--- Workers' and community solidarity in Hackney ---
--- Workers' and community solidarity in Hackney ---
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Stop the BNP: Campaign Meeting Wednesday 10 December (and other news)Submitted by Janine on Thu, 27/11/2008 - 18:31.
On Wednesday 10 December, at 7pm, we are holding an informal meeting at Hindle House, Community Hall in Arcola Street E8. The hall is almost next door to the Arcola Theatre. The meeting will start promptly, and we promise to be finished by 8.30pm. The purpose of the meeting is to agree a strategic approach to a) increasing voter registration in Hackney, b) engaging voters with the political process so as to hold politicians to account (for example by holding 'hustings meetings' in advance of the EU elections, and c) maximising participation in next June's EU elections. We are very keen to create a 'band-waggon' that is effective as well as fun at reaching young voters as well as communities who are traditionally excluded. We are happy to work with people from different political traditions to do this, in fact we believe that it is essential if we are to be successful. We also want to work with faith groups, community organisations and trade unions to create a campaign capable of reaching every corner of our communities. We need to learn a few lessons from the campaign that saw millions of US voters re-engage with politics and see Barack Obama elected US president. While our primary aim is to mobilise Hackney voters to defeat the BNP in the June 2009 EU elections, in doing so we can also change the way politics is done in Hackney. We can inspire and empowering individuals and communities to get involved and begin to define the political agendas they think are right for them. Please come along on Wednesday 10 December at 7pm and contribute to this discussion and please bring people with you. Rebutting the racist's lies You may have seen the front page of the Hackney Gazette ad its front page headline 'race hate mail fury'. This refers to the BNP's publication of a document 'Racism cuts both ways' in which they claim exposes a 'silent epidemic' of anti-white racism. Searchlight the anti-fascist magazine has produced a detailed rebuttal in which they counter the BNP's properganda: The BNP claims that 167 white people have been the victims of racist murder over the past years but its evidence is totally inaccurate. * FACT In only a handful of the 167 cases is there any clear indication of a racial motive. The BNP has twisted facts to make them fit its warped racist agenda. It doesn't care that it causes distress and anger to the families. The BNP clearly sets out to whip up racial tensions. It hopes to make young people in particular angry and vengeful. It hopes to get people to join the BNP but it could just as easily be unleashing racist violence. The BNP materials are also being circulated via email cascades. Please help counter these racist myths by visiting the Searchlight website: http://www.racismcutsbothways.org.uk/ and signing their petition seeking an investigation into whether the BNP materials amount to incitement to racial hatred. Please also cascade this email on to friends and colleagues to ensure they are able to counter the BNP's distortions and lies. Hackney Gazette: Hackney unites Finally, we managed to have a letter published in the Gazette today which shows that we can bring communities together in opposition to the BNP. Trade unionists, community groups, the borough Dean, and politicians form across the spectrum endorsed a simple commitment to work to increase participation in next June's election. I have listed below those who endorsed the sentiments in the letter (not all of these names got to the Gazette in time because of their print deadline). We clearly have the potential to bring together a powerful coalition, but it will require hard work over the next six months to ensure that we have meetings arranged, leaflets pushed through doors, and 101 other small tasks that ensure that we get the message out in Hackney. Please cascade this email onto friends and colleagues who live or work in Hackney, invite them to the meeting, and encourage them to be part of Pete Gillard - Chair, London Regional Council, Unite/Amicus Section Hackney Councillors ( categories: against fascism )
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