HnH NUS Conference report

HOPE not hate / Searchlight by Sam | Wednesday, 1 April 2009

HOPE not hate launched its joint student campaign with NUS in Blackpool to a thunderous reception. Invited to give the traditional fraternal greetings from a partner organisation Matthew Collins, a director of Searchlight, spoke of his personal experience of the extreme nature of the far right, and the violence and viciousness with which they would attack students and those who stand for equality and diversity.

Conference floor was rapt during his address; from laughter to shock at the reality of what the BNP getting elected in the European elections would mean for them. Matthew finished with a bang and NUS conference rose to give a massive standing ovation.

Following this the HOPE not hate student video was shown demonstrating students getting active all across the country. The HOPE not hate stall was mobbed afterwards and over 150 students committed to organising days of action on campus to build for Student Sunday. Students across the country have taken up the call for action. It looks like Student Sunday will be the biggest anti-fascist simultaneous student mobilisation in UK history ahead of the European elections. The ‘super-activists’ who gave commitments spanned the country – from Scotland to Hull, to York, to Exeter, Falmouth, Bradford, Penrith, Huddesfield, Aberdeen, Nottingham, Leeds, Kent and Bristol to name but a few.

Many students were keen to order campaign starter packs and get started as soon as they could. Students loved the vibrancy and colour of the campaign yet were also highly impressed by the professional and targeted approach the campaign uses to build the most effective Get Out The Vote campaign possible.

In the meantime nearly 5,000 students have signed up online since Friday’s email from NUS President Wes Streeting about stopping the BNP in Europe on 4 June, alongside another 1,000 people who have joined our Facebook campaign.

Sam
HnH Youth and Student Co-ordinator