Below is the text of a recent article written by Jake Laver, a London Met student and volunteer for our branch, on the subject of UNISON’s involvement with anti-racism issues.
“Having volunteered for London Met UNISON in the latter part of summer 2010 as part of a placement I chose for my degree, I was put in a position to think about a particular area of an organisation to study. I had a productive and interesting time at UNISON which allowed me to think about the campaigns which UNISON support with relevance to my degree. I have an interest in the study of anti fascism; through this we can keep ourselves and others aware of the lessons of history which cannot be forgotten.
London Met UNISON as a collective effort with the UCU branch and the Student Union promoted a meeting held by Unite Against Fascism, that took place on October 28th. As a student of Peace and Conflict studies with interest in the political and historic nature of anti fascism, it was a very insightful event to attend. I present some reflections of the meeting:
Anti fascism lies at the heart of the trade union fight these days, and it is more important than ever that such a stance is taken. The volatile jobs market and a host of acute economic woes could present the potential spark which caused Europe to erupt in the thirties. While there is cause for jubilation in the fact that the British National Party got a hammering in the 2010 General Election, and London Met UNISON contributed to this by turning up to protest in Barking, where the BNP were kicked out. We must be cautious of such victories, it is important to remember that after Hitler’s failed putsch in 1924, he spent years in the wilderness and as an object of ridicule, before his rise to power. The analogy to Nick Griffin now is all too relevant. Griffin may appear to be ostracised and at the sidelines of politics now, but history has shown how easily things can change.
Max Watson spoke on behalf of London Met UNISON conveying a proud history of anti fascism associated with the university. Besides being part of the effort to kick the BNP out of Barking back in the 1980’s, anti fascists at the university (then Polytechnic of North London) fought long and hard to exclude prominent National Front activist Patrick Harrington from the university on the grounds that a philosophy course was no place for a fascist, as he could gain an opportunity to spread his hateful views amongst others. It was a battle that led to the resignation of the Polytechnic’s director, and eventually led to Harrington only being taught in isolation from all others. Max Watson stated it is important to; ‘remember the lessons where we have been successful’.
Martin Smith from UAF was an invited speaker at the event. He recalled his origins of involvement in anti fascism, beginning in the late 1970’s when NF youth were on the rampage, his own contemporaries had been involved in a skinhead gang who attacked and left for dead an Asian youth. The message from the UAF speaker was very clear; times have not changed, there is an overall rise of fascism in Europe, the stark warning – it’s back to the times of the 1970’s and 1930’s. If we ignore the problem it won’t go away. We are seeing a worrying trend in Europe, where Centrist governments in both France and Germany are fuelling the fires of intolerance; for example Nicholas Sarkozy banning the hijab and the expelling of Roma people, and the German Chancellor Angela Merkell’s backlash at multiculturalism, have the effect of legitimising street level racism. It is a dangerous precedent that needs to be challenged.
Besides the BNP threat, bigotry and intolerance exists on the streets of Britain in the form of the English Defence League. The Euro- Fascist threat is important to consider once more in this context. The EDL have been linking up with other far right organisations who seek to stop the ‘Islamification’ of Europe. Make no bones about it; groups like the EDL are racist thugs. They may hide behind a false propaganda of not being racist and being opposed only to ‘Islamic extremism’. Martin Smith was quite right to say; ‘far from being anti-Muslim, they attack everybody’. The EDL are the fastest growing threat from far right groups in Britain today. It is important for people to get out and actively oppose them. Far from being against extremism, the EDL persistently attacks Muslims per se, with many of their demonstrations being targeted at mosques and Muslim communities across the UK. We’ve seen all too clearly that the EDL are out to spark terror and peddle extremism themselves. It is important, as Max Watson said, to learn from our victories. From Cable Street in the 1930’s to Barking in the 2010 election, large numbers of people have proved a vital tactic in keeping fascists off our streets, but the education that goes alongside that, cannot be underestimated either. Trade Union membership, particular of unions such as UNISON, who refuse BNP members to have representation, is another important aspect of targeting this very real extremism.
The meeting on the 28th of October was an opportunity to promote the March and Carnival on the 6th Nov. Members of alliances formed at London Met as a result of the October meeting, attended a very lively demonstration. This saw students, lecturers and workers from the university united, engaging in conversation and sharing sandwiches and coffees. Music was provided on speakers from the back of a truck, as well as brass and samba bands. Around 10,000 people from across the UK; many from trade unions, who were young, old, black, white, gay, lesbian, bi, trans, some into punk, some into hip-hop, some into indie, some into drum and bass, some into reggae, some into jazz, some Muslim, some atheist and so on. The point is that a broad coalition of anti fascists marched through central London, making sure the message got out loud and clear:
‘The BNP is the Nazi Party: Smash the BNP’, ‘EDL go to hell, tell your Nazi mates’ as well’.”
Lobby the London Met Board of Governors!
