Link to this page: http://www.socialistparty.org.uk/issue/599/8290
From The Socialist newspaper, 28 October 2009
BBC Griffin protest: Jobs and homes, not racism!
PROTESTERS AGAINST the British National Party (BNP) gathered at the entrance to BBC headquarters from early in the morning of 22 October.
Matt Dobson
It was to protest at the BBC's decision to allow the BNP's leader Nick Griffin a platform for his racist ideology on the flagship TV programme, Question Time. By the early evening the number of protesters had swelled to over 1,000, who blocked the main road outside the Shepherd's Bush studios.
The majority of protesters were young people, with large turnouts from London universities.
As well as wanting to voice their anger at Griffin's presence and the BBC, they wanted to discuss the way forward for building an effective movement against the BNP and the far right. 20 wanted more information about the Socialist Party and over 70 copies of The Socialist were sold.
Workers exiting nearby tube stations and the BBC building on their way home to watch Question Time were attracted to Socialist Party stalls where the slogan "Unite and fight for jobs for all - Stop the BNP" stood out on our posters.
Many signed our petition "for jobs, homes and services not racism". There was some discussion and debate over whether Nick Griffin should have been allowed a platform on Question Time. All who signed the petition, including trade unionists from broadcasting union Bectu and the RMT transport union, and young people, agreed that the trade unions need to mobilise against the BNP.
Many were also interested in what we had to say about fighting for a new workers' party that could challenge the racism of the BNP in national political debate. This unfortunately was not reflected in the strategy put forward by the platform speakers at the rally organised by Unite Against Fascism.
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In The Socialist 28 October 2009:
Support post workers, this is no time to equivocate
Postal strike reports: Defending the service
Anti-racism
BBC Question Time panel - Workers' voice denied against BNP
BBC Griffin protest: Jobs and homes, not racism!
Far right shut out of Newport by mass protest
Socialism 2009
Socialism 2009 forum - can we build a party for working class people?
Youth fight for jobs
Cardiff Socialist Student elected
Anti-war
Tamil Solidarity fights for boat refugees
Socialist Party news and analysis
Darling you're talking rubbish!
Energy giant 'fanciful to the point of paranoia'
Marxist analysis
80th anniversary of the Wall Street Crash: Capitalist failure - then and now
Workplace news and analysis
Strikes sweep across Yorkshire
Leeds bin strike: 92% vote to reject council's 'final' offer
Battle for jobs in Land Registry
Ex Ford/Visteon pensioners protest in Swansea
Socialist Party feature
Call centres - public services on the cheap
Marxist analysis: history
Comment
Socialist Party reviews
Film review - Capitalism: a love story
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