Batley Uaf Unity Statement We, the undersigned, strongly oppose plans by the racist English Defence League (EDL) – notorious for their racial and religious hatred– to demonstrate in Batley, on 19 July. The EDL is a group dedicated to attacking Asian people and Muslims. Islamophobia – bigotry against Muslims, is as unacceptable as any other form of racism. Its aim is to divide us by making scapegoats of one community, just as the Nazis did with the Jews in the 1930s. They cynically are trying to ferment Islamophobia over the building of an Islamic faith school. Today they threaten Muslims. Tomorrow it could be Jewish people, Hindus, Sikhs, black people, lesbians and gay men, travellers or East Europeans. There is no place for Nazis, racists or the EDL in Batley’s multiracial, multicultural and multi-faith community. We also urge people to attend Uafs anti fascist demonstration, in opposition to the EDL, in Batley, on July 19th. Name Position Talha Ahmad Chair, Membership Committee, Muslim Council of Britain Owen Jones, writer and journalist Kevin Courtney Deputy General Secretary, National Union of Teachers Doug Morgan, President, Birmingham National Union of Teachers Louise Jameson Actor Jean Lambert Member of the European Parliament Claude Moraes Member of the European Parliament Sue Bond Vice President, Public and Civil Servants’ Union Zita Holbourne Executive member of Public and Civil Servants Union and BARAC Roger Keeley - Kirklees Uaf Polly Smith Unison National Executive member (personal capacity)
Posted on: Mon, 16 Jun 2014 17:37:03 +0000