Barking racist attack condemned by anti-fascist campaigners
Late Wednesday night (17th May), a 30 year-old Afghan man was stabbed outside Barking tube station by four white men. After shouting “f****ing pakis” and other racial abuse, they stabbed him twice in the chest and stomach, draped him in an England flag, and left him for dead. The man is in serious condition at the Royal London Hospital in Whitechapel.
The anti-fascist movement has always said that where the BNP make gains, racist attacks will always increase. When the BNP previously held one seat in Barking, attacks went up by 18%, now they have 11 councillors and we are seeing the results already. We cannot wait for more racist attacks and murders to take place. It is absolutely vital that we continue to build the strongest united anti-fascist movement possible both nationally and locally.
Love Music Hate Racism (LMHR) and Unite Against Fascism (UAF) are organizing of events across London and the UK in light of the BNP’s election results. We urge everyone to get involved with these campaigns. Please check out both websites for details of how you can get involved at www.lovemusichateracism.com and www.uaf.org.uk or call LMHR on 0207 924 0333 and UAF on 0207 833 4916. We hope everyone will help to build a united front against the fascist BNP.
“I am so saddened and disgusted that in this day and age, in a country that calls itself the ‘United’ Kingdom, a party that clearly stands for hate, discrimination and inequality, could gain the right to even exist. My heart goes out to the family of the victim but I fear that whilst the likes of the BNP are able to promote their narrow minded fascism, that this will not be the last racist attack or crime of hate. I urge anyone and everyone to take a stand and speak out against this evil and senseless behaviour. The bottom line is tomorrow that could be your son or daughter.”
Ms Dynamite, singer
“We are disgusted at this despicable, unprovoked racist attack. Our worst fears have been confirmed; when the BNP are elected racist attacks increase. We hope decent people in Barking & Dagenham will not tolerate this sort of hatred in their communities.”
David Okoro, cousin and family spokesperson of murdered black teenager Anthony Walker
“Attacks like this should not be happening on the streets of B&D. We need harmony and unity not division and hatred.”
Sheila Delany, Chief Officer for the Commission for Racial Equality in Barking and Dagenham
“As a resident of Barking and Dagenham the racist attack which took place on Wednesday night is a complete shock to me. We have seen time and time again, when the fascist BNP win seats, racist attacks go up, and it has taken only days for there to be a near fatal one. The BNP give confidence to the small minority of racist scum in the area. As soon as they start to be seen as a legitimate political party, these thugs crawl out from under the rocks. We cant let another life be lost to racism, I’m urging everyone in London to get involved with anti-racism in Barking and Dagenham, racism and fascism aren’t things affecting someone else is some distant town up north anymore, they’re very real and on our door steps and they wont go away unless we make them.”
Drew, 23 year-old LMHR and UAF activist from Dagenham
“It’s a tragedy that in the 21st Century that racist attacks like this take place. We send a message from this union, of sympathy to the family. We are concerned that the election of BNP councillors can encourage racist attacks. We face a real danger from fascists challenging our democracy and it’s important that we have unity to stop them.”
Billy Hayes, General Secretary of Communication Workers Union
“This brutal attack occurred in a racist climate whipped up in Barking in the run up to the local elections. Anti-racist campaigners warned that these attacks could happen in Barking. Racist lies have increased racial tension in the area and it was only a matter of time before an attack of this nature occurred. These attackers must be brought to justice. We have witnessed time and time again a surge in racist attacks when the fascists target an area. More must be done to challenge racism and these racist lies, before there are more attacks of this nature.”
Lee Jasper, NAAR
“The BNP come into an area, mouth off and stir up racism, but actually do nothing at all about local people’s housing or any other problems. LMHR is about music bringing people together in a positive celebration of multicultural Britain. Young people in Barking &Dagenham, like everyone else in Britain, love hip-hop, indie, R&B and every other form of music which only happen in a multiracial society. LMHR will continue to work long-term with music fans and artists in Barking & Dagenham, staging a series of gigs and events in schools and colleges, all with the message ‘no racist attacks in Barking- we’re asking everyone who loves music and hates racism to get involved so that everybody in Barking & Dagenham can live and enjoy themselves together in peace.’”
Lee Billingham, National Organizer of LMHR
May 29th, 2006 at 3:06 pm
Student, Swansea Uni….
Its times like this when we need to stand together, arm in arm and UNITE. We need to show that as a ‘multicultural’ nation we will NOT stand for this disgusting behaviour. Here in Swansea, a local well known asylum seeker’s house was ‘bricked’ and his car was attacked coincidently at the time when the BNP were leafletting in his area. We need to stand up and fight against this and I believe that LMHR is a great way to promote and tackle the problem of racism. Anti racist movements inspire those who are not directly affected or involved to come out of their shell and be a part of the greater movement for another world. ‘Another World IS Possible’