| An effective anti fascist movement |
| 17/06/2009 |
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As someone who has spent most of the past few months speaking to voters, leafleting at train stations, delivering materials to people’s doors I share in the sense of despair and frustration that many up and down the country are now feeling. I like many others am disgusted and saddened that Britain will be sending holocaust deniers to Europe to represent Yorkshire & the Humber and the North West. And whilst it may seem difficult we should recognise that we succeeded in keeping the BNP out in many other areas, not much of a comfort but when I started in this campaign, there was a fear they could win several seats. It is also worth recognising that there wasn’t a surge in BNP support, they actually got less votes than in 2004. I do not wish to spend hours dwelling over why they won, and how they won- many others will fill that space for me. But in order to do this we need to get out and speak to people, re-engage voters, listen to their legitimate or ill-legitimate concerns and highlight how the BNP will not address what it is they are concerned about. We cannot and we should not simply resort to the tactics of the past. Whilst the BNP are still a racist and fascist party, and should always be exposed everywhere they go, they are no longer a party on the fringes. The BNP now have access to significant resources, staff, offices and unprecedented access to the media. Whilst the demonstration earlier this week should be commended for quick mobilisation, and swift thinking, we have to be mindful of the image we portray. At a time when voters are increasingly disengaged with party politics, Westminster and politics as a whole we need to ensure we are speaking to the public at large, and not just ourselves and those that already think like us. Having what may have begun as a well minded and well intentioned protest turn into what was described as a mob, or attack is undesirable and defeats our objective. I think it is right that we accompany the BNP wherever they go, and demonstrate they are not welcome, nor do they represent the values or majority of people in the North West or Yorkshire and the Humber. All I ask is that we seek to expose, fight and change the minds of those that voted BNP by maintaining our moral integrity by not resorting to violence or vandalism. I wasn’t there on Tuesday and suspect it may have been widely misrepresented by the media, but we shouldn’t forget the biggest success of our campaign for the European elections was the ability of the anti fascist movement to recruit and mobilize thousands of volunteers up and down the country to help deliver hundreds of thousands of leaflets exposing the BNP for who they are. Let’s not loose that people power, but build on that strength by ensuring our policies and our tactics are inclusive to all who wish to peacefully stop the spread of hate. The BNP’s claim the anti fascist movement is Labour party funded is laudable. We are a broad organisation, with broad members from a number of different organisations and political persuasions. We are a movement of the mainstream, and so should behave so. Resorting to petty violence or vandalism regardless of the target is neither required nor productive to exposing the BNP for the fascist homophobic, sexist, racist individuals that they are. So let’s come together, unite together and as with one voice let’s drown out the BNP. The Blogs on this site represent the individual views of their authors and do not necessarily reflect the policies or practices of the National Union of Students. All links in blogs will open in a new browser window. The permanent URL for this specific blog entry is: http://www.officeronline.co.uk/blogs/susannash/276422.aspx |
