Just seven days, after the fascist group Britain First held a hate gathering in Rochdale, another group of fascists, the EDL, will be making an incursion into the town. The EDL are, like Britain First, trying to create division by racialising the issue of crimes of sexual exploitation.
Our thoughts must be with all those affected by such horror. Sexual exploitation is an appalling crime but it is not linked to ethnicity or religion.
Unite Against Fascism, trade unionists and others will be protesting for the second week running, to send a clear message to the EDL that they are not welcome in Rochdale. Years of consistent, broad-based mobilisations have pushed the EDL back to the point where – at their most recent demo in London – they were only able to muster a tiny group of about 50 fascists.
Similarly, in Liverpool on 3 June, when around 1,000 people humiliated the EDL, the fascists could only gather a rabble of, at most, 60.
The EDL is a fascist organisation – their founder ‘Tommy Robinson’ was a member of the British National Party. Leading EDL figure Alan Spence was also a member of the BNP and alongside the EDL’s ‘leader’, Ian Crossland, has a history of racist violence.
Despite differences, Britain First expressed support for the EDL’s gathering, this Saturday, though how long this truce will last is another matter.
Join us on 29 July, to show for the second time in a week, that fascists are not wanted in Rochdale.
More details will be confirmed. For further info please contact northwest@uaf.org.uk, or see event page rel=”noopener”>here.
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.
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.
Professor Colin Holmes
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.
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.
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.