Kent unity call against BNP

| Tuesday, 1 May 2007 Source: Searchlight

We call, as a matter of urgency, for the broadest unity against racism and fascism. The Fascist British National Party is fielding candidates in the forthcoming local elections, a party that is trying to present itself as a respectable‚ political party. In fact they are a fascist party. Currently they seek to attract votes on the basis of racism, Islamophobia, anti-semitism, homophobia and the vilification of refugees and asylum seekers. But fascists also stand for the expulsion of Black and Asian people from this country, the destruction of trade unions and the elimination of basic democratic rights.

We the undersigned believe that this dangerous situation requires a united response from all those dedicated to freedom and democracy. We believe that the conditions of working people are improved through unity not division, solidarity not hatred. We urge the people Medway to stand united in opposition to the BNP.

Mike Baldock, Labour Party Candidate Swale, Candidate local elections

Mike Beck, Greenwich Aslef Branch Organiser

Vince Mappall, Labour Candidate Chatham Central, Candidate local elections,

Frank Crompton University and Colleges Union (UCU) Regional Executive

Stephen Hetterley, PCS DWP West Kent Branch Secretary

Steve Hancock Medway Unite Against Fascism Organiser

Ivor Riddor, Gillingham and Strood RMT Learning Representative

Mike Sergant, RMT (personal capacity)

Tom Buttler, Sheerness Steel Community President

Pat Wiggins, Sheerness Steel Community Secretary

Jaquie Berry Community Young Person Representative

Steve Wilkins, Connect Azure Branch (personal capacity)

Caroline Shelton, Kent County TUC Association President

Matthew Collins, Operation Wedge Organiser

Mark Potts, Aslef Gillingham Chair

Dave Piggott, Aslef Gillingham Secretary

Kevin Mills, PCS Customs Branch Secretary

Ann Port, UCU West Kent College Secretary

Brian Kelly, Medway Towns Local Government Branch of UNISON Branch Secretary

Kevin Flack, TGWU 1/427 Branch secretary

Brian Jones, Medway ACL Branch, UCU Branch secretary

Jon Clark, Kent County TUC Association Secretary

Lorrie Hudson, East Kent Community & PCT Unison Secretary

Dave Dean, East Kent Community & PCT Unison Chair

Dee Harris, Kent County Unison Steward

Chas Berry, Kent County Unison & Socialist Party (personal capacity)

Mick Law, North Kent GMB NEC member

Paul Harper, Unison SE NHS Logistics Branch Health Group Exec

Dean Lane, Unison SE NHS Logistics Branch Assist Secretary

Alan Woods, CWU Invicta Branch Equal Opps rep

Zoe Van Dyke, Unison Organiser (personal capacity)

Ikram Ali, Medway Racial Equality Council Chair

Ralph Tebbutt, Medway United Organiser