The Home Secretary signed the banning order for the BNP's proposed national
demonstration in Keighley on 5 November. Therefore the BNP was forced to
call off their demonstration. This is a big victory for the campaign against
the BNP and all anti-fascists who campaigned for this demonstration to be
banned.
The anti-fascist counter-demonstration will not take place.
Yorkshire
and the Humber TUC and Unite Against Fascism, has called a peaceful protest
outside Leeds Crown Court, coinciding with Nick Griffin
and
Mark Collett's preliminary hearing after being charged with inciting racial
hatred, on Wednesday 02 November, details below.
Mohammed Taj, TUC General Council:
"
This is extremely good news for the people in Keighley. There was a
tremendous united campaign in Keighley and nationally urging the police and
the Home Secretary to ban this demonstration which was designed to stir up
racism and tension in Keighley. I am pleased that the both the police and
the Home Secretary made the right decision."
Paul Jagger, Regional Secretary, Yorkshire & the Humber TUC:
"
The TUC is extremely pleased to hear that the BNP have been banned from
demonstrating in Keighley on 5th November. This event was clearly intended
to promote their racist ideology, and would have constituted a serious
threat to community relations in the area. Common sense has prevailed".
John
Campbell, Chair, Yorkshire and Humberside Unite Against Fascism:
" This is a great victory for the campaign against the BNP. The BNP had
called their demonstration on the racist myth that the only perpetrators
of
'grooming' - paedophilia and prostitution - are Asian men, when the police
have made it clear that white people have also been arrested for this crime.
The BNP's sole intention was to whip up racism in Keighley, where the BNP
received their third highest vote at the general election, in the hope that
this would deliver more councillors in next year's local elections."
Sam Kirk, Joint Secretary, Yorkshire and Humberside Unite Against Fascism:
" After the 7/7 bombings the BNP came to Beeston in Leeds to try and divide
communities. We challenged the BNP's racism and united communities against
the fascist BNP. They attempted to do the same thing in Keighley and by
campaigning together, we have exposed the racist lies of the BNP and won
a
victory for the anti-fascist movement."
Also:
Peace and Unity in our communities
- Don't let the BNP divide us
Wednesday 2 November
8.30am, protest outside Leeds Crown Court, Oxford Row
12pm, rally outside Leeds Art Gallery
Called by Yorkshire and the Humber TUC and Unite Against Fascism
For further information contact UAF on 020 7833 4916.