Kicking Racism Into Touch

Last Saturday I spoke at the anti-fascist rally held in Cardiff. The reason why I was there, along with hundreds of other like-minded people, was to protest against the presence of the racist English Defence League on our streets.

This divisive band of thugs want to drive a split between white people and anyone else who is not white. They encourage people to hate. Support for far-right racist politics grows during times of economic strife, and this is why they feel strong enough to march through our streets now. It was heartening to see that the anti-fascist protestors heavily outnumbered the EDL, showing that racism is an anathema to the vast majority of Welsh people.

The main message of my contribution to the anti-fascist rally was that Wales has rejected racism time and time again and as yet, the British National Party has not been able to win an election in this country above community council level. These racist hate-mongers, whether they are BNP, EDL or National Front, are not welcome in Wales and I called for solidarity with our “Muslim brothers and sisters,” who have been specifically targetted by these groups.

I also mentioned the Rhondda’s unequivocal response to Oswald Mosley and his black shirts in the 1930s after the area had been identified as a fertile breeding ground for his despicable policies because of the high rates of unemployment. I am proud to say the black shirts were sent packing and were left in no doubt about the views of the South Wales valleys.

A special mention must be made of the Cardiff City supporters who turned up on Saturday to strengthen the anti-fascist gathering. They showed us all that most football supporters abhor racism and want all people in Cardiff to live side by side in harmony.

** Thanks to Plaid Cymru member Andrew Jinks for taking photos at the rally, including the one above. **

Muslims4Plaid on Islam4UK

There is a lot of anger over the proposed Islam4UK march in Wootton Bassett. The following is a statement issued by Muslims4Plaid:

"Muslims for Plaid wishes to place on record its oppposition to the proposed demonstration by the group known as Islam4UK in Wootton Bassett. In addition, Muslims for Plaid is opposed to any counter demonstration by far right groups including the BNP and the English Defence League. It is our firm belief that the wishes of the people of Wooton Bassett to continue receiving the bodies of British serviceman with quiet dignity should be respected. It would be insensitive, inappropriate and wrong for any organisation of any political hue to hijack the practice of the good people of Wootton Bassett for their own ends. Nevertherless, the call for a debate on the on-going war in Afghanistan is legitimate and Muslims for Plaid would support such a debate at a more appropriate time and place.

Muslims for Plaid observes with dismay the way the British media continue to give the oxygen of publicity to Islam4UK and its leader Anjem Choudhury. This tiny group has negligible support amongst the Muslim communities in the UK yet is presented as though it is genuinely representative of a large section of Muslim public opinion. Muslims for Plaid accepts its responsibilty in contributing to the fight against the cancer of extremism and hopes that the television and print media will seek to ensure balance and proportion in its coverage of this and similar issues."

Update: Islam4UK have called off their planned march in Wootton Bassett

No racism on our streets

Forty people were arrested in clashes between the English Defence League (EDL) and anti-fascist protesters in Manchester yesterday. Despite claiming they are not racist, and despite the BNP leadership seeking to distance themselves from the group, they are racist, and they are linked to the BNP.

A Welsh version of the EDL have called two demonstrations - one in Swansea next Saturday and one in Newport the following week. A new mosque is the reason they plan to demonstrate on Newport.

The EDL have held demonstrations in cities in England throughout the summer. Despite claiming they are not racist, this Searchlight article outlines the danger:

"It is the incendiary concoction of racism, alienation and suspicion that is so dangerous. The EDL is not a fascist organisation but there are fascists in key organisational positions and it is fuelled by Islamophobia and racism. That it is not an open fascist organisation and can mutate and manifest itself in different forms and in different places actually makes it more dangerous."

This shows the EDL links to the BNP.

I am of the view that the EDL/WDL will stir up tensions in Swansea and Newport that hardly exist. Their deliberate provokation means that there is a risk that those tensions will turn nasty, and could leave a lasting impact on those two cities.

I have tried to press the police to ban the marches, after a successful ban in Luton. If the police do not ban the march, I will be in Swansea and Newport, in solidarity with the Muslim community in both those cities, and for a Wales without racism.

As Searchlight says

"Opposing the EDL cannot and should not be left to the Muslim population. They might be the targets of the current wave of racism but if it were not them it would be another minority group, like so many times before. This might involve taking to the streets if the authorities do not or cannot act, but we will do so as a mass movement – a cross section of society – positively saying no to racism and fascism.

In 1946 Pastor Martin Niemöller made a series of speeches, later reproduced as a poem, in which he said that it was failure of people to stand together that allowed the Nazis to win. The context might be different but the sentiments are the same. The EDL and BNP attacks on Muslims are attacks on all of us and we must defend them together in a positive and constructive way."

First they came for the communists,

and I did not speak out—because I was not a communist;

Then they came for the socialists,

and I did not speak out—because I was not a socialist;

Then they came for the trade unionists,
and I did not speak out—because I was not a trade unionist;

Then they came for the Jews,

and I did not speak out—because I was not a Jew;

Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak out for me.

Pastor Martin Niemöller