street thug movement – the classic two-pronged fascist strategy.

Hundreds of antifascist and antiracist activists, campaigners and trade unionists will come together at the conference to discuss our strategy for 2012.

Details

The conference takes place on Saturday 25 February from 10am to 4.30pm at Conway Hall, 25 Red Lion Square, London WC1R 4RL. The nearest tube Holborn.

Conference themes include…

* Campaigning against the English Defence League
* The British Freedom Party — the new fascist electoral threat
* Mobilising the antifascist vote in the May elections
* How the BNP were defeated in Barking and Stoke
* EDL attacks on trade unions and the Occupy Movement
* Racism and the global economic crisis
* Islamophobia and hate crimes against Muslim communities
* How the EDL was defeated in Tower Hamlets

Elections

Conference delegates – who must be members of UAF or approved delegates of an affiliated organisation – will also elect members of the UAF officers’ group.

Affiliated organisations can send up to 12 delegates.

If you would like to nominate someone to the UAF officers’ group, please download the nomination form here and return it to us by 18 February.

Not yet a member?

If you would like to join UAF or affiliate your union branch, community organisation or campaign, you will be entitled to delegate status if your membership or affiliation reaches us by 18 February.

If you are not a UAF member or representative of an affiliated organisation, you can still register for the conference but you will have observer status and will not be entitled to vote.

Antifascist football fans have been leafleting grounds around the country with our 2011/12 season Show the EDL the Red Card leaflet.

Our message, opposing the racists and fascists of the English Defence League has gone down well with fans, whatever club they follow. Trevor, a Nottingham Forest fan who helped leaflet a recent game against Middlesbrough, explains:

A small EDL group have tried to gain a bit of influence amongst fans but most people don’t want to know them. A number of Reds said they were glad to see us there. I wasn’t sure it was worth doing but I am glad to have been proved wrong. We shall do it again soon.

Bob from Portsmouth adds that it is a similar story locally.

The EDL tried to get support from fans at a demonstration here a while back, but they have been fairly quiet ever since. Little things like what we did the other day (leafleting at home to Doncaster) help keep them on the defensive.

Leeds United and Cardiff City fans joined together to leaflet football supporters at the game between the two clubs. Jane, a Leeds fan says:

What we’re doing is necessary given the racism that has crept back a bit in and around football. We’re saying that we don’t want to return to the days when racism and the likes of the EDL make a comeback.

We were happy with the response. We gave out a lot of the campaign group Show Racism the Red Card’s material, alongside UAF leaflets and the interest was really good.

Cardiff fan Mike agrees. He says:

Bluebirds fans were glad to see both sets of fans promoting something that was positive. Some people said we haven’t got a problem now, so why bother, but you always have to be on top of this stuff. The racists are still around, that’s reason enough for us to do this.

In the North West, Burnley fans leafleted the mid-week game against Leicester. Paul, a local Clarets fan, says:

It was brass monkeys up here, but the leaflets went down well and the stewards were very supportive, which makes a difference. We had a problem with the BNP here a few years back, but not right now.

It was great to see inside the ground that lots of fans wearing the Kick Racism out of Football stickers. Our work felt complimentary to them stickers.

Leyton Orient fans followed up a recent successful “Love Orient Hate Racism” gig by leafleting the game against Sheffield United. Tim reports:

It went really well, the gig was a big hit and people from it recognised us from also having been at the show. So it was nice that people see that we walk it like we talk it. A good day, all round.

Other grounds that have been leafleted inclide Cambridge United, Oldham Athletic, Stoke City, Charlton, AFC Telford – whose fans and placards were well in evidence on a counter-protest against the EDL in the town, Huddersfield Town, Exeter City and Bristol Rovers.

We are organising more leafleting sessions, including Premier League and lower league clubs over the next few weeks. To get involved, email Paul at the UAF office.

>> Download our 2011/12 football leaflet

Pic by Andrew M Howe

Antifascists have a proud history in this country, from defeating Mosley’s Blackshirts in the 1930s and smashing the National Front in the 1970s to the brilliant demonstrations in Cambridge and Tower Hamlets that humiliated the English Defence League this summer.

UAF officer and LMHR coordinator Martin Smith will speak about this history, and discuss the lessons organisations such as the Anti Nazi League and Rock Against Racism have for the movement today.

Details

Monday 21st November, 7.30pm
The Graduate Union, Mill Lane Site, Cambridge CB2 1RX
All antiracists welcome!

For more information, see the Cambridge UAF website email Cambridge UAF or phone 07870 368 708.

Pic: the 2,000 strong demo against the EDL in Cambridge earlier this year, by Dave Barnes

Antifascists in the North West are determined to boot Nick Griffin, the leader of the fascist British National Party, out of his MEP seat at the next election, and the campaign starts next month.

The campaign against the EDL will also be a key topic of discussion at the conference, after demonstrations against the racist and fascist thugs in several towns and cities in the region.

Conference speakers include Arlene McCarthy MEP, UAF joint secretary Weyman Bennett, Neil Hancox of Lancashire NUT and Pete Grubb from the PCS North West regional committee)

There will also be a chance to see the International Brigades Memorial Trust exhibition “Antifascistas” at the event in Manchester.

Details

The conference takes place on Sunday 13 November from 10am to 4.30pm, with the “Griffin must go” campaign launch at 3pm.

>> Download conference flyer

Venue: St Thomas Centre, Ardwick Green North, Manchester M12 6FZ.

Delegate fees are £10 (£5, £1 concessions) for individuals and £15 for organisations.

To book tickets, please email North West UAF.

The conference is supported by Lancashire NUT.

Pic: Guy Smallman