'United We Stand'Unite Against Fascism Wales Newsletter Winter 2015

email: secretary@uafwales.com web: uaf.org.uk tel: 07704 356894

supported by:

Islamic Societyfor Wales

UAF Conference:anti-fascism in 2015 page 2

➢➢➢page 4➢➢➢Nazis out of Newport:

first hand reports

Far right and fascist organisations aregaining support across Europe including inBritain. Arguments wrongly blamingimmigrants for the fall in standard of living,economic problems and austerity haveprovided the cutting edge of support for thefar right, fascism and racism.

Islamophobia and anti-Semitism

Across the globe the promotion of fear andhatred of Muslims and Islam is continuing,creating a climate of Islamophobia.This is directly leading to violent attacks onMuslim people and mosques, andother communities such as Sikhs andHindus who are wrongly identified byracists as Muslim.

Anti-Semitic attacks have also coincidedwith the growth in support for fascism.Black African and Caribbean communitiescontinue to experience racism and hatredas seen with the killing of Michael Brown inthe USA.

UN Anti-Racism Day

Following the success of last year’s event,another international day of action hasbeen called coinciding with UN Anti-Racism Day.

UN Anti-Racism Day commemorates thevictims of the Sharpeville massacre inApartheid South Africa.

Migrants are welcome

Once again many organisations havecome together to reject racism,Islamophobia and anti-Semitism; tocelebrate diversity and show thatmigrants are welcome.

We are demonstrating our confidence in afuture free of scapegoating, racism andhatred; and to rememberNelson Mandela andcherish the ideal of afree and democraticsociety in which allpersons live together inharmony and equalopportunities.

Cardiff,March21st

MarchAgainstRacism&Facism

MarchAgainstRacism&Facism

Assemble 11.30am, Clare Gardens, Clare Street, Riverside.March followed by rally at City Hall.Assemble 11.30am, Clare Gardens, Clare Street, Riverside.March followed by rally at City Hall.

2 unite against fascism wales

UAF Conference:'build March 21st demonstrationOver 500 people attended theUAF Conference on Saturday 21Feb which made an importantstatement against racism,Islamophobia, anti-Semitism andfascism.

A strong list of speakers madepowerful statements whichchallenged the nationwide andEurope wide rise in racism,fascism and hostility againstMuslim, Jewish, Migrant, LGBTand othercommunities.

Support for theMarch 21demonstrationagainst Racism

and Fascism was arepeated themeduring theConference andspeakers pointed tothe growth in racismand Islamophobia inthis country and therise of fascism andthe far right in muchof Europe. Therewere pledges fromspeakers,organisations and attendees tomake this demo the biggest anti-racist march of the year.

Diane Abbot MP said that at alocal Mosque that had beenengaged with the local communityfor 30 years. She was told thatthey “had never experienced suchanti Muslim climate in this country,it was the worst it had ever been”.

She went on to say how seriousthis was and that it was the resultof the way in which a wholenumber of issues such as childabuse in Rotherham, the TrojanHorse affair in Birmingham, theParis murders – even Halal food –are presented.

Then there is Eric Pickles letter toevery Mosque calling on them to

take up the issue of terrorism.Even at the height of the IRAbombing campaigns no ministerwrote to Roman Catholic churches“asking them what they weredoing about terrorism.

Somehow the entire Muslimcommunity is being heldaccountable for the activities of ahandful of people. We are seeinga steady drumbeat of anti-Islamicpropaganda. As a part of our anti-

racist work we muchall be prepared tooppose this anti-Muslim narrative.”

MarwanMuhammed, anadviser to theOrganisation forSecurity and Co-operation in Europe,asked us to comparethe media responseto the killing of 3Muslim students inChapel Hill, USAwith the Parismurders.

Owen Jones started bycondemning the increase in anti-semitism from the likes of GoldenDawn in Greece and elsewhere.“This was unacceptable…we mustsay clearly to our Jewish sistersand brothers that we stand withyou.”

He went on to talk of the “so-called war on terror” which wehave had for 14 years. Itsachievements have been thelimitation of civil liberties and arising tide of hatred againstMuslims – which is reflected thethe rise of far right parties inEurope.

In the media we see the greatmajority of stories about Muslimsbeing negative and fanning

hatred. He highlighted theproblems we face in society: thelargest fall in living standardssince Queen Victoria,poverty, a million usingfood banks, 5 million onsocial housing waitinglists, a milliondependent of legal loansharks - “These are theresponsibility of those atthe top of society”.

What they try to do iscreate a politics of envy- of us envying eachother and being told toturn on the immigrant.

You get anger and despair andthe end of hope. That situation isthen fed on by parties like UKIPbut he ended with a rallying call tofight division, racism and poverty.

Weyman Bennett, joint secretaryof UAF, started of by thankingeveryone in the room for the work

they done. He said, “We mdifference. The reason whyhave defeated the BNP is n

was told by anacademic that Bagainst extremisreason is… thatit ourselves.

We need to contchallenge the rigparties like UKIPJobbik to be trea‘normal’ politicalparties.

We are not seeinsame situation athe 1930s but we

told that we would not see tof such people again. But w– we must raise the flag anda stand against them. I askall to organise for the Marchdemonstration.”

We make adifference. Thereason why wehave defeated theBNP is not as Iwas told by anacademic thatBritain is againstextremism, thereason is… thatwe did it ourselves

we must sayclearly to ourJewish sistersand brothersthat we standwith you.

“

““

“Conference speeches can abe found on YouTube here:http://bit.ly/1E5pouc

Syriza MP Nasos iliopoulos addresses UniteAgainst Fascism conference

Mobilising against the far-right and fascist streetmovement across Europe heard from German MPChristine Buchholz, Martin Lynch (UAF Black country)and Petros Constantinou (KEERFA : Greek Anti-fascistcampaign).

Speakers outlined the importance of rejecting fascismand the far-right. He said we must never becomplacent as a small breakthrough allows groups likeFront National, Golden Dawn and Jobbik to grow andmushroom into a major political force.

War torture and Islamophobia – Defend CivilLiberties and Freedom heard from Shahrar Ali(Deputy Leader Green Party), Lindsey German(Convenor, Stop the War) MohammedKozbar (VP, Muslim Association ofBritain) Hamja Ahsan (Free TalhaAhsan Campaign) and Human RightsLawyer Louise Christian.

Speakers outlined how freedom ofspeech should not come at theexpense of attacking, demonising andcriminalising Muslims. The war onterror abroad has paved the way for thewar on Muslims in the UK and anencroachment of civil liberties all in thename of defending freedom.

In Opposing austerity racism andscapegoating immigrants thesession described the upsurge inattacks against migrants to divert attention from citybankers and those at the top responsible for theeconomic crisis.

The panel asserted that immigrants are not to blamefor the economic crash or the housing shortage.Following Farage blaming being stuck in a traffic jamon migrants, it was also argued they are notresponsible for clogged up motorways! We must standtogether with immigrants against the barrage of racismin the media and exacerbated by UKIP.

Speakers included Jeremy Corbyn MP; Sam Fairbairn(People’s Assembly Against Austerity), AbiolaFamakinwa Let “Abiola and Her Children Staycampaign), Economist Mick Burke and Eileen Shortfrom Defend Council Housing

Never again – 70th anniversary of the liberation ofAuschwitz was an emotional session which heardfrom Colette Levi, Gerry Gable (Editor of Searchlight)and members of the UAF delegation to Auschwitz. Thepanel described how anti-Semitism was allowed to runrampant and unchecked which enabled the growth ofNazis. So our efforts today in Europe are importantnow more than ever to fight fascism and the far right.

The Black Lives Matter: campaigning againstinstitutional racism session highlighted the painfulexperiences of families whose loved ones have eitherbeen lost at the hands of the police or who facemonumental barriers in seeking the truth. The policemust be held accountable for the crimes it commitsagainst Black people. To truly defend society it mustnot denigrate one community below the others butbuild trust. The first step is to stop attacking Blackpeople which is why the call of ‘Black Lives Matter’ hasresonated around the world.

Speakers included: Marcia Rigg (Sean Rigg Justiceand Change Campaign), Maz Saleem (Justice forMohammed Saleem) and Brian Richardson UniteAgainst Fascism.

Stand up to UKIP heard from DianeAbbott MP, Steve Hart (Unite the Union)Jo Cardwell (Stand up to UKIP),Laurentiu Dumitru (Alliance AgainstRomanian and Bulgarian Discrimination)and Denis Fernando (Rainbow CoalitionAgainst Racism) who outlined theimportance of challenging the racism anddivision of UKIP and the ongoingcampaigning work of Stand up to UKIPwhich has campaigned at a local andnational level to ensure that Farage andUKIP have been exposed for the divisivepolitics that they promote.

Je ne suis pas Charlie: incitement is not freedomof speech outlined that whilst the murder of CharlieHebdo’s writers was brutal, embracing the racist andislamophobic content of Charlie Hebdo is not the mosteffective response. Speakers outlined that it isunacceptable to denigrate and demonise an alreadyattacked community and cite freedom of speech.Freedom of speech should not come at the expense ofinciting racial hatred or any kind of hatred against onecommunity. Speakers included Phil Turner (NUJ);Nadia Henni-Moulaï – Journalist, author and HuffingtonPost columnist (France); Azad Ali from MEND and AvaVidal, Comedian and Writer

Keep racism out of the general election – noscapegoating immigrants heard from Zita Holbourne(PCS NEC & BARAC), Saira Grant (Joint Council forthe Welfare of Immigrants), Don Flynn (Migrant RightsNetwork), Sabby Dhalu (Stand up to Racism) and WilfSullivan (TUC). They outlined how this general electionis set to be a racist one with whipping up of racismagainst immigrants as par for the course. Immigrantssustain our NHS providing invaluable contributions toour society. We must continue to defend immigrantsfrom racist attacks.

unite against fascism wales 3

ns'Workshop SessionsAs well as the plenary session series of workshops took up key themes and discussions:

The panel assertedthat immigrants arenot to blame for theeconomic crash, orthe housingshortage and theyare not responsiblefor clogged upmotorways!

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Britain issm, thewe did

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also:

Honorary President: Peter Hain M.PChair: Ali Ahmed Vice-Chair: Maggie Simpson

Treasurer: Amarjite Singh Secretary: Julian Goss Liaison: Kristina Hedges

‘The threat from the BNP and fascist groups in Wales is real and immediate.They bring division to our communitiesand all thinking, compassionate people should oppose them. Now is the time to mobilise on an all-Wales basis, tomeet the threat from these racist, fascist thugs as it arises.’ Peter Hain MP

Name/organisation ................................................................................Email..................................................................Address .........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................Phone ................................................................................................Union ......................................................................

UAF Wales annual membership fees are: Individuals: £5 and £2 for concessions Organisations: Local £20, Walesunfunded £40, Wales funded £100 Return to: UAF Wales, 271 Cowbridge Road East, Cardiff CF51JB

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The leader of theWelshAlliancewhohadcalled the demonstration was unable toattend as just that week he started a 17year jail sentence for the raping threegirls aged 8-10 years old.

Merfyn Jones, from Shotton had denied 13offences of rape, attempted rape andindecent assault against four complainants,when they were children, dating back to the1990s.

The offences dated back to the 1990's whenJones repeatedly raped and abused fouryoung girls.

Jones was convicted of six charges of rape,one charge of attempted rape and sixcharges of indecent assault. he has beenplaced on the sex offenders' register for life.

Jones led the North Wales Alliance (NWA)after a split in the English Defence League(EDL) and the Welsh Defence League(WDL), but he still worked closely with theEDL, and the Scottish Defence League(SDL).

He was also well known in British NationalParty (BNP) circles and joined the party in acampaign against a local Muslim centre and

later campaigned with the BNP againstsupposed Muslim "grooming gangs".Yes, Jones was a 'campaigner' againstgrooming and other far-right favourites. Henow joins a long list of British fascists withconvictions against children.

Having failed to march through Cardiff as they wanted in December last year theWelsh Alliance thought they would have a go at Newport on January 31st. If theythought it would be an easier target, they were very mistaken. A clue to theresistance they would meet was made obvious by the 50 strong UAF organisingmeeting convened by Mubarek Ali.

On the day around 200 people marched through the town centre to a rally inWestgate Square - with not a nazi in sight. The unity of the marchers wasshown in the range of speakers from political parties, trade unions, community andreligious groups. It was later revealed that whilst we were demonstrating a verysmall group of so-called Welsh Alliance speakers from outside Newport weresheltering in a local pub until they were escorted to the rail station and sent home.

Newport see's off the Nazis

Where's your leader gone?