Protest and vote to push back Nazis

Fascist killer Anders Behring Breivik went on trial in Norway this week—cheered on by his Muslim-hating friends in Britain’s far right.

Tommy Robinson, leader of the racist English Defence League (EDL), praised Breivik in an interview with the Norwegian newspaper Dagbladet.

“Whether you like it or not, that guy was pretty smart,” he said. “What he did is despicable, but he managed to make people curious.”

Robinson also endorsed the anti-Muslim websites Breivik cited in his “manifesto”. “You may find the truth hurts, but it is still the truth. I read the blogs themselves—they contain facts about Islam,” said Robinson.

This isn’t the first time the EDL leader has been linked to Breivik. Breivik’s writings are full of praise for the EDL, which he sees as a model fascist movement for the rest of Europe.

Meanwhile anti-fascists are mobilising in Robinson’s home town of Luton to see off the EDL on Saturday 5 May.

Unite Against Fascism (UAF) and local anti-racist group We Are Luton are organising a counter demonstration to a planned EDL demo in the town on that day.

Coaches from around Britain will bring anti-fascists to Luton and send a message to the EDL that there is no place for their murderous anti-Muslim hatred.

Campaigners are also opposing fascist candidates standing in the local elections on Thursday 3 May. These include candidates for the British National Party (BNP), National Front and English Democrats.

Leaflet

UAF activists in London were set to join trade unionists from the RMT and NUT unions on Tuesday evening to leaflet stations warning Londoners to use their vote against the Nazis on 3 May.

The BNP won one seat on the London Assembly in 2008. They are looking to repeat this performance. They are likely to win a seat if they can poll over 5 percent of the vote—which is why every vote against them counts.

Days of action against the BNP are planned this weekend in Cambridge, Leeds, Sheffield and Epping Forest. The BNP has been wiped off the council in former strongholds such as Barking & Dagenham and Stoke-on-Trent.

The coming elections haven’t stopped the fascists from mobilising in the streets. The EDL demonstrated outside the Home Office Headquarters in central London on Tuesday of this week.

The PCS union, which represents Home Office workers, supported a counter protest called by UAF.

PCS leader Mark Serwotka said, “We are proud to be a part of the sustained opposition to the BNP that has almost entirely forced them off our streets and out of our council chambers.”

Reject these racists

• The BNP candidate in Barking & Dagenham’s Goresbrook ward is Bob Taylor. Local anti-fascists are publicising a photograph of him brandishing a gun
• Michael Coleman, leader of Stoke-on-Trent BNP and a former BNP councillor, went on trial this week accused of causing racial harassment over a seven month period
• The English Democrats are a far right party with a history of racist rhetoric. They have recently opened their doors to several Nazi activists who have left the BNP after internal feuds
• These include Chris Beverley, who is assistant to BNP MEP Andrew Brons, and Eddy Butler, former national organiser for the BNP. Nine of 16 English Democrat council candidates in Barnsley are ex-BNP.

Racist EDL not welcome in Luton. Unity march: Saturday 5 May. Assemble 11am, Wardown Park, New Bedford Road, LU3 1LP. Called by Unite Against Fascism.

Love Music Hate Racism presents a night of music, poetry and unity. Jerry Dammers (ex-Specials), Pandit G, Zana Rose and special guests. Saturday 5 May, 8pm-1am, Rich Mix, 35-47 Bethnal Green Rd, London E1 6LA. £5/£3