Communities must unite against sectarian and racist attacks

Local resident and anti-racist activist Paddy Meehan condemned last night’s attacks in the Village area of South Belfast.

There must be an immediate end to all sectarian attacks against Protestant homes and Catholics living in the Village. It is important that local communities unite, across the sectarian interface, to stop all attacks. Communities must stand up and isolate racists and sectarians on both sides.

Rally against the murder Toyosi Shitta-bey

On the afternoon of Saturday 10th April nearly 3,000 people gathered in Parnell Square’s garden of remembrance, Dublin, to protest against the death of Toyosi  Shitta-Bey – a fifteen year-old Nigerian schoolboy who was brutally murdered in on Good Friday.

NEW Youth Against Racism Poster

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BBC reviews it’s decision to put Nick Griffin on Question Time

Protest – 5pm Thurs 22nd Oct
BBC Broadcasting House, Ormeau Ave, Belfast

Youth Against Racism protest covered on Time Online

Mark Thompson the Director-General of the BBC is to review the corporation’s decision to invite Nick Griffin on Question Time on Thursday 22nd October.

The review has been prompted by last week’s court case that deemed the BNP’s constitution illegal for denying non-whites the right to join the party.

Protests have been called across England & Wales on Thursday to oppose the BNP leader’s appearance.

It won’t be alright on the night for Nick

KEEP BNP OFF THE BBC!

Protest on the night Nick Griffin is due to appear on the BBC

5pm Thursday 22nd October

BBC Broadcasting House, Ormeau Ave

Called by Anti-Racism Network

Protesters say: “KEEP BNP OFF THE BBC!”

100 protesters assembled outside the BBC Broadcasting House in Belfast on Thursday 15^th October to show their opposition to the BBC’s decision to invite Nick Griffin onto Question Time. A number of BNP supporters showed up in an attempt to intimidate protesters but failed. The protest drowned out the BNP supporters with chants of “Nazis’s OUT!”

Paddy Meehan from Youth Against Racism said:

“The protest showed people’s anger against the BNP being gifted the opportunity to stoke up racist division on Question Time. This is in contrast to the complete black out of our protest by the BBC. The BBC seems more interested in ratings than the effects of their actions. This follows the BBC’s decision earlier this year which prevented YAR representatives announcing a protest attacks on Romanian families.

“The protest was a success as it shone the spotlight on the BBC and by drawing out BNP supporters exposing them for what they are – thugs who have no interest in debates.

“We are determined to increase pressure on the BBC to withdraw the invitation to the BNP to participate on Question Time.”

Protest against BNP appearance on Question Time gains momentum

The organisers of Youth Against Racism’s protest against the planned appearance of the far-right BNP on BBC’s Question Time say they have been thrilled by the support they have been receiving from the general public and the trade union movement. The protest is scheduled to take place this Thursday, 15th October, at 5.30pm outside BBC Broadcasting House in Belfast.

 

Just days after  BECTU, the union which organises the BBC’s technical staff, officially backed the protest, Jim Barbour of the Fire Brigades Union National Executive has hit out against the BNP:

 

‘The BNP are an organisation which must be challenged at every turn. They use racist propaganda to build support, propaganda which leads to racist attacks. This party is also entirely opposed to workers’ rights. They oppose trade unionists who stand up for their rights, including firefighters who took strike action in 2002.’

Television workers union backs Belfast protest against BBC invitation to BNP

PROTEST: 5.30pm Thursday 15^th October, BBC Broadcasting House, Belfast

Called by Youth Against Racism

The union representing workers at the BBC has backed a protest to be held next Thursday 15^th October outside BBC Broadcasting House in Belfast against the decision to invite the BNP on to the Question Time programme.

BECTU (Broadcasting Entertainment Cinematograph and Theatre Union) which represents 26,500 workers across the UK today revealed that they could not support a far-right party like the BNP being given a platform to spread racist lies.

The union has also pledged to support any member who decides, as a matter of conscience, not to work on the broadcast because of the involvement of the BNP. The BBC, attempting to out-manouvre a possible boycott, has outsourced the production of Question Time which is to include the BNP.

Welcoming BECTU’s support, Paddy Meehan of Youth Against Racism added

“All trade unions need to take a stand against the BNP, a far-right anti-union party, being given such a platform. We want workers to come down to BBC Broadcasting House on Ormeau Avenue in Belfast at 5.30pm on Thursday 15^th October to express their opposition to this decision. The BNP is about taking away all democratic rights which have been won by ordinary people down the years. They must be opposed wherever they try to organise.”

Keep the Racist BNP Off TV!

NEW Youth Against Racism Leaflet

To order your copies today contact Youth Against Racism at youthagainstracism@hotmail.com