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news item
 10/03/08
UAF National Conference activates the anti-fascist movement for May 1st
Unite Against Fascism's 2008 National Conference 'Stopping the fascist BNP, Opposing racism, Celebrating multiculturalism' on 1 March saw the gathering of over 500 trade unionists, anti-racist, anti-fascist and community activists from around the country to discuss the campaign against the BNP in the forthcoming London Mayoral, Assembly and local elections on 1 May.
Speakers included Ken Livingstone, TUC General Secretary Brendan Barber, London MPs Jon Cruddas and Emily Thornberry, Muslim Council of Britain Deputy Secretary General Daud Abdullah, disability rights campaigner Kirsten Hearne, Derek Munn from Stonewall, Dr Edie Friedman from Jewish Council for Racial Equality, Martin Smith from Love Music Hate Racism, founder of Rock Against Racism Red Saunders, Weyman Bennett and Sabby Dhalu from Unite Against Fascism, and many others.
Artists including Anthony Rossomonso from Dirty Pretty Things, No.Lay and Bashy spoke at a Love Music Hate Racism session in the afternoon about their forthcoming carnival in Victoria Park on 27 April, to mark the 30th anniversary of the legendary Rock Against Racism gig.
There was unanimity in identifying the threat from the BNP in London, the need to challenge racism, celebrate multiculturalism and unite all communities targeted by the fascists in the forthcoming elections.
Brendan Barber spoke of the example of Oldham where trade unions coming together with local Black and Asian people turned the tide against the BNP.
He said: "We've got to expose their ridiculous scare stories about migrant workers "stealing" jobs and "jumping the queue" for social housing as the blatant lies they are. (...) We've got to tackle the worrying rise in Islamophobia, which the BNP is both fuelling and exploiting. (...) We must never allow the holocaust-denying, Nazi-sympathising BNP to present itself as a respectable organisation. They may wear smart suits these days, but Mussolini not Armani is their inspiration."
Ken Livingstone spoke of the contribution multiculturalism has made to London and how this would be undermined should the BNP gain a seat on the London Assembly. He urged everyone to use their vote on May 1st to stop the BNP.
Emily Thornberry MP highlighted the reactionary position of the BNP in relation to women who they would want to send back into the kitchen.
Speakers emphasised the need to increase voter turnout from 36% in 2004 in order to stop the BNP gaining a seat on the Assembly, reminding those in attendance that the BNP only missed gaining a seat in 2004 by 0.1%, showing that every single vote cast against the BNP counted towards stopping them.
Workshops discussed mobilising faith communities, the role of music against racism and fascism, opposing the BNP's hatred, no platform for fascists on campus and make your vote count.
Unite Against Fascism launched a number of initiatives including National Anti-Fascist month (16th March-16th April) in the run-up to the deadline for registration to vote, and Keep London Assembly Fascist Free Fortnight on 17th April-1st May (polling day).
Participants left with boxes of election leaflets hot off the press, geared up for the next two months to stop the fascist BNP.
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