- Conference
- 2011 National Delegate Conference
- Date
- 28 February 2011
- Decision
- Carried as Amended
Conference notes the ongoing threat from the far right and that across Europe far right political parties exploit the impact of austerity measures and continue to gain support. In parts of Britain Muslims are effectively under siege, already this year there have been arson and other attacks on mosques, firebombing of a Halal shop, and desecration of a Muslim graveyard – most of which were not reported in the national media.
Conference notes the British National Party (BNP) and English Defence League (EDL) have focused increasingly on Muslims, that more than half the ‘significant demonstrations’ in the past 18 months as identified by the Inspectorate of Constabulary, were organised by the EDL which only targets and attacks Muslims and Muslim communities.
We welcome the opposition and counter demonstrations organised by UAF, local campaigns and others which have brought together local communities and anti racist campaigners to prevent the EDL having free space to intimidate Muslim communities.
Conference welcomes the counter protests against the EDL that have taken place across the country. Unite Against Fascism organised 25 such protests in 2010 alone and took a delegation to Amsterdam to be part of a Dutch mobilisation against Geert Wilders and the EDL.
Conference condemns David Cameron’s speech on 5th February when he declared multiculturalism has failed and compared non violent Islamists to rightwing fascists, this is symptomatic of successive governments attitude towards Islam. This allowed Nick Griffin to claim ‘a huge leap’ for the BNP’s ‘ideas into the political mainstream’, and the EDL who were marching on the streets of Luton on the same day declared ‘the PM is saying what we say’.
Conference congratulates Hope Not Hate in their effective work at challenging the BNP and other far right groups and believes that within the current economic climate their work to bring communities together to oppose the far right and promote an inclusive response is essential.
Cuts in essential public services, increasing poverty, and massive increases in unemployment, particularly among young people create the conditions in which the far right can increase its support.
Conference agrees:
1)the campaign against the far right should be an integral part of the campaign to defend public services, including:
a)building community coalitions;
b)developing and promoting an alternative economic, social and political agenda to those of the coalition government and others who support neo liberalism and the austerity measures dominating economic policy throughout Europe, and;
c)coordinating the campaign with other trade unions and anti-racist organisations such as Unite Against Fascism, under the umbrella of the TUC;
2)the EDL should be banned from holding demonstrations and rallies and commits to lobbying and campaigning for any planned events to be cancelled;
3)to support counter demonstrations whenever the EDL, BNP, NF or other far right organisations mobilise and where members’ safety can be ensured;
4)to produce publicity exposing the far right and its anti-Muslim rhetoric, and promoting an agenda for public services, social justice and growth;
5)to continue to work with UAF and other local campaigns mobilising opposition to the EDL.