Oxford students disinvite former EDL leader after protests

NOTE: This article was published on 16 February 2017Oxford Unite Against Fascism reports that an invitation to the fascist activist Tommy Robinson, former leader of the English Defence League, to speak to Oxford Brookes students has been withdrawn following the launch of a UAF open letter and planned protest. Oxford UAF writes further that students…

16 February 2017

Sonia Gable

reports

NOTE: This article was published on 16 February 2017

Oxford Unite Against Fascism reports that an invitation to the fascist activist Tommy Robinson, former leader of the English Defence League, to speak to Oxford Brookes students has been withdrawn following the launch of a UAF open letter and planned protest.

Oxford UAF writes further that students from a number of campuses, including Cambridge and Essex are reporting an upsurge in fascist activity with antisemitic stickers and leafets being posted along with Nazi symbols.

Racist attacks have risen since the EU referendum and have been further fuelled by Trump’s election victory. Nazi organisations across Europe are hopeful they can make a breakthrough, and violent attacks on refugees (including a school) have escalated.

In response anti-fascists will be joining anti-racist protests across Europe on Saturday 18 March. In the UK a mass march against racism will take place in London, supported by TUC, Unison, UNITE, NUT, CWU, UCU, ASLEF, PCS, BFAWU and MEND. Coaches will be organised to bring people from other regions.

Amid a vitriolic atmosphere of anti-migrant hysteria following the EU referendum, Prime Minister Theresa May has announced she will trigger article 50 by the end of March 2017 in order to “have the freedom to choose the way we control immigration”.

In a situation where migrants, Muslim women and anyone considered to be ‘foreign’ are being attacked on a daily basis and refugees are being abandoned by Britain and Europe to destitution, drowning and exploitation, there has never been a more important time in recent history to stand up to racism.

On 18 March, let’s make the Stand Up To Racism demonstration for UN Anti-Racism Day the biggest yet, to show that Theresa May does not speak for us when she blames migrants and refugees for the problems causes by austerity and the financial crisis, and that we are united against racism, Islamophobia and antisemitism

Over the past four years, Stand Up to Racism has organised protests in defence of migrants and refugees. At our recent conference, 1,500 participants – including Jeremy Corbyn, Diane Abbott, Lord Alf Dubs and others – launched a mass anti-racist movement. Join us in London in March 2017 to stand up to racism together.

Organised by Stand Up to Racism

Category: News

Keywords: Islamophobia

Alf Dubs

Searchlight’s voice is more important than ever, and I am delighted that it will now be available to a wider audience than ever before in its new incarnation online. Searchlight has been extremely helpful over the years in exposing the far right, corruption, criminality and the murky links between organised crime and powerful interests in the UK and abroad. I wish Searchlight the very best.

Alf Dubs

Labour peer, former MP and Cabinet Minister, and Kindertransport child

Paul Nowak

The essence of trade unionism is solidarity, fairness and equality – for all workers – from all backgrounds. That’s why our fight against the far-right has always been part of our movement’s DNA. Searchlight is an incredibly important resource for trade unions and members to understand the contemporary tactics of far-right activity. Their work and intelligence gathering over the years have been incredibly insightful for the work we do, and how we fight the scourge of fascism.

Paul Nowak

TUC General Secretary

Peter Hain

British Jews have been persecuted over the centuries; British blacks since the Windrush generation of the 1950s; British Muslims, especially after the Islamist 9/11 and then 7/7 terrorist attacks in New York 2001 and London 2005. But until the last few years there has not been a simultaneous threat against all three British communities of Jewish, Black and Muslim Britons – meaning the need for Searchlight has never been greater.

Peter Hain

Labour peer, former MP and Cabinet Minster

Paul Holborow

In the campaign against the National Front, Searchlight provided a rich and utterly reliable basis for much ANL propaganda – particularly with reference to the two leading NF figures, John Tyndall and Martin Webster. The appearance of Tyndall in full nazi uniform, drawn from the archives of Searchlight, was a key part of ANL propaganda, coupled with deeply damaging nazi quotes from Webster.

Paul Holborow

Founding member of the ANL and National Organiser 1977-81

Nick Davies

To investigate fascists takes real courage and unusual commitment. The government, police, mainstream media occasionally take a look, but in the UK only Searchlight have kept at it, relentlessly and admirably, regardless of threat or obstacle. It’s journalism that matters. A rare thing.

Nick Davies

Multi-award-winning investigative journalist and writer

Professor Colin Holmes

Everyone who wants to understand contemporary racism and its historical background needs to read Searchlight.

Professor Colin Holmes

University of Sheffield