Napo against the Far Right
With 2010 destined to be an Election year, Napo is stepping up it's campaigning, alongside other anti-fascist groups, to combat fascism and the destructive presence of the far right.
Working alongside a broad coalition of Anti-Fascist organisations, Napo aims to bring to members the latest news on Anti-Fascist campaigning from groups such as Love Music Hate Racism, Hope not Hate and Unite Against Fascism. These pages will also contain information about how you can get involved Nationally and in your local area with anti-fascist campaigning, whether it me through demonstrating or telephone canvasing, every member can help make a difference.
Essential in defeting the BNP at the ballot box is a strong turn out. Napo encourages all members to ensure they are registered to vote, and suggests registering to vote by post if they may have difficulty reaching the ballot box on the day.
Action
Hope Not Hate is planning a National Day of Action on 27 March and they need your support. There are events across the country and there will be a regional Hope Not Hate leaflet, giving details of those in your area, enclosed with the April Napo News. Or find an event near you here.
UAF petition: Keep our schools Nazi free!
UAF has produced a petition to use in schools against the Maurice Smith review's appalling decision to allow BNP racists to teach children.
The petition reads: "We the undersigned are alarmed and disgusted by the government's decision to let members of the Nazi BNP teach in our schools. The BNP advocates apartheid-style segregation in schools. These racists should not be allowed anywhere near our children's education. We want our schools to be places where black and white children can learn together, play together and grow up together – not places where their minds are warped and stunted by BNP teachers promoting race hate."
Download a copy of the petition below. Please return completed petitions to Unite Against Fascism, PO Box 36871, London WC1X 9XT
Protest against EDL plans to march in Bolton
Join MPs and trade unionists in speaking out against the EDL threat to march on Bolton
Anti-racist demonstrators will gather in Victoria Square, Bolton, on 20 March to oppose the EDL
Bolton MP Ruth Kelly and Manchester MPs Gerald Kaufman, John Leech and Tony Lloyd are among the politicians, trade unionists and campaigners to add their names to a statement condemning the English Defence League (EDL) as a racist organisation – and urging people to attend a protest against them in Bolton on Saturday 20 March.
North West Unite Against Fascism has initiated a 'Bolton Unity Statement' that people can sign up to to oppose the march. To add your name or organisation's name to this statement you can either email mancuaf@gmail.com. or you cna sign the statement online on the Unite Against Fascism website.
Download the UAF press release below.
Never Again – sign up NOW
Hope Not Hate – has launched it’s Never Again Sign Up Campaign in response to the announcement that Nick Griffin will be standing in the General Election to be Barking's next MP. Looking at the statistics he has a good chance of winning - and the BNP could take control of Barking & Dagenham council as well. The BNP have already announced that they will spend more money on this campaign than ever before and that they plan on throwing an unprecedented amount of manpower at propelling themselves into Westminster. Sign up now to get the latest news from Hope not Hate, and for information about how you can help in the fight against the BNP
Forthcoming Events
Fascism & Anti Fascism:Conference Saturday 13 March
This one-day conference, which is being held from 9.30am to 5.00pm at 68 Hope Sreet, Liverpool, is organised by Merseyside Unite Against Fascism & Love Music Hate Racism in partnership with the Anthony Walker Foundation and hosted by School of Social Science, John Moores University.
Speakers so far include : Wilf Sullivan (TUC Race Equality Officer), Dannie Grufferty (Pres. Liverpool Guild of Students), Dominique Walker and Tony Lloyd (Anthony Walker Foundation), Martin Smith (Love Music Hate Racism), Weyman Bennett (UAF), Cllr Stephen Munby, Paul Holborow (Sec. Anti Nazi League).
With the general election looming this conference offers an opportunity to debate contemporary and historical issues in the struggle against fascism and the challenges we face today. There will be a range of debates and workshops from ‘What is Fascism?’ and ‘Islamophobia’ to ‘The Holocaust’ and ‘How we stop the BNP today?’
The event will bring together all sections of society that oppose fascism. Tickets for the event will be available from News from Nowhere bookshop, Bold Street, L1 priced at £5. There will be a gig in the evening to round off the event.
Past Events
Protest Against Nick Griffin's Appearance on BBC’s Question Time
On 22nd October 2009, Napo members supported a protest at BBC’s Wood Lane Centre, and BBC local offices across England and Wales, to protest against the appearance of Nick Griffin, Leader of the Fascist British Nationalist Party, on BBC’s Question Time.
Napo support for Codnor protest
Napo members from Trent and South Wales Branches, along with Mike Quinn, National Vice Chair, joined over 1500 anti BNP protestors at Codnor to protest against the BNP’s Red, White and Blue festival.
Napo is affiliated to the Unite Against Fascism campaign, and has in recent months stepped up its support for the campaign, especially throughout the European Elections.
Mike Quinn, National Vice Chair, said ‘it’s vital now the BNP have a foot in the European Parliament that we step up our commitment to anti-fascist campaigning. It was very pleasing to see local members joined by a member from South Wales at Codnor. We must involve ourselves in more of this type of activity.’
Mike is currently in discussion with Unite Against Fascism about fringe meeting at this year’s AGM. They will be joined by Love Music Hate Racism, who are providing the Thursday evening entertainment at the conference.
For more information about getting involved in anti-fascist campaigning with Napo, please contact Mike Quinn, mquinn@napo.org.uk.
Documents
naapsNews special issue
In the most recent edition of "NAAPs News - The Asian Perspective for Probation Staff", Napo's committment to continuing it's anti-fascist campaigining with a wide variety of anti-fascist organisations was re-stated. To receive a free PDF of this publication, email kfalcon@napo.org.uk
Quoted in the lead article, Mike Quinn, National Vice-Chair said "Napo supports many organisations who campaign against the far right, including UAF, Love Music Hate Racism, Hope not Hate and Show Racism the Red Card. We are currently working to develop an effective strategy to combat the far right, particularly in the run up to the General Election, and will encourage members to take part in events both locally and Nationally in order to expose the BNP and other far right organisations, as well as to mobilise apathetic voters. Napo does not condone violence of any kind and would expect its members to conduct themselves in a peaceful way whilst on anti-far right demonstrations and events"
Download the AGM 2009 Resolution on Combating Fascism below
Combating Fascism and the destructive presence of the far right
Download letters from Napo to NOMS and the Probation Assocation on the employment of BNP members in the Probation Service
Letter to the Probation Association - June 09
Letter to the Probation Association - September 09
Links to other organisations
