The National Assembly Against Racism (NAAR) today condemned the manipulation
of images from an anti-deportation protest to create a message of intolerance.
Turning the message ‘let them stay’ into one against immigration
and ‘chaos’ is symbolic of the dangerous way in which some politicians
are trying to stir up fear and intolerance for electoral gain.
NAAR is calling for a radical reappraisal of election campaigning, asking
politicians to back away from the dangerous xenophobic tone that marks much
debate. NAAR is calling for MPs across the spectrum to demonstrate respect
for all communities. NAAR – a broad coalition of Black and Jewish organisations,
trade unions, faith groups and others – is calling for party politicians
to change their tone, and to understand that anti-immigration, anti-asylum
and anti-traveller rhetoric has a major impact on the rise of racism and racist
violence.
NAAR endorses statements by the United Nations High Commission for Refugees
and the Commission for Racial Equality. The UNHCR representative in Britain
has pointed to the drop in asylum claims – not the rise being claimed
by some – and has called for candidates to ‘show responsibility
by working towards reversing the atmosphere of intolerance that has been fostered
towards refugees and asylum seekers’. The CRE has asked politicians
to realize the effect their words are having in contributing to a climate
of hostility.
Lee Jasper, Secretary of NAAR said: ”Today’s
exposure of Tory campaigning, which manipulates an image of Tories on a pro-asylum
rights rally, turning it into an image against asylum seekers illustrates
one thing – that asylum seekers are the first casualty when parties
sink into the gutter to gain votes. Air-brushing a black asylum seeker family
out of the image, to be replaced with draconian calls on immigration, is nothing
short of racism and must be condemned by Michael Howard.
Unfortunately this signifies the latest low move in a Conservative election
campaign, whose policies will effectively “airbrush” asylum seekers
out of society by pulling out of the Geneva Convention and proposing quotas
on asylum seekers.
The climate created by hostilities on immigration is providing fertile ground
for a rise in racism and racist attacks. This can only aid the growth of the
fascist BNP, which welcomed the Tory campaign on asylum quotas, stating it
creates a ‘win-win situation’ for them. The BNP are standing around
112 candidates in the general election to spread their message in preparation
for local elections in 2006. To deny them this goal, every effort needs to
be made to isolate their message of hate.
The Tories’ frenzied rhetoric on asylum seekers, Roma people and travellers
fuels a climate which allows the BNP to prosper. Instead of encouraging racism
and hostility towards marginalised and vulnerable communities, mainstream
politicians must dispel the myths and lies about race and minority communities:
playing with fear is always dangerous, but is particularly so when the BNP
have made significant advances and aim for a national breakthrough.
Political parties should listen to the growing and broad coalition of forces
as varied as UNHCR, the CRE and churches who warn against the tone of the
election campaign and its impact on society at large. Failing to hear this
warning will lay the ground for further BNP advance in the elections.”