BNP by-election campaigner arrested over ‘racist attack’

Wanstead and Woodford Guardian by Sam Adams | Wednesday, 15 April 2009 | Click here for original article

A FRIGHTENED mum-of-two has been left too scared to leave her home she was allegedly called a ‘nigger’ by a British National Party (BNP) canvasser during a racist tirade in front of her five year old son.

Charleen Tobin, of St Margaret’s Road, Wanstead, has refused to leave her house since the incident - on Tuesday evening - during which she alleges the female BNP activist told her to ‘come to me because I don’t come to niggers’ when she tried to hand back a political leaflet that was posted through her front door.

The 43 year-old - who works as a nurse at Whipps Cross University Hospital - called the police immediately after the alleged attack at about 7.30pm - which she said has left her fearing for her family’s safety.

She said: “I couldn’t believe what this woman said to me in the middle of the street in front of my son.

“I walked after her to try and give the leaflet back but got a load of racist abuse.

“She told me to run to her because ‘niggers should be used to running.’ “This is the first time I’ve suffered racist abuse like this. I moved to Wanstead from Stratford because it has a special village community character, and then this happens.

“My neighbour has been brilliant and supported me, but I have been unable to leave the house since this happened. I’m worried about what might happen to me and my children.

“My husband is Irish, and black and Irish people in our parents generation suffered abuse like this, but I didn’t think this would happen to me today, in a place like Wanstead.

“My son is on his Easter holidays from school, and we were going to go out and look at the bluebells in the park, but I don’t feel safe to do that now.”

John Evans - who is standing as the BNP candidate in the upcoming Wanstead ward by-election - played down Mrs Tobin’s claims.

He said: “I am aware of this incident but knowing the BNP members in this area as I do I am sure none of them would have done this.

“As our leader Nick Griffin has made clear - anyone found bringing the name of the British National Party into disrepute will be expelled with immediate effect.”

Tonight's by-election hustings cancelled

A DEBATE between the candidates in the upcoming Wanstead by-election has been cancelled.

The news comes in the wake of the police arresting a British National Party (BNP) canvasser last night for allegedly launching a racist tirade against a black woman.

However the hustings was called off before the news of the attack became public, due to fears that there "might be trouble" if it went ahead.

According to a list of BNP members that was leaked last year, only two people are registered supporters of the party in Wanstead out of a population of over 20,000.

But organisers and speakers at the planned debate feared other BNP members from across the country may have turned up at the meeting to "hijack" it.

Tory nominee Alex Wilson said: "It's a great shame it has been cancelled, I was really looking forward to it.

"But the event has appeared on a number of unsavoury websites and many are worried the meeting could have turned nasty."

Labour candidate Ross Hatfull said: "The party line of the Labour group is not to share a platform with the BNP, but also there are a lot of people concerned there could be trouble if it went ahead."

Liberal Democrat nominee Kate Garrett said: "I think it's quite unfortunate it was cancelled.

"But if it had gone ahead there was a risk it might go the wrong way and end up being counter-productive."