BNP thugs plan revenge on NF man

posted by: Matthew Collins | on: Monday, 30 July 2012, 18:57

Eason: took offence to Taylor, apparently

Well, seek and ye shall find!

This is Paul Eason of the National Front, the man who attacked the BNP's Bob Taylor yesterday.

It seems Taylor is keen to refute our article (and the claims of people that were there) that Eason in any way beat him up. He's claiming the marks on his face only came from Eason's Nazi badges!

Now it seems that the BNP are planning revenge. Violent thug Mick Braun is suggesting that the BNP exact revenge on Eason at his home in Kent. Braun has previously suggested that Asians and Gay people be sprayed with hydrochloric acid!

Apparently Taylor's pride has been hurt by our article. A mysterious person hasleft a comment on our blog claiming that Taylor could take down seven large men!

***************************update************************

the person who fought with Taylor looked very much someone who was on Griffin's Security Team during the time of the EHRC case. From what I can gather, the grievance was about Mr Taylor making online threats to slice this man and his partner open. Another man who was there accused Mr Taylor of threatening elderly women. Mr Squire refused to help Taylor out. The owner of the venue then came out and said that the meeting was off.

Braun: Not brains, obviously

Kent meeting starts with a fight

posted by: Matthew Collins | on: Monday, 30 July 2012, 17:29

Taylor: None too popular.

Nick Griffin rounded off his weekend humiliation yesterday by apparently having to watch his Dagenham organiser Bob Taylor being beaten to a pulp outside the BNP's poorly attended meeting in Sheerness, Kent.

Taylor arrived in the company of sex-shop boss Steve Squire and local organiser Marc Ackland, but despite surrounding themselves with heavy security, Taylor was confronted by a longstanding enemy and beaten to the ground while the BNP's already shell-shocked securiy team were warned not to become involved.

Taylor was described as being in a bit of a "state" after the beating, but according to our source, he was given very little sympathy when it became clear what the reason was behind the beating.

Needless to say, as soon as we come into actual physical possession of the evidence, and if it is not too vulgar for a family site like ours, we'll be letting you be the judges yourselves!

Deacon's in Hot Water

posted by: Simon Cressy | on: Monday, 30 July 2012, 14:56

Alwyn Deacon chairing a BNP meeting

Thankfully, we don’t hear too much these days about the BNP’s merchandising outfit Excalibur.

The BNP and Excalibur’s manager Alwyn Deacon prefer to keep Excalibur low key and out of the headlines.When he isn’t attempting to flog the more gullible members of the BNP some of his cheap, shoddy merchandise, Alwyn Deacon’s other job is the BNP regional organiser for the West Midlands.

Deacon, whose father was once Mayor of Nuneaton first came to our attention when he was the landlord of Elliots Bistro in Nuneaton. The name makes it sound like a classy joint but in reality it was just another grotty pub used by a variety of drunks, reprobates and Neo Nazis.

The BNP used to hold regular meetings at the pub, Elliots was also used by the openly Neo Nazi British Freedom Fighters as a meeting place in 2009. Chairing that meeting was Wigan based skinhead Michael Heaton who went on to be jailed for 30 months in 2010 for six counts of using threatening, abusive or insulting words likely to stir up racial hatred.Heaton was convicted after it was discovered he had posted thousands of racist messages online including some calling for the murder of Jewish people.

Deacon left the pub shortly after these revelations and dedicated himself to working full time for the BNP, becoming their national dispatch manager along with his West Midlands regional position.

Keeping his head down, Deacon carries out his work quietly and without much fuss. He has been a BNP candidate on a number of occasions, narrowly missing out on being elected onto Nuneaton & Bedworth Council in 2008 by just 18 votes.

However, this BNP activism could be a huge problem for Alwyn Deacon.

Deacon is a member of the Territorial Army, serving in the 4th Mercian regimental band.

Writing on his own website, Deacon confirms this fact and also informs us that he along with the regimental band were due to make an appearance at the Olympics in London on August 11^th.

The problem for Alwyn is that he has had his official accreditation refused by the Home Office, presumably due to his political activity.

Members of the armed forces are allowed to join any political party they want, however, it is our understanding that they cannot be “active” within that political party, something Deacon most certainly is.

A spokesman for the British Army told us “Members of the British Army can belong to any political party, and may attend political meetings so long as uniform is not worn, service duties are not impeded and their actions do not bring the service into disrepute “

He continued “Service personnel are not permitted to take any active part in the affairs of a political organisation, party or movement. They are not to participate in political marches or demonstrations.

We do not welcome applications from people with views and beliefs that are incompatible with the Army's values and Standards.”

So there lies the problem for Alwyn, contrary to the British Army guidelines Deacon does play an active role in the affairs of the BNP, being a regional organiser and also full time dispatch manager.

And he has most definitely attended BNP meetings/functions wearing his uniform as can be seen from our photographs, Deacon was snapped in uniform at the Red White and Blue festival in 2009.

We will be presenting our information to the British Army and also the Ministry of Defence and we call on those organisations to take a closer look at the activities of Alwyn Deacon.

Deacon campaigning for the BNP

Deacon in full uniform at 2009 RWB

Deacon admits to being in the TA

An EDL view on the Olympics

posted by: Simon Cressy | on: Saturday, 28 July 2012, 01:54

Paul Dimmock

Having just watched the fantastic London Olympic opening ceremony I can't wait for the sporting events to start with a gusto.

I have always loved the Olympics and the fact it brings people of every race, religion and culture together.

Not so Paul Dimmock, an EDL supporter from Stoke on Trent.

I thought the EDL weren't supposed to be racist?

Paul Dimmock gets ready for the Olympics

Far-right round up: Treats and retreats

posted by: Matthew Collins | on: Friday, 27 July 2012, 17:06

Griffin: he farms pigs.

Ok, for those who missed it (how could you?!!) here's the chap from last weekend in Liverpool who went to shout abuse at some people but found his Dutch courage seeping into his underpants! One of the commets left on our blog in response to this pic was "so what, **** happens". Yes, it probably did...

It was a good week for the HNH facebook group. Why the mods on there have not rewarded the lovely boys and girls with some freebies will have to be rectified immediately.

Late last Friday we broke that the EDL were planning to hold a flash demo in Chelmsford in Essex the next day. Hundreds of phonecalls later and by the time the EDL did arrive, they found themselves kettled, hassled and even arrested until they got the message to leave Chelmsford alone and go home.

Up in the Wirral there were red faces too. BNP leader Nick Griffin was less than happy when the hotel he and some of his far-right Nasties were holed up in was notified just whom was feeding their faces on such plush premises.

Things went from bad to worse for Griffin. His new found friends in the Scottish Defence League found themselves getting a "tug" by the Constabulary this morning, forcing Griffin to concede defeat in his plans to hold a rally in the centre of Glasgow. I'm sure however, that our colleagues and Comrades in Glasgow do not need reminding to still remain vigilant tomorrow. And enjoy the sunshine.

How Griffin will fair in Dalkeith instead remains a mystery. It has a very large Irish community by my recollection. His party certainly did not fair very well in Stoke last night, did they?

It wasn't just Griffin and the BNP beating the retreat either. The EDL might be getting smaller and smaller, but I guess still not small enough for the leadership. Just in case there was anyone left in the group not pissed off with the spectacular decline of the criminal gang, Stephen Lennon and Kevin Carroll took it upon themselves to meet with the police and postpone next month's proposed march/demo/riot in Walthamstow. The reason given is that neither of them can [be bothered to] attend the original date. Anyone who says this is because there is a lads holiday planned on that date for the nearest and dearest to the leadership, is being uncharitable.

Of course, the minute you mention growing disquiet in the EDL they get very upset. The worst offenders are the parasites of Casuals United. Everytime we do them the service of helping air their pretty grievances and Jeff Marsh's notorious paranoia they deny it. No change after this week's war of words which despite the proof, Marsh is denying. Good for him. He's been at it again today, even deleting friends from his secret internet group, terrifed that he could be being "betrayed" to us by his friends.

So, it's lucky we did not catch him once more, saying nasty things about the EDL, it's leading members etc, etc and put them on here, isn't it?

Marsh: More proof

Marsh: blaming others again..

Marsh: we have not seen this, allegedly

Marsh: he does like to waffle on

Dine@Mine gets great take-up

posted by: Nick Lowles | on: Friday, 27 July 2012, 12:33

Over 50 people have already applied to be part of the Dine@Mine initiative we are supporting as part of the Ramadan Festival. Dine@Mine offers non-Muslims the chance to have a meal at the home of a Muslim family.

“This is a wonderful opportunity to get to know members of your community, learn about other cultures whilst sharing a yummy meal together,” says Julie Siddiqi, the organiser of the Ramadan Festival.

If you would like to break the fast at the home of a Muslim family or if indeed you are Muslim and would like to host a meal then please sign up here:

http://action.hopenothate.org.uk/dine-at-mine

Far Right Disaster in Stoke By Election

posted by: Simon Cressy | on: Friday, 27 July 2012, 11:41

Michael Coleman

Last night saw a by election in the Springfields & Trent Vale Ward on Stoke on Trent City Council following the resignation of a sitting councillor.

It was a total disaster for the far right in what was once a stronghold for the BNP.

Stoke BNP stood their organiser and ex councillor Michael Coleman as their candidate. This is the same Michael Coleman who is due to appear at Stoke Crown Court charged with racially aggravated harassment.

Also standing on the far right ticket was another ex BNP councillor Mark Leat who was standing for the miniscule Democratic Nationalists.

Coleman believed this could be his springboard back onto the council. He couldn't have been more wrong.

On the night the BNP slumped to 7th place with just 27 votes, just 2.54% of the votes cast.

Leat however did even worse, with possibly the smallest vote I have ever seen cast. Finishing in last place (9th) Leat collected a massive 2 votes which equates to a tiny 0.19% of the vote.

Quite how you can have 10 nominations to stand as a candidate yet only manage 2 votes is beyond me.

Red faces for the far right in Stoke this morning I think.

Mark Leat

BNP prepares for Glasgow disaster

posted by: Matthew Collins | on: Friday, 27 July 2012, 10:39

Griffin: Will also be in Swale on Sunday, probably...

Tomorrow's BNP rally in Glasgow, in conjunction with the Scottish Defence League (SDL) is already looking doomed.

Police in Scotland have this morning swooped on three senior members of the SDL and a nervous Griffin is bleating that this is being done to stop his rally tomorrow from being a success.

The SDL are closely aligned with the EDL breakaway group the "Infidels", infamous for Holocaust denial, animal cruelty and drug dealing.

A large presence of Antifascists is expected in Glasgow tomorrow to ensure it was never going to be much more than a disaster for Griffin anyway.

Some members of the SDL are apparently on the run, and a desperate Griffin is tweeting them telling them to say nothing if they do get arrested.

Perhaps owners of any tanning salons in the city should prepare themselves for the traditional BNP fall back when such situations arise..

Mark Ackland is probably dreading Griffin's secret visit to Swale on Sunday...

"Say nothing": BNP/SDL is full of grasses anyway

Infidels issue threat to BNP member

posted by: Simon Cressy | on: Thursday, 26 July 2012, 14:11

Jack Buckby with his mentor Nick Griffin.

For those not aware, Jack Buckby is a new face who regularly pops up in BNP/Far Right circles.

A student at Liverpool University, Buckby has been allowed a fast track within the BNP, and addressed the audience at the recent BNP meeting held at The Thornton Hall Hotel in The Wirral.

Although a recent BNP member, Buckby has his own side project "The National Culturists" whom he would have you believe is picking up new members at a rate of knots. The truth is somewhat very different and appears to just have two members, Buckby and his fellow student friend Phil Jones.

Those within the BNP welcome Buckby as he is able to string more than two words together, appears to have a bit of cash and lets face it, they need all the members they can get these days.

However, not all members of the Far Right appreciate Jack Buckby as much as Griffin & Co.

Griffins new found friends The North West Infidels appear to be not that impressed with Buckby and have resorted as usual to issuing threats against anybody they feel isn't up to their very high standard (LOL).

Declaring Buckby to be a Zionist, the Infidels posted on Facebook "Jack Buckby supports the state of Israel and is a zionist and has been added to NWIs hit list"

Buckby has replied posting "I've been added to the NWI 'hit list' for apparently being a Zionist.
These claims are based solely on the fact that I once mentioned at a BNP meeting that the man who married my grandmother was Jewish."

It should be worth keeping an eye on this one.

NWI Threat

Walthamstow Postponed

posted by: Simon Cressy | on: Thursday, 26 July 2012, 12:12

In a move that will upset a large number of EDL members, EDL leader Tommy Robinson aka Stephen Yaxley Lennon has released a statement cancelling their Walthamstow demonstration at short notice.

The statement reads " Due to prior committments myself and Kev Carroll will be unable to make Walthamstow on the 18th August. Following discussions with the Police today it has been agreed that the date will be changed to Saturday 1st September 2012, all other details remain the same apart from the date change."

As most of the EDL divisions have already started organising transport this will no doubt be seen as yet another slap in the face for the ordinary EDL members.

Jeff Marsh a war of words

posted by: Matthew Collins | on: Monday, 23 July 2012, 12:25

Marsh: More ups and downs than a fairground ride

Cardiff based football hooligan Jeff Marsh has started his war of words with the EDL again. Marsh often gets a little shirty with the EDL when he is not feeling loved or suddenly over indulges in whatever it is that over stimulates his sense of superiority. He normally comes crashing back to earth once the EDL bite back, becoming paranoid and claiming that he has been misrepresented.

The recent Bristol demonstration by the EDL was one of their smallest yet. Despite being as good as on Marsh’s doorstep, his secret army of designer hooligans who organise under the name “Casuals United” failed to materialise in any great numbers, much to the chagrin of the EDL leaders who are becoming more and more concerned about the growing downturn in their own numbers.

Marsh has now been pushing the writings of a ‘mysterious’ internet blogger called “Cardiff Lad” who has taken to complaining about Transsexuals and black people with dreadlocks appearing on the EDL’s shrinking demonstrations.

The mysterious “Cardiff Lad” is also suggesting that the EDL need just 200 people in matching shirts and pants and must be “marching in step and in lines and columns down the road in front of the main demo and that will shake the fucking establishment to it’s core!”

Having openly pushed the veiled attack on the EDL leadership, Marsh has been desperately trying (once again) to distance himself from the comments, particularly as Sarah Humbestone, who used to be very close to the EDL leader Stephen Yaxley Lennon and has decided not to sell a particular story to the Daily Star, has taken exception to the blogger.

Still keen to cause problems however, Marsh is now pushing a photograph of boxing personality Jane Couch MBE, seen here with EDL second in command Kevin Carroll.

Couch probably has no idea whatsoever who Carroll is, but Marsh is keen to make sure everyone sees it because he says he has no means of contacting Carroll.

Marsh: Already regretting his decision

Tweet: nice use of a proxy

Humberstone: Staying loyal, for now

Jane Couch MBE: About to be the victim of another publicity sting?

Plan B apologies for Skrewdriver t-shirt

posted by: Nick Lowles | on: Sunday, 22 July 2012, 20:26

This has just been posted up on the NME website:

Plan B has responded to criticism for a photograph which shows him wearing what appears to be a Skrewdriver t-shirt.

"The most recent issue of Shortlist shows the rapper sporting a top with the band's name written on it. This prompted some commentators to question his motive.

The New Statesman asked why the rapper had worn the t-shirt and quoted journalist Brian Whelan, who wrote on his blog: " It is very unusual that Plan B would knowingly wear this t-shirt and that Shortlist would stick it on the front of their publication. Make no mistake about it Skrewdriver were a nasty bunch, [founding member] Ian Stuart became a martyr for the far-right when he died in a car crash almost 20 years ago."

The rapper has now released a statement, which has been posted on The Quietus, explaining that the garment was not an official Skrewdriver t-shirt. He also apologised for not knowing who the band were, or what they represented.

He said: "I was ignorant to the existence of the band Skrewdriver. I don't listen to music like that so I wouldn't know the names of bands that make that music. I was wearing a t-shirt I created using a photograph from the photographer Gavin Watson's book Skins.

I asked him if I could print shots from his book on to t-shirts. I made a number of these t-shirts. Gavin's photos are relevant to me because they represent the demonised youth of the past. Just like my generation of young people aredemonised in the media to all be hoodie wearing thugs and chavs so were the skinheads in the 80's."

Speaking about the person on the t-shirt, who some thought to be former Screwdriver associate Nicky Crane, Plan B explained: "Most of the t-shirts I had made were of his brother. The boy on the image is Neville Watson. Neville is Gavin Watson's brother. The graffiti behind him is graffiti. Neither Gavin or Neville put it there; it was already there when Gavin took the photo. Gavin did not know I had printed that image on a t-shirt and I was not aware of the significance of it."

He concluded: "The minute I found out what the words on the t-shirt meant I was angry with myself for not questioning them. The t-shirt is not official nor is it on sale anywhere. It was of my own doing and therefore it is my mistake, but that is all it is."

http://www.nme.com/news/plan-b/65078?

Is Plan B wearing a nazi t-shirt?

posted by: Nick Lowles | on: Sunday, 22 July 2012, 13:14

Singer songwriter Plan B (real name Benjamin Paul Balance-Drew) has been photographed for the cover of ShortList magazine wearing a t-shirt depicting a skinhead with the word 'Skrewdriver' written above.

Skrewdriver was unquestionably the most famous nazi skinhead band in the world and led by lead singer Ian Stuart Donaldson was central to the formation of Blood and Honour, the white power music network which continues to this day.

In the interview Plan B praises the film Made In Britain, a 1990s drama starring Tim Roth as an angry racist skinhead.

Maybe Plan B is wearing the t-shirt to cause a bit of controversy? Perhaps he doesn’t realise the significance of the t-shirt? Maybe everyone has got it wrong and it is a totally different Skrewdriver (I certainly don't recognise the design as a B&H Skrewdriver t-shirt).

I think Plan B thinks it is a bit of controversial art, which if it does then it is not appreciated. We should not make light or seek publicity promoting a racist skinhead band who continue to inspire violent thugs today. It would be even more insulting given how he has made his name drawing on black music.

An explanation appears necessary.

Meanwhile in Chelmsford

posted by: Sam King | on: Saturday, 21 July 2012, 16:32

Cheltenham: Bad day for the EDL

It was late afternoon that we discovered the EDL had a secret plan to turn up in Chelmsford protest outside the Mosque there.

Some of their bigger thugs were making plans to go there, get drunk and cause trouble.

Well done to everyone on our facebook and twitter feeds for making sure they spent the day stood behind the police.

Magic.

Thanks to @jamesmelley for the pics

EDL: Pointless

Fascists kept at bay in Liverpool

posted by: Sam King | on: Saturday, 21 July 2012, 14:48

Dutch courage: the fascist on the right seems to be losing his!

A large turn out by Trade Unionists and antifascists in Liverpool has manage to keep a rag tag bunch of EDL, NF and Infidels from attaking an Irish march in the city.

Fascists began meeting in the city from early this morning, spreading the lie that it was a march by the Provisional IRA. The fascists even thought that Irish trade unionist James Larkin (born in Liverpool) was some kind of IRA gunman..

Earlier this year, fascists manage to stop a march, but this time there has been a large turn out of people to ensure the march, an anti racist march with a an Irish marching band that celebrates a Trade Unionist who fought for the rights of both the Irish and the people of Liverpool, went ahead.

Between 80-100 well known fascists, include the self-styled "paramilitaries" of the CxF began hunting around town early on looking for people to attack, but the march went ahead with a large police, Trade Union and antifascist presence.

Throughout the march, fascists tried to attack and intimidate people after a sit-down protest by them had failed. Two fascists tried to attack the march with bottles, but were beaten off.

Another one had actually urinated himself as his Dutch courage tries to escape!

By the end of the march which was 200 strong, up to 100 fascists had tried to line the route and disrupt it, but the band kicked up a rousing rendition of "The Fields of Athenry" to the delight of everyone.

Animal killer and dubious far-right personality Jon "Snowy" Shaw reacted badly to being photographed, kicking out at both our journalist and our photographer as he tried to escape Liverpool withouht being seen.

thanks to Matthew Collins in Liverpool

Tense: fascists try to attack

Ugly: More fascists

Roadblock: fascist fail

Griffin is shameless

posted by: Sam King | on: Saturday, 21 July 2012, 11:16

Shameless: The racist pig farmer

No surprises there, really.

Griffin has tried to launch an internet campaign against the supermarket chain ASDA this morning. There are issues about ASDA that can be checked out with the trade union GMB.

Griffin this morning says that ASDA are bankrupting dairy farmers and should be boycotted.

This from the man who sent a printer bankrupt and into deep depression eventually leading to him going to to prison.

This from the man whose party who left 9 people on the dole when the printer went bust.

This from a man whose "party" did not pay their call centre staff-ever. The BNP left their call centre staff facing Christmas 2010 without any money.

This from a man who organises a demonstration outside of a tanning salon.

Boycott the BNP! The BNP are bad for business.

You can read about Griffin and the printer who went to prison here:http://www.hopenothate.org.uk/gethope/

The Ramadan Festival

posted by: Nick Lowles | on: Saturday, 21 July 2012, 07:52

I was delighted to attend the launch event of the Ramadan Festival on Wednesday night along with a few of my colleagues. This is a very important month for all Muslims, a time when they fast during daylight hours but it is also a time of giving and sharing.

The Ramadan Festival 2012 is the first such festival in the UK but it takes its lead from a similar initiative which has been happening in the Netherlands for a few years. Its aim is to promote and co-ordinate events within the Muslim community and to build links with wider society.

"This will be an opportunity for us all to come together, Muslims and people from all faiths or no faith," says Julie Siddiqi, the Festival organiser.

"Ramadan is a time of giving, of charity, of sharing, of remembering those in need and reaching out. These are all qualities embodied by the Olympics too and we are excited to be able to combine those at the same time this year. All eyes will be on the UK and especially on London. For most people this will be a once in a lifetime chance to experience the Olympic Games in their own country. And it gives all of us the chance to showcase the fantastic diversity that we celebrate and hold so dearly in Great Britain."

The launch event was held at the Harfield Masala, a fantastic curry house down the Mile End Road in East London.

In between some great food there were a few speeches, including two from women co-ordinating a couple of projects that HOPE not hate will be activiely promoting over the coming week. The first is Dine@Mine, which sees Muslim households host a meal for non-Muslims. The second are a number of soup kitchens around London, which is being co-ordinated with a number of churches.

In addition, there will numerous other events going on across Britain, including the opening up of Mosques to the wider communities and large-scale food festivals.

We will advertise as many of these events as we can and I would urge everyone to get involved or promote through their own networks.

The Ramadan Festival website is: http://www.ramadanfestival.org

Far-right round up

posted by: Matthew Collins | on: Friday, 20 July 2012, 18:37

Tanning: The BNP don't like it

Another good week here at Hope Not Hate towers; we had an eight page pull out in the Daily Mirror , launched a food related website to celebrate Britain's diversity, and even had the tres cool Reg E Cathey pop by to say hello.

Some comedian even nearly crashed our website by tweeting to 2.5 million people to all give it a look at the same time! Never mind..

While we launched Britain Tastes Great the BNP got themselves all hot under their Aryan collars and called for a demonstration in Sunderland. Their demonstration was supposed to be a protest against Halal food. However, it quickly became apparent that it was actually really just an exercise in mimicking the rival EDL in seeing how few Nazis could fit into a car park. (The BNP wins this time).

Nick Griffin, the party's perfectly formed leader, even promised he would join them at the protest, but he doesn't have a good record of keeping out of trouble when it comes to Halal food. The last time we know of him going anywhere near Halal food he allegedly ended up with his pants at his ankles in a car park in Kent.

Perhaps his missus kept him at home, then? Who knows.. He certainly did not show up, but guess who did? Yep, the bloody UAF and others who took the BNP's demo location over and would not let the BNP stand outside Subway with their racist placards!

Some wit, (yes, me actually) suggested that it was all a ruse by the BNP and it was actually a demonstration against the poor old tanning salon instead. And to be fair, the last thing the BNP does want is decent white folk getting their white bodies bronzed and looking all ethnic, so the idea kind of stuck that the BNP was actually having a "Keep Britain White" demonstration. They even heard about it in Belgium !

Griffin's no show was explained away by his beleaguered lapdogs that he was on "important" business in Brussels. Our own lapdog in Brussels managed to tear himself away from the Duty Frees to search for Griffin, but alas, the Leader did not appear to be there either!!

Before we could even begin to imagine that he was under some coffee table somewhere with his head of security, Griffin emerged all resplendent in time for the evening piss up, which despite the Kebab van parked outside, apparently went off very well, if not a little small.

Whilst in Brussels, our hack decided to run a check on exactly how did the EDL's pint-sized Fuhrer Stephen Lennon, manage to wangle himself an invite to sit down with the big goys and girls at the European Parliament earlier this month. With the EDL's political wing's electoral mastermind and frightfully posh leader Paul Weston absent, "Tommeh" went to a meeting in the big house, but it appears there is no actual record of him being there!! Some suggest that could be because he was supposed to be doing Community Service at the time, but who knows... I would like to assure you all that there is probably a very reasonable reason why this mix up occurred..

And finally, what with it being Friday and me about to shoot off and break bread with my nearest and dearest, it would be remiss of me not to wish all of our Muslim friends a very happy, rewarding and peaceful Ramadan.

Get the laest issue of the HNH magazine here:http://www.hopenothate.org.uk/gethope/#.UAk_NC9iTzd.twitter

Hungry:Let's hope It was not Halal, Muriel

"Tommeh": Europe's mystery man

EDL leader's European mystery

posted by: Matthew Collins | on: Friday, 20 July 2012, 12:01

Lennon: My notes are quite short, too

Earlier this month, EDL leader Stephen Lennon made a surprise appearance in the European Parliament at a shadowy meeting populated by hard line Islamophobes, some of whom were singled out for praise by Norwegian mass murderer Anders Breivik.

The unadvertised meeting dealt with the supposed threat to Europe by Islam. It included Ned May, cited by Breivik 86 times in his manifesto and Elisabeth Sabaditsch-Wolff who also received the approval of the Norwegian killer.

Lennon was there to represent the tiny British Freedom Party (BFP), and as he sat and sweated his way through proceedings, our secret observer of the proceedings was (surprisingly) surprised just how out of his depth Lennon was. There was some long words being used apparently, and Lennon was there to claim that his gang of racist thugs in the EDL were not a violent organisation at all. However, Lennon actually struggled to tell the conference what exactly it is that the EDL stand for other than drinking lager from the crack of dawn and smashing up town centres.

Given that many British MEP's have been the victim of the EDL's policy of violence and intimidation, it was no surprise that Lennon even went to find one MEP in particular-despite being warned not to raise interest of his presence at the clandestine meeting.

Lennon left an anti-Islam leaflet on Richard Howitt MEP's office door, which some may see as a further propensity to harass deputies. He also left a note for the deputy in his mailbox saying, “You spineless coward, Love Tommy!”

For those not up to date with EDL parlance, Lennon uses the name Tommy Robinson to hide his own true identity.

Well, it appears that Lennon/Robinson could be in some considerable trouble of his own now. There is no record at all of either Stephen Yaxley Lennon or Tommy Robinson being signed into the European Parliament that day.

That is potentially a major problem for the sponsor of Lennon's visit. By law, you must be signed in to the Parliament, and show a passport as identity.

The European Parliament has confirmed that Lennon was apparently not there. if he was, he would be signed in, would he not? Lennon was supposed to be the guest of Belgian MEP Philip Claeys from the extremist Vlaams Belang (VB), but neither Claeys or anyone else signed in Lennon apparently.

So, what or whose passport did Lennon travel on and gain access to the European Parliament and attempt to intimidate British politicians? And further still, is he really that embarrassing to be seen with...

As soon as Claeys confirms who he did sign in, we'll let you know..

Confirmation: He was no there, apparently

Paul Harris: Not that old trick again?

Letter: Confirmed

Griffin arrives in time for a party

posted by: Matthew Collins | on: Friday, 20 July 2012, 10:03

Griffin: Managed to avoid the tanning salon

Not for the Brtish National Party, you understand. Party leader Nick Griffin was strangely absent from yesterday's 'Keep Britain White/No to Halal food' debacle in Sunderland, but luckily he made it to Sunderland in time for a booze up at the High Lane Social Club some hours later.

It seems the booze up at the High Lane in Hebburn was a more important date for some other BNP officials too. Scottish Organiser David Orr, who could not remember/be bothered wth this year's local elections also managed to remember there was a party booze up, but did have the decency to turn up in a bright yellow jacket for the earlier demo. Wonders will never cease.

In fact, people travelled from all over the country to get to the party, except from Tyneside.

Uninvited to share a sausage roll with the party leader, party stalwart Kevin Scott described the disaster of yesterday's failed demonstration as a "debacle" with Griffin "giving the ridiculous pantomine a body swerve". Thankfully, BNP TV managed to tell those BNP members who still believe their lies that it was the "biggest" BNP demo in the North East for years! Scott however, was not far off the mark by commenting further "only seven/eight people turned up".

Party time: The BNP are "huge" allegedly

Nick Griffin is a no-show

posted by: Matthew Collins | on: Thursday, 19 July 2012, 16:39

"No tans here": Doesn't Robinson own one of these?

Nick Griffin failed to show up at the BNP's demonstration in Sunderland today, leaving his dwindling band of supporters protesting outside of a tanning salon and not a branch of a fast food outlet as the BNP originally intended.

Around twenty BNP activists showed up for the protest but were well and truly outnumbered by local antifascists who were looking forward to seeing Griffin.

The BNP's activists claimed that Griffin was in Brussels doing the job he is paid for, but either they are liars, or just gullible fools. They had been promised that their lardy leader would join them at the protest.

The HNH team in Brussels ran a number of checks and Griffin could be found nowhere. Some have suggested that Griffin had actually made his way to Adam Walker's house, forgetting that the Party Manager is actually banned from driving.

Unable to protest outside of the fast food outlet, the BNP were shuffled over the road to outside a tanning salon where they began what was jokingly described as a "Keep Britain White" campaign.

Let's hope Griffin makes it to the party "piss up" tonight at the High Lane social club.

Back to the tanning salon...

posted by: Matthew Collins | on: Thursday, 19 July 2012, 13:19

Someone in the police force in Sunderland has a sense of humour. The BNP has been moved to stand outside the tanning salon.

Still, at least that will ensure that people stay white...

BNP kicked off the street

posted by: Matthew Collins | on: Thursday, 19 July 2012, 13:14

Victory! Antifascists move the BNP on

The BNP has been moved away from outside Subway and the antifascists have taken their spot!!

And they're off..

posted by: Matthew Collins | on: Thursday, 19 July 2012, 12:31

Losers!!

The BNP have given up with waiting for Griffin outside Matalan and are now off to Subway! Should be nice for them, there's 30 protestors waiting outside there for them!!

They managed a quick pose being departing..

More arrive...

posted by: Matthew Collins | on: Thursday, 19 July 2012, 12:02

Mr Angry

Let's hope Adam Walker has read my blog (I know you love it, sweetie) and decided not to drive into the arms of the police.

There's a few people looking desperate in anticipation of Nick's arrival into the car park at Matalan. Including this bloke with one leg (Chris Thornton) who seems rather unfriendly!!

These people are as bizarre as they are racist! They're accusing our photographer of taking pictures of kids? Seriously, the BNP can invent a paedophile anywhere but still fail to see the ones in their own ranks.

For your information, there are only a couple of kids here and we are not in the habit of photographing them.

Like their friends in the EDL, the BNP hold rallies etc, etc, attack photographers and journalsts and then complain that the press is bias against them!!

Waiting for Griffin's rump to show...

posted by: Matthew Collins | on: Thursday, 19 July 2012, 11:49

Muriel tucks in...

The police in Sunderand are out in force already this morning waiting for the arrival of the BNP's leader Nick Griffin for his rump rally.

Nice to see Muriel Malley waiting patiently and tucking into a Greg's pasty.

The Leader will be happy....

BNP Hypocrisy Over Paedophile

posted by: Simon Cressy | on: Wednesday, 18 July 2012, 18:11

Gavin Leist

Nick Griffin and the BNP have been particularly vocal this past year when it comes to the subject of paedophiles.

Griffin has embraced every opportunity open to him to lead protests against the various Asian grooming gangs that have gone on trial across the country.

Yet he has been particularly quiet when it comes paedophiles who are white and in particular those white paedophiles who also happen to be members of the BNP.

Not a word was mentioned when it was revealed that Rhyl BNP organiser Ian Si'ree was convicted last month for making and possessing 138 illegal images of child sex abuse.

The BNP also failed to comment when Lancashire BNP member Nigel Hesmondhalgh was imprisoned for nine months after a series of degrading photos and videos of children were found on his home computer in 2011.

In 2010 the BNP said nothing when Northampton BNP activist Darren Francis was jailed for a sexual relationship with a 13 year old girl.Francis was described by police as "every parents' worst nightmare"

Another BNP paedophile who was jailed recently was Charnwood activist Gavin Leist. Leist who stood for the BNP in the county council elections was a member of a child porn network where he possessed and distributed child pornography of boys under the age of 13.

The court heard that he had joined an online paedophile network and had exchanged emails and incited people to send pictures to him. He also sent emails to three different users with pictures.

Leist was given a 16 month prison sentence and was also handed a Sexual Offences' Prevention Order, which means his future computer use can be monitored at any time.

He was released from prison on June 19th and you would have thought that the local BNP members would have shunned Leist ?

Apparently this isn't the case as Coventry BNP organiser Mark Badrick soon contacted Leist on Facebook and started chatting with him as if he had been reunited with a long lost friend.

Badrick and the BNP can obvously turn a blind eye to its collection of BNP paedophiles.

Mark Badrick

Badrick & the paedophile Leist

Reg E Cathey says hello

posted by: Nick Lowles | on: Wednesday, 18 July 2012, 15:22

Matthew Collins recently caught up with Reg E Cathey

Our roving "ligger" Matthew Collins recently caught up with Reg E Cathey, star of stage and screen most notably the Wire and most recently Paul Heaton's excellent production of the 8th.

Reg is a huge fan of HOPE not hate and left us this little message

The Curry King who just loves Britain

posted by: Nick Lowles | on: Wednesday, 18 July 2012, 12:37

Jokingly nicknamed the “Curry King”, Lord Gulam Noon has been one of the most important influencers of the development of British food in the last 20 years. He is the man who popularised Indian ready meals in our supermarkets and also the man who created Chicken Tikka Masala, now Britain’s favourite restaurant dish.

I've just posted an interview with Lord Noon on the Britain Tastes Great website. You can read it here:

http://britaintastesgreat.co.uk/news/the-curry-king-who-just-loves-britain/

Griffin's rump still unstable

posted by: Mike Hartman | on: Tuesday, 17 July 2012, 23:42

Griffin: he farms pigs.

This Thursday’s advertised anti-halal activity in Sunderland by the BNP, reinforces the dire state of the party in the city and beyond. Nine years ago, Sunderland BNP was a well-organised branch threatening to win council seats. Indeed, the city was the first in the country to field a full-slate of BNP candidates. In this May’s local elections, the party was unable to contest a single ward. Moreover, the city – the largest between Leeds and Edinburgh – does not even have a nominated organiser.

Consequently, Thursday’s activity is arranged by Martin Vaughan from neighbouring South Shields. In 2010 Vaughan was instrumental in organising an anti-Griffin meeting in South Tyneside. He was even quoted in the Shields Gazette as saying that there would be no candidates in South Tyneside in that May’s elections – weeks later he himself was one of 7 candidates.

Worse still, the activist base for this activity is coming from Scotland! It would have been unthinkable just a short time ago that the North East BNP would have to ship in fascists from across the border to bolster numbers. This is a stark reminder of the disintegration of the party and the woeful state of the Griffinite rump in the region.

The BNP comprises a handful of Griffin cultists: potty-mouthed racist Anita Cooper from Newcastle; South Shields duo Vaughan and Thornton whose views on Griffin change with the wind; Muriel Malley, a devotee from Ashington; Adam Walker, whose mind is currently elsewhere as he awaits sentencing at Durham Crown Court following a most un-Ninja like defence of a bouncy castle. (Someone needs to check that Adam has a current bus timetable to guarantee he reaches the Matalan car park re-direction point on time following his driving ban imposed earlier this month).

Rumour has it that one time Sunderland BNP organiser John Martin might put in an appearance. Should he show, the above named might like to ask what he did with the Sunderland BNP membership list in 2003. If he comes clean on that, he might further explain how the BNP’s Town End Farm ward’s marked register was used to such good effect by the Labour Party after 2003. One can date the beginning of the end for the party in Sunderland from these events.

No matter who turns up, regardless of how far they have travelled, this poisonous exercise in Islamophbia will not revive the fortunes of the BNP in the city or regionally. The Griffinite rump remains inherently unstable, fragile even. Continuous sniping from the wings by Scott and Booth will only accelerate the party’s collapse in the North East.

Like Rats Leaving a Sinking Ship

posted by: Simon Cressy | on: Tuesday, 17 July 2012, 15:02

Nat Snelling

People are falling out of love with the EDL and that can only be good news!

Take Nat Snelling, EDL activist from Norwich and spurned ex girlfriend of EDL organiser Ivan Humble is one such person.

Posting on Facebook she writes " Can't wait til thursday. Finally getting my edl tattoo covered!"

She continues "Don't want to be associated with a movement were the patriots are only interested in getting pissed and fighting! What ever happened to supporting our troops??"

" I've seen it at just about every demo I've attended and I've been to a lot. And its not always the same people"

She has had a bellyful of the EDL and who can blame her, but we wonder if this is the same Nat Snelling who was arrested whilst drunk and fighting at an EDL demo in Whitehall in 2011 ?

Take the Taste of Home challenge

posted by: Nick Lowles | on: Tuesday, 17 July 2012, 12:21

What is British food? Is it fish and chips, Coronation chicken or roast beef and Yorkshire pudding? Is it Lancashire hotpot or fried rice or apple pie and custard?

What we eat depends a lot on which part of the country our family comes from – and also where our parents and grandparents came from. So it also says a lot about who we are as a nation – in some ways we really are what we eat.

British cuisine says everything about the diverse nation we are. Like our nation, our food is a hybrid of colours and flavours from around the world. It has been shaped by over two thousand years of invasions, exploration, empire, immigration and globalisation.

Our new Britain Tastes Great campaign, launched in the eight-page HOPE not hate supplement in today’s Daily Mirror, is an attempt to remind people that our society has been transformed by immigration and the movement of people. Too often we dwell on the negatives; too often people say a multiracial and multicultural society cannot work. We say that it can and it is and our food demonstrates this clearly.

Tell us your Taste of Home and what the dish means to you. Visit www.britaintastesgreat.co.uk

We’ll be putting your favourite dishes together to prove what a multicultural and diverse society we are. By submitting your Taste of Home you will also automatically enter a draw with the chance to win a week’s holiday in a French country house during in 2013.

We’ve created a new website so tell us your Taste of Home, find some recipes and learn a bit more about British food and through it prove that Britain is a better society for all its diversity.

www.britaintastesgreat.co.uk

Thanks

Nick

We are in the Mirror

posted by: Nick Lowles | on: Tuesday, 17 July 2012, 08:05

Today's Daily Mirror contains an eight-page HOPE not hate special. With just over a week to go until the start of the Olympics, the greatest sporting event in the world, HOPE not hate and the Daily Mirror have teamed up to launch a campaign to celebrate modern Britain.

This is not about waving the flag or celebrating our institutions but it is about celebrating the modern diverse society and the people who live within it.

Our supplement contains articles from Olympians, entertainers and chefs. It contains recipes from many of our patrons and supporters who have given us their 'taste of home'. It features the stories of some of our community champions.

Buy the Daily Mirror today and let's celebrate modern Britain!

Solidarity never felt so good..

posted by: Matt Hanley | on: Monday, 16 July 2012, 22:48

Workers Beer Tent: Fascists not welcome

No, this is not about the BNP's faux Trade Union (what kind of union charges 10% commission for instance?)

I'm actually talking about the Toldpuddle Festival. I've just returned after four days at the 2012 Festival with the Hope Not Hate team.

Bringing together the entire Labour movement, the Toldpuddle Festival not only commemorates but also celebrates; Progressive causes, Trade Unionists, politicians both young and old, brass bands, banners, debates, live music, arguments and ale make this an event I had always wanted to attend.

As Nigel Costley, TUC South West Regional Secretary says of the festival, "We need to make the case for the alternative, and recharge our batteries to fight what'ss going on with the austerity and cuts from this vicious government. So we need to marshal our forces and our arguments, but we also need to debate the alternatives. And this is a great place to do it".

The Hope Not Hate team arrived Friday evening to prepare our stall before heading to the beer tent where friends old and new awaited us.

In the Martyr's Marque and the Fringe tents, debate raged. Topics discussed included the nature of organised protest with Owen Jones, author of "Chavs" as well as an excellent debate hosted by the NUJ about Levison and the demise of the Murdoch media.

There was also a timely and excellent discussion "Women Fighting Back", recognising that women are bearing the brunt of the austerity cuts and still remain a marginalised group in society. My favourite event of the weekend however was "Money Trick", a play based on a chapter from the Ragged Trousered Philanthropists performed brilliantly by Townsend Theatre.

Life at the Hope Not Hate stall was always interesting. Sitting next to Matthew Collins is never dull. Eyes streaming with hayfever, he had to wear sun glasses while constantly complaining about having to share a tent. This apparent discomfort didn't stop him selling out of copies of his book 'Hate' in less than an hour before then attempting to eat the excellent curry stall out of stock.

Paul Kenny, the General Sec of the GMB popped by to grab himself the last of the very popular antifascist mugs and Manuel Cortes the General Sec of TSSA dropped by to pick up a T-shirt.

There was some excitement too when Irish singer Paddy Nash arrived seeking T-shirt, book and mug before shooting off to do a gig in nearby Weymouth.

The Sunday was the day of rousing speeches and the famous march into down behind the banners of the Trade Union movement. Half way through the march who should be seen sitting by the side of the road? None other than the great Tony Benn, smoking a pipe and waving at brass bands.

The Tolpuddle Festival has run since the 1930's. I regret not discovering it much, much sooner.

Paddy Nash: He wears Billy Bragg's jeans apparently?

GMB's marching band

Paul Kenny: He approves..

Just six hours to go

posted by: Nick Lowles | on: Monday, 16 July 2012, 17:54

Just over £1,400 has been given to our Appeal today. That leaves us needing £2,670 for us to reach our target of £10,000. And we have just six hours to raise it.

We are about to launch an anti-racist campaign in conjunction with the Daily Mirror to celebrate modern Britain. There will be a fantastic interactive website and the campaign will be launched with an eight-page supplement in the Mirror. There will even be a special HOPE not hate poster for Mirror readers.

To help us pay for this we launched an appeal on Friday to raise £10,000. Since then we have received £7,330 but we still need another £2,670.

If you would like to help us get an anti-racist campaign into the hands of millions of people you can donate here:

http://action.hopenothate.org.uk/in-the-mirror

Thief Bayliss Admits Demo Was Flop

posted by: Simon Cressy | on: Monday, 16 July 2012, 13:39

Mickey Bayliss

The EDL demo in Bristol last Saturday was a flop and that's official according to the Bristol EDL organiser and self confessed thief Mickey Bayliss.

Only 300 members of the far right group turned up for one of the smallest demonstrations so far with Bayliss telling the local media that he was "disappointed with the numbers which turned out for the demonstration" saying "more supporters were expected".

Much to the relief of decent Bristolians Bayliss confirmed that the EDL will not be making a return to the city in the near future.

Bayliss from Bath was implicated in a 1993 armed robbery of a Bradford Upon Avon post office.

In 2008 Bayliss was accused of the robbery and sent to trial following new DNA evidence that linked him to a balaclava found in the getaway car.

Bayliss denied the robbery and told police he had not taken part in the raid on the post office, but may have been stealing cars for ram raiders at the time.

The raiders who were all armed made off with about £20,000.
The postmistress spotted them leaving and called the police. The getaway car later crashed on the A4 and three men were seen running away from the car.

Inside the car police found cash and a homemade balaclava with DNA on it.

Bayliss was cleared at Swindon Crown Court after the judge ruled there was insufficient evidence to convict him on.

The judge said whilst it was clear the DNA was that of Mickey Bayliss it could not be proven it had come into contact with the balaclava during the raid.

Community champion - An inspiring story

posted by: Nick Lowles | on: Monday, 16 July 2012, 12:21

A couple of weeks ago we launched a search for the unsung heroes of our communities; those people who through their jobs or in their spare time bring people together.

We have received hundreds of nominations, including the inspiring case below. Nominations close on Friday 26 July.

If you have someone to name as a Community Champion, you can do so here: http://action.hopenothate.org.uk/page/s/community-champion

Gary and Jennifer Grant, Shamirah Grant Arts Foundation (Leeds)

Most parents who have lost a child in a road tragedy would find it hard to find anything positive in their grief.

But for Gary and Jennifer Grant – whose nine-year-old daughter Shamirah was knocked down and killed by an uninsured learner driver last year – out of despair has come hope.

Within days of the tragedy, the couple has arranged a children’s community day to mark her memory, and have since gone on to set up the Shamirah Grant Arts Foundation as a living testament to their daughter, which grants bursaries towards arts and dance degree courses.

Ruth Bundey, who nominated the couple for an award, says: “They have organised and taken part in numerous fundraising activities, adopting the symbol of the Butterfly to epitomise the transformation of tragedy into something beautiful and life changing. The two of them are truly inspirational.”

Over half way there

posted by: Nick Lowles | on: Sunday, 15 July 2012, 19:34

Two donations of £1,000 each has helped us push our fundraising appeal to £5,653.27. On Friday lunchtime we launched an appeal to raise £10,000 by the end of Monday to help pay for a positive anti-racist campaign we are launching this week with the Daily Mirror.

The Daily Mirror is read by over two million people a day and so this gives us an excellent platform through which to spread our message.

With the eyes of the world turning to London, we want to use this opportunity to celebrate modern multicultural Britain. You can contribute here:

http://action.hopenothate.org.uk/in-the-mirror

The Bristol EDL Demo: An Eyewitness Speaks.

posted by: Simon Cressy | on: Sunday, 15 July 2012, 15:22

Bristol yesterday.

Just as the EDL were claiming that their demo in Bristol was a huge success despite its tiny turn out, it seems violence has once again reared its ugly head within the ranks of the EDL.

Yesterday saw 16 arrests and one EDL supporter from Swindon saw the darker side of the English Defence League on a train journey from Bristol to her home town in Swindon.

Posting on the Facebook wall of EDL regular Gil Gould aka Mick Wittman, here is Lisa-Faye-Stokes' account from yesterday.

Remember she is an EDL supporter!

"I have supported EDL from day 1 but was disgusted with the behaviour yesterday, I had to work in Bristol so couldn't go to Demo I was a bit peeved but thank god now! I had the unfortune of having too share a train with what I can only describe as drunken yobs who clearly all they wanted was a fight the journey from Bristol to swindon was so bad that many people up graded to 1st class including myself when we arrived in to Swindon 1 such tosser got off the train and actually hit a women who was at least 60yrs old totally unprovoked, If it wasn't for the fact that I was stood behind her and jumped in front to stop her getting another smack i don't know what would of happened the Idiot then started Chanting EE EDL and picked up a yellow wet floor sign and smashed it against the wall, him and his mates were pushing and trying to start fights with other passengers who were leaving the station. I walked up to the top of the steps to wait for my taxi and 2 Gay lads were walking along with a gay pride flag another Twat asked him if he was UAF the lad replied who? and explained he had just come from the gay pride day in Bristol the yob then smashed him in the face whilst all his EDL mates stood there laughing and egging him on. My taxi then turned up he was a Asian man and a sikh def not a Muslim yet same idiots started abusing him and luckily he sped off. do these Idiots not realise they do more to damage our cause in 10 mins then UAF can in a life time??? hence why no1 will ever take EDL seriously and will always see them as drunken yobs, If there isn't a drinks ban during marches then your fighting a loosing battle. I now will step away from EDL as I would never want to be associated with such barbaric behaviour just as bad as the scummy muslims you are demonstrating against!"

EDP leader fails in libel claim

posted by: Nick Lowles | on: Sunday, 15 July 2012, 11:21

The leader of the English Democrats, Robin Tilbrook, has failed in his attempt to sue Stuart Parr, author of the Bloggers4UKIP, after he wrote a blog claiming that two former BNP members who had joined the party were: "English Democrats: Not left, not right, just racist."

A judge threw out the case after deciding that the words of which he complained could not be held to refer to him.

For the full story, read here: http://www.pressgazette.co.uk/story.asp?sectioncode=1&storycode=49654&c=1

Tolpuddle

posted by: Nick Lowles | on: Saturday, 14 July 2012, 11:48

Manuel Cortes, TSSA General Secretary

Come visit the Hope not Hate stall at Tolpuddle

Out and about across the country

posted by: Nick Lowles | on: Saturday, 14 July 2012, 09:25

The HOPE not hate team is out and about across the country today. I've been in Leeds, where I addressed a Unison Equality seminar. We have a team down at Tolpuddle, another up in Durham at the Miners Gala and photographers out in Bristol.

In addition to that we are still pushing our appeal to raise £10,000 to help us pay for our campaign we are launching with the Daily Mirror next week.

We have now raised £3,295.

You can help us deliver this positive anti-racist campaign to millions of people?http://action.hopenothate.org.uk/in-the-mirror

Dine@Mine

posted by: Nick Lowles | on: Saturday, 14 July 2012, 07:46

As part of our Britain Tastes Great campaign, to be launched next week, HOPE not hate is supporting the Dine@Mine initiative being launched by the organisers of the Ramadan Festival.

The Dine@Mine initiative seeks to pair up Muslim families with families of other backgrounds to celebrate the breaking of the fast together.

"This is a wonderful opportunity to get to know members of your community, learn about other cultures and challange steroetypes whilst sharing a yummy meal together," says Julie Siddiqi, the organiser of the Ramadan Festival.

More details about Dine@Mine will be announced next week

A Quarter of the way there

posted by: Nick Lowles | on: Friday, 13 July 2012, 19:14

At lunchtime we launched an appeal for £10,000 to help us pay for a campaign we are launching with the Daily Mirror next week to celebrate modern Britain.

I'm delighted to say that we have already raised £2,500.

As the eyes of the world look towards London we are keen to use the Olympics as an opportunity to celebrate the multicultural nation Britain is.

Next week we are teaming up with the Daily Mirror to launch a new campaign to do just that. There will be a fantastic interactive website and an eight page supplement in the Mirror, which will enable us to get our positive anti-racist message out to millions of people.

We need to raise £10,000 by Monday to make this happen.

Can you help us deliver this positive anti-racist campaign to millions of people?http://action.hopenothate.org.uk/in-the-mirror

EDL Vandalism in Stockport

posted by: Simon Cressy | on: Friday, 13 July 2012, 18:06

Gary McDonnell

Apart from violence the EDL also have a particular penchant for vandalism and destruction of property.

Gary McDonnell, a self confessed alcoholic and drug abuser from Stockport appears to be getting the blame for a spate of vandalism done in the name of the EDL and it appears he isn't too happy about it.

Gaz isn't happy.

EDL Member Shows His True Intentions

posted by: Simon Cressy | on: Friday, 13 July 2012, 16:01

Alan Furniss

Alan Furniss, EDL member from the Bexley area is a regular face at EDL demonstrations.

It looks like he intends to go to the EDL demonstration in Bristol tomorrow.

The EDL would have you believe they are a peaceful protest group, However it appears Furniss has no intention of being peaceful.

Posting on Facebook he writes " I really hope i get to wack a few people in the face tomw several times..oh and maybe a headbutt and a ear chew"

What a delightful human being. We challenge the EDL leadership to tell the violent Furniss he is no longer welcome at EDL events.

I wont hold my breath.

Off to a flyer

posted by: Nick Lowles | on: Friday, 13 July 2012, 12:18

An hour ago I sent out an email to our supporters asking for help to raise £10,000 by Monday night to help us get an eight-page positive anti-racist supplement in the Daily Mirror.

I'm delighted to say that after just one hour we have already received £1,202. That means we are 1/8 of the way there.

As the eyes of the world look towards London we are keen to use the Olympics as an opportunity to celebrate the multicultural nation Britain is.

Next week we are teaming up with the Daily Mirror to launch a new campaign to do just that. There will be a fantastic interactive website and an eight page supplement in the Mirror, which will enable us to get our positive anti-racist message out to millions of people.

We need to raise £10,000 by Monday to make this happen.

Can you help us deliver this positive anti-racist campaign to millions of people?http://action.hopenothate.org.uk/in-the-mirror

Let’s put it in the Mirror

posted by: Nick Lowles | on: Friday, 13 July 2012, 11:26

In just 14 days’ time the greatest sporting event in the world begins in London. The Government see it as an opportunity to showcase Britain to the outside world but here at HOPE not hate we would like to use the Olympics to celebrate the country we are.

Next week HOPE not hate and the Daily Mirror is launching a campaign to celebrate modern Britain – our Britain. We will be highlighting the positive impact of immigration on Britain, recognising those in local communities who do brilliant work bringing people together and ultimately show that we have more in common than we have differences.

We live in a world where news is generally bad and fear dominates. This is especially true with media coverage of immigrants, minority communities and Muslims.

But we have a chance to do something very different.

We have a chance to spread our anti-racist message to millions of people through an eight-page supplement and a fantastic interactive website. Please help us raise the £10,000 we need to make this happen.

Can you help us deliver this positive anti-racist campaign to millions of people? http://action.hopenothate.org.uk/in-the-mirror

BNP in angst alert

posted by: Matthew Collins | on: Thursday, 12 July 2012, 16:30

BNP treasurer Clive "Rodney" Jefferson

Sometimes I forget that the BNP read this blog. To be fair, we often forget that some of them can read.

Well, my earlier blog about my BNP timepiece has apparently caused all kinds of discombobulation in the party. Not so much that I broke the open secret that the BNP’s Chinese made timepiece was a piece of tat worth less than a quid; It seems I broke the deadly secret that the BNP’s inner circle was thinking of dumping the life members.

They were waiting to break this news to their members once the Electoral Commission had published the BNP’s accounts on August 6th. Some people in and out of the BNP are very excited by the accounts. They’ve obviously not seen them.

The party’s Treasurer Clive “Rodney” Jefferson has been boasting how he has managed to turn the party’s finances around to anyone who would listen. He ever so cleverly managed to fill in all the relevant columns etc, etc in the party’s return to the Electoral Commission.

Now, far be it for me then to repeat what others have said. Namely, according to some, that Clive is being uncharitable in not mentioning the hard work of Frank Hogarth formerly of the party’s auditors Silver & Co, who was more than a little helpful since his retirement in helping Clive enter his magical numbers. Or was that also a secret?

Sometimes I wonder if the BNP’s treasury department should not actually be renamed the “massage parlour”. I can reveal to those of you who were not at the recent meeting of the BNP’s inner circle that they spent literally hours upon hours slapping each other’s backs in delight at the apparent “obliteration” and “destruction” of all party’s dissenters. Then they had to tackle the matter of the vanishing members.

Those “dissenters” are of course, the very same vanishing members, if not the majority of the party’s members. When the accounts are published on August 6th, do not be surprised to see the BNP claim that they had 7000 members in December 2011. That is almost half of the figure they had three years ago, but it would appear still quite healthy for a small party. 800 of those 7000 “members” are life members (down from the “secret” figure of 1200 in mid 2010)

So, how did the BNP manage to lose over 400 “life members” you may wonder? Well, these 400 missing people are the ones who actually bothered to give the party notice that they had had enough of being members. Another 337 (to be exact) have never been seen of or heard of again. It’s been like swapping one spark plug for another for the person entrusted with keeping the magical figure of (just over) 800 current and “alive” (to use the jovial term the BNP use amongst themselves).

The majority of those 800 surviving members took out their life membership before the party changed its constitution in February 2010. This was when they were forced to accept non-white members for those who do not recall. So, the thinking goes, the BNP is actually a constitutionally different party!!

The accounts will also say that the party suffered a drop in something like £600,000 of income till December 2011, but on the flipside, the party also made large savings in printing costs!! Those savings could either be from just not paying their printers, to the other glaringly obvious scenario that in case you have not noticed, the BNP just does not seem to produce its monthly periodicals monthly at all. If ever.

So, everyone’s currently running around at the BNP office and on their telephones querying who could have leaked their great plan to us.

What they may want to ask, is will I ever find out about the secret figure of 1791? Let’s hope not.

Time has run out

posted by: Matthew Collins | on: Thursday, 12 July 2012, 14:42

Back in 2009 when the BNP thought they were on the brink of world domination and Nick Griffin and Andrew Brons had just been elected to the European Parliament as MEP’s, a couple of bright sparks got together and decided to offer a lifetime BNP membership to anybody that was foolish enough to part with £395 (rising later to £495).

This wondrous scheme was then given the notorious BNP hard sell, with the Belfast call centre phoning what was at the time a rather buoyant membership up to seven times per month to sell the idea of being a pivotal member of what one must assume was some kind of second crack at the 1000 year Reich.

It was, to be a life time member an exceptional honour. As Nick Griffin himself wrote at the time:

“This honour is being extended to a carefully selected group of British citizens, stalwart BNP members like you, and I would like to be the first to personally congratulate you for being among that special chosen group of people.”

Leaving aside the obvious “chosen people” gag, you were actually “carefully selected” solely on the basis you were daft enough to give the party your phone number in the first place.

Not only did you get a badge and a card, you also got a “top quality, exclusive, engraved watch, his or hers” and a signed picture of the pig farmer himself. Obviously, being a wealthy young man, I succumbed to the charms of the cheery, soon to be unpaid, BNP caller immediately.

If you were not fooled into handing over your money for a lifetime membership your proverbial arm was twisted into upgrading your membership to become a Gold member, the benefits of which I’m not entirely sure about.

Those who could not raise enough gold were then coerced instead into taking out a subscription to a party periodical, either the party’s monthly newspaper or the monthly magazine. Politely declining to part with cash just ensured you got another call and then another and then another in the hunt for the last piece of lint in your pockets.

Actually forking out for life membership, gold membership or a subscription ensured you were also called six more times per month because in the BNP’s eyes, well, you obviously had more money than sense anyway.

Now here I am in 2012 and this morning my “special, exclusive, engraved” watch has died on me. This is a dead watch. It is no longer capable of counting down the final days until Britain is an all white paradise run by a racist pig farmer and his coalition of cerebrally challenged underlings.

I attach a picture of said watch. Is it a symptomatic timepiece of the BNP’s fall from grace? Or is it just, in actual fact, a piece of old tat that the BNP paid 66p for as a job lot to pass on to their already fleeced membership?

You decide. Because the rumour is, the Life Memberships sold by the party are about to become as worthless as my shitty old time piece. That’s right, the 800 remaining life members are now such a drain on the party that they’re going to treat them like they would say, a printer that printed fourteen million leaflets for them.

Their time has run out.

(left) How the BNP sold me their timeless timepiece. (right) The crap watch I did get

Joining up with ASLEF

posted by: Nick Lowles | on: Thursday, 12 July 2012, 11:24

I had a really great meeting yesterday with Mick Whelan, the General Secretary of ASLEF, and Lee James, the union's Equality Officer. We discussed how HOPE not hate and ASLEF can campaign together and strengthen the relationship between the two organisations.

We agreed a programme of action which will focus on engaging with ASLEF members and then encouraging them to get involved in our wider campaigns.

No Bangers or Boozers.

posted by: Simon Cressy | on: Wednesday, 11 July 2012, 20:17

Tony Curtis

With the Bristol EDL demo fast approaching the EDL leadership has cracked the whip and told their errant members to behave.

First up was a ban on alcohol with the Bristol EDL leadership declaring their demo a "Dry" event.

East Midlands EDL organiser Tony Curtis posted on his Facebook page "As u are prob aware by now Bristol has been declared a dry event and I for one respect the organisors for that so if I see anyone pissed up and giving anyone including the OB abuse they will get a round of f#cks and be made to apologise~nuff said!"

He continued " i have personally had to get drunks away from confronting the OB at demos and at Hyde I saw a woman who was absolutely wasted being helped along by her friends in full view of the press~as I said there is nothing wrong with a couple of tinnies on the bus but what I have witnessed in recent events is simply not acceptable~if people behaved responsibly rules wouldn't need to be imposed~those who's heart is with the cause won't have a problem with it."

"there are people who think that demo day is just a big piss up and who continue to drag decent EDL supporters through the gutter with their pissed up actions"

This will no doubt be a huge hammer blow to most of the EDL members as the vast majority appear to have had a skinful when the demo finally starts and most seem to object to being told what to do, especially by the EDL leadership.

Just as they were getting over their enforced sobriety, the EDL leadership issued another decree. This time no fireworks.

Following the prosecution of North East EDL thug Anthony Crawford for throwing fireworks, leaving one victim with facial burns The EDL leadership laid down the law yet again to its already unhappy members.

"Please also note that the use of fireworks/bangers at Bristol is banned and will be at all future events. The use of these is against the law and in view of the recent terrorist threats to the EDL and the arrests recently made of Muslims intending to attack the Dewsbury demo the Police have stated that any fireworks/bangers used will result in firm policing by them given the current terrorist threat level."

This upset a number of EDL regulars including one Ben Schofield who wrote " sounds like we are having to bow down yet again because of muzzie bastards no way NFSE. Give an inch we've lost no fuckin way NS"

The last word goes to the previously mentioned Anthony Crawford who wrote " Guess ill leave my bangers at home huh?"

Pity he didn't do that in Newcastle.

Standing up to anti-Muslim hatred

posted by: Nick Lowles | on: Tuesday, 10 July 2012, 14:11

Mehdi Hasan wrote a really good piece on Sunday about how it was important that the few high profile Muslims in public life are not silenced through anti-Muslim abuse and scaremongering.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2012/jul/08/muslims-public-life-abuse?CMP=twt_gu

Sure enough his article was met with a barrage of racist and anti-Muslim abuse.

I would urge everyone to read it as he makes some really interesting observations. I would also urge everyone who is appalled by the abuse he (and many others before him) received to speak out in his defence.

It is easy to become accustomed to abuse; I know from my own personal experience. The HOPE not hate team read so much hatred that it is sometimes easy to become immune to it and simply laugh it off. But sometimes the abuse is depressingly personal and the threats are seemingly quite real.

But it is important that we don't become to accustomised to such abuse and we should make sure that we speak up to defend Muslims in public office even if we do not always agree with some of their views. I have a lot of sympathy, for example, for Sayeeda Warsi. I might not agree with all her views but the anti-Muslim abuse she receives, including from within her own party, is truly disgusting.

Likewise, not everyone has to agree with everything Mehdi writes to be appalled at the abuse he has to endure.

Mehdi ends his article: "To say that I find the relentlessly hostile coverage of Islam, coupled with the personal abuse that I receive online, depressing is an understatement. There have been times – for instance, when I found my wife curled up on our couch, in tears, after having discovered some of the more monstrous and threatening comments on my New Statesman blog – when I've wondered whether it's all worth it. Perhaps, a voice at the back of my head suggests, I should throw in the towel and go find a less threatening, more civilised line of work. But that's what the trolls want. To silence Muslims; to deny a voice to a voiceless community. I shouldn't have to put up with this abuse. But I will. I have no plans to let the Islamophobes win. So, dare I ask: who's with me?"

I certainly am.

(in the next issue of HOPE not hate, out tomorrow, we produce an infographic with the Tell MAMA findings about the state of anti-Muslim hatred in this country)

'Men planned to attack EDL demo'

posted by: Nick Lowles | on: Tuesday, 10 July 2012, 12:56

Three men appeared in court today accused of plotting to attack members of the English Defence League. Jewel Uddin, 26, Omar Mohammed Khan, 27, and Mohammed Hasseen, 23, all from Sparkhill, Birmingham, appeared at Westminster Magistrates' Court.

The court heard that guns, knives, machetes and a home-made explosive device were found in a car after what police claim was a routine traffic stop in South Yorkshire. The houses of the arrested men were then raided by the West Midlands Counter Terrorism Unit.

Three of the men were charged under the Terrorism Act 2006, accused of preparing for an act or acts of terrorism with the intention of committing such acts.

Four other men detained in connection to the investigation remain in custody.

It is alleged that the men were on their way to an EDL demonstration in Dewsbury.

In November 2010 the head of the West Midlands Counter Terrorism Unit claimed that EDL activities were fuelling an extremist response from within the Muslim community.

Muslim women under increasing harassment

posted by: Nick Lowles | on: Monday, 9 July 2012, 16:26

Depressing picture emerges of Muslim women under increasing harassment from white EDL supporters

By Fiyaz Mughal OBE

So what do Muslim women, white men between 20 and 50, EDL sympathisers, and the desire to wear a head covering and face veil have in common?

Sounds a bizarre set of circumstances but there is a strand that links them together. Anti-Muslim prejudice has been something that Muslim communities have talked about even before 9/11 and 7/7. Yet tangible data and support for victims has been lacking. Apart from a handful of organisations that have undertaken work at a policy level (and very occasionally at the grassroots) there has been little produced in this area. When some Muslims talked about Islamophobia or anti-Muslim prejudice, the response was that they ‘had a chip on their shoulder,’ ‘were promoting a 'liberal conspiracy’ or worse still, ‘were trying to gain sympathy to Islamicise Europe,’ the latter not being far off the bizarre fantasies of many an EDL supporter.

Since February 2012, the TELL MAMA project has supported victims of anti-Muslim prejudice in England and mapped, measured and analysed hotspots where such incidents have been taking place. After just four months the results are shocking and sadly confirm what many people (or many Muslims at least) thought.

The main victims are Muslim women and of those, the most likely to be subjected to anti-Muslim incidents and attacks are those wearing the hijab – the religiously based head covering (even more so if they also wear the niqab, the full face veil).The main perpetrators of the attacks have been white males between the ages of 20-50 – who it seems had no problem in verbally abusing Muslim women going about their daily business and even on two occasions urinating on a Muslim female in broad daylight on the street and rubbing faeces into her hijab in a separate incident.

One of the most startling findings is that 1 in 3 of the reported cases involved a perpetrator with a link to the far-right English Defence League (EDL) or the British National Party (BNP). This involved the perpetrator having made supportive statements on EDL Facebook pages, through Twitter or through support for the EDL/BNP in what they wore or shouted during an attack. Add to that one case of an EDL sympathiser willing to shoot Baroness Warsi between the eyes, and the catalogue of far-right and EDL agitation is not only worrying, it is depressingly sad.

What is also worrying is the lack of action from Twitter and Facebook in ensuring that such poison and hate is not promoted. Take the case of a female EDL sympathiser who openly threatened to ‘Clean up Britain’ (great), by ‘Bombing a Mosque’ (deeply depressing). She obviously sniggered and two others EDL sympathisers gave her the thumbs up. Unfortunately for them, we have their Facebook page on a screenshot.

We should not fool ourselves, as people who believe in liberty, that peddlars of hate (of any background) will stop their activities. They will not: they will simply use other means to get their messages across. Until then, those who have suffered any form of hate crime should report it in to the police or to third-party reporting agencies. If you have suffered anti-Muslim prejudice, the please 'TELL MAMA'.

Fiyaz Mughal OBE is director of Faith Matters, an interfaith and anti-extremist organisation which runs the TELL MAMA anti-Muslim violence helpline. www.faith-matters.org @FaithMattersUK

BNP Crash in Kingston

posted by: Simon Cressy | on: Friday, 6 July 2012, 22:13

David Child

By Election Result:Kingston Council, Grove Ward.

Moll:Liberal Democrats 710

Amer:Conservative Party 687

South:Labour 440

Coley:Green Party 123

Watson:UKIP 56

Child:BNP 23 (1.1%)

Rudd:Christian Peoples Alliance 20

EDL Man jailed for 9 years

posted by: Simon Cressy | on: Friday, 6 July 2012, 20:17

Daniel Smith

Dewsbury EDL activist Daniel Smith has today been jailed for 9 years for his terrifying attack on an Asian family.

Smith, 39 from Thornhill Lees, Dewsbury broke down his neighbours door armed with a collection of knives and threatened to kill the family.

Leeds Crown Court heard how Daniel Smith had 167 previous convictions before he was locked up for 10 further offences today.

Smith was removed from the court before his sentenced was heard after destroying a set of toilets in the cells.

In May, Smith pleaded guilty to charges of burglary, common assault, possessing an offensive weapon and making threats to kill.

Sentencing, Judge Guy Kearl QC, said: “They were very real threats, the victims believed, being confronted in their house by a man who they believed was going to kill them.”

Smith was sentenced to nine years in prison and given a restraining order banning him from contact with the family.

Smith (Left) with EDL flag

Blood,Theft and Dishonour

posted by: Simon Cressy | on: Friday, 6 July 2012, 19:30

Graham Thompson

I always enjoy it when the far right turns on one of their own. It means I can sit back, put the kettle on and watch with enjoyment as various members of "the master race" tear themselves apart.

That appears to be the case with the ever shrinking Blood and Honour movement in this country.

Blood and Honour is the Neo Nazi music network formed in the 1980's with links to Combat 18. It takes its name from the Hitler Youth motto Blut und Ehre.

Most of the time the disputes revolve around money with one Nazi ripping off another Nazi, and that certainly is the case here.

Hope not Hate can reveal that there has been a split in the Blood and Honour movement involving Coventry based band Avalon whose singer Graham Thompson has been less than honest when it comes to paying his debts.

Already failing to pay back a £1,500 debt to one Blood & Honour division and a £850 debt to another, it seems Thompson has also run up a large debt in Germany.

He has also angered the Polish record label "Strong Survive" who pressed a number of CD's for Thompson who subsequently took the discs and failed to pay the £2,000 he owed them. The Polish label have been left fuming and have called for a total boycott of Graham Thompson and Avalon.

The UK Blood and Honour divisions are holding their breath at the moment, hoping to recover their much needed funds, but violence is never too far away in Blood and Honour and they will no doubt only hold their breath for so long.

Peter King & His New Hobby

posted by: Simon Cressy | on: Friday, 6 July 2012, 12:06

Peter King with Nick Griffin

Ex Hartlepool BNP organiser Peter King is a regular on Hope not Hate and not without good reason.

A violent racist, King in the past has been convicted of racially aggravated harasmment, possession of an offensive weapon, actual bodily harm and putting a person in fear of violence by harassment.

However Peter King seems to have found himself a little hobby.

Hobbies are great, we've all got them from stamp collecting to bird spotting, a hobby will keep the mind active and away from thoughts of violence and racism.

King however has shunned train spotting for something far more sinister, I wonder what his probation officer would make of his collection ?

Proud to be British? Survey results

posted by: Nick Lowles | on: Wednesday, 4 July 2012, 14:01

Three weeks ago, just after the Queen’s Jubilee celebrations, HOPE not hate asked its supporters what the Jubilee meant to them. We asked whether they felt the celebrations had made them more proud to be British and for their views more generally on Britishness and identity.

We had an amazing response with over 2,900 people filling out our survey.

Here are the results: http://www.hopenothate.org.uk/british/

EDL seek anti-Muslim alliance with Sikh extremists

posted by: Nick Lowles | on: Wednesday, 4 July 2012, 08:52

300 members of the Sikh community from all over the UK gathered at Nanak Darbar Gurdwara in Luton

Last weekend the Mail on Sunday wrote a story about growing links between the English Defence League (EDL) and a few people from the Sikh community. The article reported on the attendance of the EDL leadership at a Sikh protest in Luton against perceived police inaction over a sexual assault on a young Sikh woman by a Muslim man and a meeting a few days later which discussed a joint campaign against Muslim grooming.

It is important to put this into context. Yes, the EDL were invited down to the protest by some Sikhs but as soon as their presence was known the leaders of the Sikh community immediately asked them to leave.

The wider Sikh community has been very forthright in its condemnation of the EDL and groups like The Turban Campaign have done some terrific work in warning about the dangers of association with the far right.

However, it would be foolhardy to believe that some people in the Sikh and Hindu community do not share some similar views on Muslims with the EDL. Some of this is historical, dating back to Mughal empire in the 1600s when Sikhs were forced to convert to Islam, but some of this is with more recent tensions between the Sikh and Muslim communities in West London, Slough and the West Midlands.

Following Guramit Singh's highly inflammatory anti-Islam speech at an EDL demonstration in Peterborough, in late 2010, Muslim extremists - linked to Al-Muhajiroun - began distributing leaflets in Luton calling for the conversion of Sikh girls.

Mainstream Sikh leaders have taken a great lead in calling for their community to shun the EDL but we must always remain vigilant because there are some who will seek to forge an alliance based on their own warped rivalries and prejudices.

Sunny Hundal has written a really interesting piece for The Guardian on all this.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/belief/2012/jul/03/edl-sikh-men-women

The Iranian regime is at it again

posted by: Nick Lowles | on: Tuesday, 3 July 2012, 08:56

It seems that the Iranian regime simply can't get enough of antisemitism. After years of promoting Holocaust Denial, including hosting the most significant Holocaust Denial worldwide gathering in many years, the Iranians have come up with a new sinister twist of antisemitism. Namely that Jews are responsible for the spread of drugs around the world.

This claim was made by Iranian Vice President Mohammad-Reza Rahimi, during a speech at an international anti-drug conference hosted by the United Nations last week.

The “Zionists” are in firm control of the illegal drug trade, Mr. Rahimi said, asking foreign dignitaries to research his claims. “Zionists” being Iran's definition of Jews who support Israel.

“The Islamic Republic of Iran will pay for anybody who can research and find one single Zionist who is an addict,” he said. “They do not exist. This is the proof of their involvement in drugs trade.”

He then went on to say how gynaecologists killed black babies on the orders of the Zionists and claimed that the Bolshevik Revolution in 1917 was started by Jews, adding that mysteriously, no Jews died in that uprising.

All pretty disgusting stuff.