Stop racism and the fascist British National Party
Fascism is a violent movement, mainly of the middle class and demoralised
layers of the working class (typically unemployed and low paid non-unionised
workers – often wrongly dubbed the “underclass”), designed primarily to smash
working class organisations. That is why the Nazis in Germany were funded by
big business before the Second World War. The Nazis targeted socialists and
trade unionists, before Jews, gypsies and disabled people, who were primarily used
as scapegoats. Some Nazis today pretend that the Holocaust never happened, but
the photo above from Auschwitz (which Steve Wallis visited) shows this to be a
lie and recruiting tool.
The
main fascist organisation in Britain is the British National Party (BNP). After
their HQ opened in Welling there was a big increase in racist murders in that
area of London, including that of Stephen Lawrence. Steve went on the demo shown
to close down the HQ shortly after Stephen’s death. The campaign was ultimately
successful.
The BNP now use Muslims as their main scapegoat, after 9/11 and taking advantage of Labour’s “anti-terrorism” legislation. The Tories’ scapegoating of gypsies also plays into the BNP’s hands. Steve was arrested at an Oldham anti-fascist demo after the police used divide-and-rule to separate mainly white and mainly Asian protesters.
Show Racism the Red Card – end racism in football
The issue of racism in football came back onto the agenda after the extreme level of racist abuse hurled at black England players in the Spain-England friendly in Madrid. Shortly afterwards, at a match between Real Madrid and Barcelona, Barcelona fans held up placards saying “Barcelona is not Spain” (because it is in Catalonia, a nation in which the overwhelming majority of people want independence) to distance themselves from racism in Madrid.
Show Racism the Red Card has sent videos to every school and produces free annual magazines, both of which contain interviews with famous black and white footballers. Steve wants to help set up branches of that organisation in Manchester and Glasgow (where sectarianism between primarily Catholic Celtic and primarily Protestant Rangers fans is still a big problem despite tensions reducing in Northern Ireland in recent years).
Stop Glazer’s takeover of Manchester United – for democratic control of clubs
There have been mass demonstrations against Malcolm Glazer’s attempts to take over Manchester United. We support action by fans including the Independent Manchester United Supporters Association and Shareholders United, to stop this US businessman who has no interest in football and will wreck the club, possibly by asset-stripping, if he is allowed to take over. We call for democratic control of football clubs from below, by fans’ groups and all staff at clubs including players at all levels, coaches and back-room staff.
Refugees from
Darfur refused asylum by New Labour
New Labour and the Tories are competing with each other to outstrip each other on having more severe asylum policies. Labour have rightly rejected the Tories’ idea of quotas – which of course means that once the quota is reached every asylum seeker would be sent back to probably torture or death – but obviously genuine asylum seekers are nevertheless refused the right to enter or remain in this country. A New Labour Minister made a speech criticising the Sudanese government that is supporting the militias who are committing mass murder in the Darfur region of that country. A group of Darfur refugees, who obviously were all genuine asylum seekers, were denied asylum – New Labour was obviously scared of their experiences radicalising the population of this country!
Manchester resident Mansoor Hassan is also an obviously genuine asylum seeker denied asylum by Labour. Mansoor, an investigative journalist from Pakistan, has exposed “honour killings” – young women and girls being killed, forced marriages and domestic violence. His family’s home in Pakistan has been torched and his wife and son were nearly killed. We support Mansoor’s family’s campaign, and say end all the racist immigration controls.
Rights not charity for disabled people – and stop the Mental Health Bill
Disabled and mentally ill people are also targeted by fascists, and many died in the Holocaust. Disabled activists demand dignity and often campaigned against Children in Need. The Mental Health Bill would allow forced injecting of former patients in the community and people to be locked up because they could become ill in the future! These are part of New Labour’s draconian attacks on civil liberties, which could be used to target socialists.
7