- Conference
- 2007 National Black Members' Conference
- Date
- 19 January 2007
- Decision
- Carried
The National Black Members’ Conference is disappointed by the decision of Leeds Crown Court to acquit Nick Griffin and Mark Collett on charges of incitement to racial hatred on 11 November 2006.
Attacking Muslims and Islam in the way that the British National Party (BNP) does is racist and whips up hostility towards Muslims and other Black and minority British communities.
This Conference also notes that there was an all white jury in this case and that this is not representative of the population of West Yorkshire. The 1999 Stephen Lawrence Inquiry highlighted institutional racism in the criminal justice system and made recommendations to help eliminate it. The lack of progress made in the implementation of its recommendations in the criminal justice system around the country is a big problem in the application of existing laws.
The National Black Members’ Conference instruct the National Black Members’ Committee to:
1.Condemn the BNP’s promotion of racism whilst claiming the right of freedom of speech, because freedom of speech in any society is permitted as long as it does not infringe on the rights of others. Inciting hatred against Muslims interferes with their rights, and society has a duty to protect all minority communities from being made targets of racial hatred. History teaches us that fascists such as the BNP do not respect freedom of speech and wherever they have obtained power, they have eradicated freedom of speech and then gone on to eliminate their political opponents.
2.Seek support from the relevant NEC sub-committee and Labour Link to support proposals to strengthen incitement to racial hatred legislation.
3.Review the strategies in their work plans on how to effectively combat the BNP in all Local and General Elections through collaboration with all Regional Black Members Committees/Groups throughout the year.
4.To work with the National Officer, NEC and other relevant structures at Regional and National level in UNISON to apply pressure on and to lobby all UNISON backed MPs, MPs of all parties and members of the Cabinet to review within the ongoing Judicial Review the law so that in the future there is no escape for the likes of Nick Griffin and the BNP.