All Organisations subcategories:
Committee for a Workers International
Nationalist and National Liberation
Pro capitalist and Imperialist
Left and radical keywords:
International Socialist Resistance (54)
Revolutionary Communist League (1)
Socialist Peoples Party (Denmark) (1)
Unite Against Fascism
Highlight keywords |
Print this article
Search site for keywords: Bradford - EDL - Racist - Working class - UAF - Unite Against Fascism - English Defence League
Bradford must organise against the EDL
The racist English Defence League (EDL) plans to march through Bradford on Saturday 28 August. In a deeply provocative move the EDL has specifically targeted Bradford because of its large Asian and Muslim population. They are hyping their demo up as "The Big One".
Ian Pattison, Leeds Socialist Party
Earlier this summer the EDL attempted to march through Tower Hamlets. But the working class of the East End refused to accept this. 5,000 black, white, and Asian people turned out and the EDL didn't dare show their faces.
Large sections of young people in Bradford won't accept the EDL coming. The EDL cannot be allowed to have an uncontested demonstration in the city centre which would be intimidatory and threatening to Asians and others alike. That is why groups like Bradford United Against Racism (BUAR), Leeds Anti-Fascist Network (LAFN) and Unite Against Fascism (UAF) will be organising a counter-demonstration.
Unfortunately the tactics of groups like Hope Not Hate (HNH) weaken attempts to mobilise the local community and anti-fascists.
HNH are opposing a counterdemonstration to the EDL, and are concentrating on getting the EDL march banned.
The Socialist Party campaigns against fascist and racist protests, but we believe that calling for state bans, that can be used against all protest or directly against the left, is a mistake. HNH is calling on home secretary Teresa May to ban the EDL demo. Whilst such a ban is unlikely, it would also apply to anti-racist protests on the day.
What is needed is a massive counter-demo involving the trade union movement alongside the local community. Such a demo should have well organised and coordinated stewarding. According to HNH's logic an anti-racist counter-demo would 'provoke disorder', just as a violent racist anti-Muslim riot would.
In Bradford and Yorkshire some trade union leaders and the Labour Party are actively campaigning against people going to Bradford on the day or even getting involved with anti-racist groups. What these 'responsible dignitaries' forget is that the National Front march was banned in Bradford in 2001 but that didn't stop fascists attacking Asians, which sparked the riots that followed.
The far right must be opposed everywhere it rears its ugly head. The working class faces unprecedented attacks from the Con-Dem government. The EDL blame Muslims for the problems caused by the profit system, and only serve to divide the working class along ethnic and religious lines.
On 28 August in Bradford we need a united, well-stewarded counter-demo in the city centre against the EDL under the slogan of: "Jobs, Homes, and Services, Not Racism" to show strong opposition to the far-right and undercut their racist lies.
Donate to the Socialist Party
Finance appeal
The coronavirus crisis has laid bare the class character of society in numerous ways. It is making clear to many that it is the working class that keeps society running, not the CEOs of major corporations.
The results of austerity have been graphically demonstrated as public services strain to cope with the crisis.
The government has now ripped up its 'austerity' mantra and turned to policies that not long ago were denounced as socialist. But after the corona crisis, it will try to make the working class pay for it, by trying to claw back what has been given.
- The Socialist Party's material is more vital than ever, so we can continue to report from workers who are fighting for better health and safety measures, against layoffs, for adequate staffing levels, etc.
- When the health crisis subsides, we must be ready for the stormy events ahead and the need to arm workers' movements with a socialist programme - one which puts the health and needs of humanity before the profits of a few.
Inevitably, during the crisis we have not been able to sell the Socialist and raise funds in the ways we normally would.
We therefore urgently appeal to all our viewers to donate to our Fighting Fund.
LATEST POSTS
12 May Stop Israeli state brutality
 |
9 May Post-election meetings
15 May Birmingham Socialist Party: How can we fight for socialist change and a new workers' party?
17 May Oxfordshire & Aylesbury Socialist Party: The role of the state
18 May Bristol North Socialist Party: Liverpool - history of socialist struggle
CONTACT US
Phone our national office on 020 8988 8777
Email: [email protected]
Locate your nearest Socialist Party branch Text your name and postcode to 07761 818 206
Regional Socialist Party organisers:
Eastern: 079 8202 1969
East Mids: 077 3797 8057
London: 075 4018 9052
North East: 078 4114 4890
North West 079 5437 6096
South West: 077 5979 6478
Southern: 078 3368 1910
Wales: 079 3539 1947
West Mids: 024 7655 5620
Yorkshire: 078 0983 9793
ABOUT US
ARCHIVE
2020
2019
2018
2017
2016
2015
2014
2013
2012
2011
2010
2009
2008
2007
2006
2005
2004
2003
2002
2001
2000
1999