Midlands TUC call 2009 protest against the RWB

The following Emergency motion was passed by the Midlands TUC today from a proposal we understand moved by East Midlands region of UNISON

Protest against the BNP’s 2009 Red, White and Blue Festival in Derbyshire
Council notes with alarm the result of recent elections in which the British National Party (BNP) won three County Council seats and two seats in the European Parliament. The BNP gained votes because of the failure of the mainstream political parties to connect with voters and address their fears. Their support is likely to grow as the recession deepens and workers and their families face increasing insecurity.
If left unchallenged the scapegoating, hate and division of the BNP will strike a resonance in workplaces and communities. The BNP’s Red White and Blue Festival planned to be held in August in Derbyshire will be used by the BNP to further pedal their politics of hate and should not be allowed to proceed without protest.
Council believes that the Midlands TUC should take a leading role in challenging the BNP and what they stand for. Council therefore agrees to:

1. call a demonstration to coincide with the BNP’s 2009 Red, White and Blue Festival to raise awareness of the true nature of the BNP’s politics and to send a message to their supporters and “would be” supporters that they are not welcome in Derbyshire.
2. call on all constituent unions to mobilise support for the demonstration – at local, regional and national level
3. work closely with the local anti fascist and anti racist campaign groups and others to organise the demonstration – including arrangements to ensure as far as is possible, the safety of all those participating in the protest
4. co-ordinate the production of publicity and materials for the demonstration and transport to and from the event

End of motion

This is very good news and this campaign looks forward to discussing with Midlands TUC representatives how we can ensure that we have a massive united protest on August 15th

Sheffield campaign being established – July 2nd

Sheffield anti-racists are convening a meeting to discuss co-ordinating work against the BNP in Sheffield. The meeting initiated by activists of the PCS union in DWP is open to all and we understand that a democratically organised campaign against the BNP is planned to extend anti-BNP work across the Sheffield area.  We understand that the organisers want to use the meeting to build, amongst other things, the protest against the BNP festival in Derbyshire in August 15th.

The meeting will be at the Victoria Hall, Chapel Walk, Sheffield on July 2nd starting at 7pm.

UAF back 2009 protest

We have yet to hear from the UAF formally but yesterday they posted the article below on their website. Last year’s mobilisation was not helped by the UAF advertising different details to that organised by the locally organised protest. This year there should be no such confusion. We look forward to a greater turnout as a result and to hear from the UAF to discuss ensuring an effective and unified protest.

The next planning meeting to which supporters and representatives of sponsors to the protest are invited will be in Nottingham on July 18th. Details will be posted on this website later or can be found out by emailing the campaign from the email address nobnpfestival (at) riseup.net.

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UAF web article (24/06/08)

The fascist British National Party is holding its annual “Red, White and Blue” rally in Codnor, Derbyshire, this year. The Nazis will be using its festival of hate to try and build its organisation following the European election results.

Unite Against Fascism is calling a national mobilisation against the BNP rally in Codnor on Saturday 15 August. UAF will work with local anti-fascists groups that are also organising protests against the BNP’s presence in the area.

UAF supporters around the country should book coaches and start building for the demo right away. We want as many anti-fascists as possible to be in Codnor at 9am. The BNP Nazis want to make their rally this year a “victory celebration”. We need to be there in large numbers to represent the majority that hates their politics of bigotry, race hatred and fascism.

Mobilisation against BNP’s Red, White and Blue festival August 15th now underway

Representatives of the Amber Valley and Derby Campaigns Against Racism and Fascism and Notts Stop the BNP campaign met in Heanor, Derbyshire on Saturday, June 20th to discuss plan for the protest against the BNP’s Red, White and Blue festival this year, 2009.

The meeting agreed to organise a protest again this year’s BNP festival on August 15th convening in Codnor Market Place. The protest will begin with as many local activists as possible assembling from 9 am. We expect contingents to arrive from elsewhere in the country leading up to a National Rally at 11 am with a demonstration to follow that.

The meeting agreed that the the objectives of the protest against the BNP’s RWB festival will be:

1. to bring together those who oppose the BNP in a peaceful and unified show of mass opposition to this major national event of theirs;
2. to make clear to participants in the BNP event that they are not welcome in attempting to use Amber Valley as a base for their activities;
3. to attempt to make our protest seen by as many as possible of those thinking of attending the festival;
4. to encourage opponents of the BNP in the Amber Valley district and wider area to continue to campaign against the divisive policies of the BNP and the violent activities of their members;
5. to safeguard as much as possible the safety of those protesting.

Representatives from all of the campaigns planning the protest will be meeting on a weekly basis from now on up until the event itself. A number of organisations, such as UAF and Hope not Hate, had to send their apologies. It is hoped that they, along with sponsors of the event last year, will be able to attend the next major planning meeting planned for July 18th in the centre of Nottingham.  The details of this will be sent to last year’s sponsoring organisations and posted on this website soon.

This website will again be used to keep people informed of this protest as well as other campaigning activity in the Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire area. For further information please contact the email address associated with this website nobnpfestival at riseup.net

Demonstrate against the BNP in Blackpool

Blackpool and Fleetwood Unite Against Fascism have called for a demo against a BNP Summer School which has upgraded at short notice to a Victory Rally. The protest starts on Saturday at 12 noon. Read about it at this link. Unfortunately we haven’t been able to book transport to this event and it clashes with an important meeting we have planned to organise the protest against the BNP festival in 8 weeks time.

But anyone who can get there should go and we obviously wish the protest every success.