Fighting the far right

Swansea - no sign of Griffin!

SWANSEA SOCIALIST Party members were part of a 40-strong Unite Against Fascism protest on Saturday evening outside a city pub which was hosting a British National Party (BNP) meeting addressed by their leader Nick Griffin.

Alec Thraves, secretary Socialist Party Wales

The BNP chose Swansea as one of their 'target seats' in the upcoming council elections but the lively protest showed they will be opposed at every opportunity.

A couple of suited-up Griffin minders and a handful of BNP members, mixed in with a bemused local football team, doesn't really equate to mass support for the BNP in Swansea! On his last visit, four years ago, Griffin arrogantly marched into his meeting under police protection. This time there was no sign of the BNP's fuehrer anywhere!

Swansea Socialist Party branch secretary Rob Williams, one of the main organisers of the protest, was quoted in the local paper: "The BNP is an opportunistic party which believes it can come in with a few simple slogans about immigration and tap into a wider political disillusionment. We must unite in opposing the BNP.

"In the short term we must continue to oppose the party but in the longer term we need a legitimate political alternative".

Barnsley

A VERY successful anti-BNP day of action was held in Barnsley on 1 March with Socialist Party members from Barnsley, Doncaster, Sheffield, Wakefield and Leeds in attendance.

The BNP didn't turn up for their stall! We held a public meeting after the day of action, sold 26 copies of The Socialist and raised £30 fighting fund.