Bolton Unity Statement
Last Updated on Tuesday, 02 March 2010 16:26 Monday, 15 February 2010 16:33
NO TO THE RACIST ENGLISH DEFENCE LEAGUE!
NO TO THE FASCIST BNP!
DEFEND BOLTON’S MULTI-CULTURAL COMMUNITY.
Protest in Bolton, 20th March, against the Racist EDL.
We, the undersigned, completely oppose plans by the Racist “English Defence League” [EDL] to hold a racist, anti-Muslim protest in Bolton on March 20th.
The EDL is a group of racists and football hooligans, with close links to the Fascist British National Party [BNP]. When the EDL came to Manchester in October, Muslim graves in the area were desecrated. When the EDL came to Stoke in January, the words “Islam scum” and “EDL” were daubed on a local Mosque.
Islamophobia – bigotry against Muslims – is as unacceptable as any other form of racism. Its aim is to divide us by making scapegoats of one community, as the Nazis did with the Jews in the 1930s.
Today they threaten mosques, tomorrow it could be a synagogue, temple or church.
Today they threaten Muslims, tomorrow it could be Jews, Hindus, Sikhs, black, Asian or Eastern European people, travellers or lesbian, gay and transgender people.
We have beaten fascists and racists before by standing up in unity against them.
We cannot stand by and let these racists attack any section of our community. Let’s gather in such large numbers that we make it clear to these fascist and racist thugs that THEY ARE NOT WELCOME HERE.
Let’s protest against the racists and fascists, oppose their politics of hatred and defend Bolton’s diverse and united community.
We call on everyone to support and attend the protest against the EDL in Bolton on 20th March.
To add your name/organisation’s name to this statement, please download this statement in the form of a petition (pdf) or contact us via this website contact form
[This statement initiated by North West Unite Against Fascism.]
Note about this petition from UAF North West Organiser:
Dear All,
Please find attached Bolton Unity Statement regarding the 20th March protest against the EDL in Bolton.
Signatories at launch included: Dawn Butler MP, Margaret Hodge MP, Ken Livingstone, and Christine Blower, General Secretary of the National Union Of Teachers [NUT]; the full list now includes [updated Mike K, 17/2 and 23/2]:
KAUFMAN Sir Gerald Labour MP, Gorton Constituency
ABBOTT Matt Love Music Hate Racism, Wakefield
BARKER Mark Chair, Love Music Hate Racism, Merseyside
BELL Stephen Personal Capacity
BLOWER Christine General Secretary, National Union of Teachers
BUTLER Dawn MP. Minister, Young People and Youth Engagement
CARBERRY Kay Asst Gen Sec, TU Congress (personal capacity)
CHANTER Jill Unison
CROUCH David Father of Chapel, Financial Times, NUJ
CUTTING Vic Folk Against Fascism
DAMMERS Gerry Founder, The Specials
DHALU Sabby Unite Against Fascism
DUCKWORTH Sam get cape wear cape fly
FERNANDO Demi Lesbian and Gay Coalition Against Racism
FRIEDMAN Edie Personal Capacity
GOULD Martin Chair, South East Region, TUC
HAYES Billy Gen Sec, Communication Workers Union
HEFFERNAN Elaine Steward, Unison
HENRY Chuks (Big Cakes) People's Army
HODGE Margaret MP. Barking Constituency Labour Party
ITCH the King Blues
JONES Saul Essex Students Union
LAMMING Hugh Dep Gen Sec, Public and Civil Servants Union
LIVINGSTONE Ken Pensioner, Former Mayor, Greater London Council
McNALLY Gary Chair, University of Stoke Students Union
MORAN Rhetta Joint Secretary, Manchester UAF
MYCOCK Ted The Splitters Band
RIBIERO-ADDY Bell Vice President, National Union of Students
ROSENOIR Leroy Show Racism the Red Card
SAUNDERS Red Founder, Rock Against Racism
TURNER Phil National Union of Journalists(NUJ)
WHITTAKER Xanthe Expose the BNP
Please copy the statement and use it to get as many signatories on it as possible - particularly from MPs, trade union officials/branches, faith group leaders, councillors, celebrities etc. This will help build a stronger demo.
Any queries, please do not hesitate to contact me. My best point of contact is my mobile - 078176 88835.
Many thanks
Paul Jenkins, North West Organiser, Unite Against Fascism.
