Congratulations to everyone who has spent the last two days seeking to convince Archant publishers not to publish an advert from the racist BNP .

We have just received an official statement from Mike Ferris the editor which includes the following:

'We have concluded that it is not in the best interests of the community to publish the advertisement in the Hackney Gazette. Nor is it right to give the BNP further publicity through a prolonged public debate about the merits of the organisation and its advertising campaign. The balance of arguments in this debate has been extremely difficult but we believe that we have come to the right conclusion.'

Help us step up the pressure on the Hackney Gazette's publisheres not to force our local newspaper to publish an advert from the fascists BNP. Please print off the attached two documents and take them to your local newsagent. One is a letter to the newsagent from Hackney TUC alerting them to the possibility of a BNP advert and asking them to protest to the Gazette. The second is a model memo for them to fax to the Gazette cancelling their order of this week's paper should the BNP ad be included.

Click on the file names below to download and/or print the two documents (Microsoft Word).

You may have heard the outrage caused by a number of London local papers (including the prestigious Ham & High) carrying election adverts from the BNP.

The papers are all owned by the Archant newspaper group, who also own the Hackney Gazette.

According to sources, the editor of the Hackney Gazette (who has previously voiced his contempt for the BNP) refused to run the advert in this week’s paper but has been instructed by the parent group to run the advert this week.

Londoners will vote for the mayor and London Assembly on 1 May 2008. Due to the part proportional representation system in the election, the BNP will gain a seat on the Assembly if they gain more than 5% of the total votes cast. If they gain more than 8% they will gain two seats.

Click 'read more' for more information. At the bottom of the article, click 'empire meeting' to download a leaflet/poster advertising the meeting (PDF).

In advance of the GLA elections, the South East Region TUC are organising a London-wide action on 15 March 2008 designed to encourage voter registration and voter participation.

The event intends to highlight the increased risk of a BNP breakthrough if there is a low turnout in the forthcoming election (a mere 5% of the total vote will give them a seat).

On 4th October 1936, people in the east end of London stopped Oswald Mosley and his British Union of Fascists marching through Cable Street, in Stepney, then a mainly Jewish area. The Spanish Civil War slogan was widely used: They Shall Not Pass - No Pasaran!

Hackney TUC is supporting Oldham Trades Council in its objection to this outrageous arrest.

Press release from Oldham Trades Council
NAZI BRITISH NATIONAL PARTY HIJACKS HOLOCAUST MEMORIAL DAY
CEREMONY DISRUPTED; ANTI-FASCIST TRADE UNIONIST ARRESTED

The British National Party (BNP) is a fascist party, an ally of the NPD in Germany and the Front National in France. Its leader, Nick Griffin, has spoken alongside politicians from both these organisations and has represented the BNP at NPD events in Germany.

The event is to be jointly organised by the School of Trade Union Education at College of North East London, GMB London Region Race Committee and Haringay Council: New Deal for Communities Programme. It is free of charge and open to all union members and families.

Hackney TUC policy passed May 2004

HTUC notes that:

* at our AGM we agreed to prioritise anti racist and anti fascist work for the coming year, welcomed the creation of UAF and agreed to affiliate.

* following the national launch of UAF, HTUC agreed to turn its April monthly meeting into a public meeting to raise awareness of the threat of the BNP in the June 10 elections.

They shall not pass!

This Hackney TUC leaflet advertises our forthcoming meeting which aims to mobilise people against the fascist BNP in the run-up to the GLA and European elections on 10 June.

It also sets out why fighting the fascists is a trade union and working-class issue.

Download the leaflet here.