14th December 2003
Some of you may have noticed the report in the Evening Post on Thursday about a meeting in the Civic Hall this week to launch a united campaign against the British National Party in the city. The report mentioned that 150 people were at this meeting, including representatives from Muslim and Christian organisations, political parties, community groups and people of good will with a concern for the issues. One of the representatives from ‘a Christian organisation’ was me and I thought I would spend a few moments this morning reporting back on that meeting.
The meeting launched a coalition called Leeds Unity Against Racism and Fascism. The spur for it is the British National Party’s intention to field candidates in all of the city wards at the local and European elections in June next year. The British National Party have made gains in neighbouring councils over the last few years and last week a conservative councillor in Halifax changed parties and joined them.
We need to be under no doubt about this, the British National Party is a racist and fascist party. They can appear to be for everything that anyone wants, there is a seductive quality to the way they present themselves, but deep down they peddle hatred and many of their leaders have criminal convictions for violent acts of racial hatred. The BBC website catalogues many of these. I don’t normally put things as strongly as this, but I believe that the BNP is incompatible with the Christian faith.
Racism is one of those words that gets banded around, often without much explanation. I would define racism as unfairly discriminating against people because of their racial origin. It is to regard and treat those people in an inferior way and can involve displaying hatred towards them because of their race. The BNP do these things in the extreme.
Many of the leaders of the BNP also deny that the holocaust took place. I don’t know how they can do that with a straight face, because the evidence is overwhelming, but they do. One of the speakers at the meeting suggested that the reason they do this is so that they can repeat it, a thought that makes a chill run down my spine.
I was quite impressed by the Unity meeting on Tuesday evening. The speakers were in the main pretty moderate and from across the spectrum. One of them said that the majority of people in this city don’t want the BNP or the poisonous hatred they spread. But they win seats at elections because the majority remain silent and don’t vote. They get in because of apathy. If you often find it difficult to know who to vote for, and many people find themselves uninspired for one reason or another by what is on offer, then this lot should chill your spine and that alone should be a spur to vote for someone else.
Leeds was described as a place that has made giant leaps in the direction of racial harmony. Racism used to run unchecked at Leeds United but this was tackled. The exploits of groups like Combat 18 were seen off 20 years ago because people were mobilised in greater numbers to block their way and make it clear by sheer force of numbers that they were not welcome.
I think what is called for is for the silent majority to make a noise that the racist hatred of the BNP is not wanted. There are a number of ways that this can be done. Firstly, we can all use our vote and force ourselves to make a choice from what is on offer so that these racists don’t get in by default. We don’t always have perfect choices on offer, but we do have to realise that this is what we have to choose from, and choose we must. Secondly there is a statement of unity which can be signed and I have put some at the back of the church for anyone who would like to see a copy.
Another speaker spoke about how racist and fascist parties make headway. They do, after all, attract some to vote for them; it is not all due to apathy. He put this under two headings - economic factors and ignorance of the true facts.
There is poverty and social exclusion in this city. Not everyone is sharing in the wealth and prosperity that others are enjoying. Still others are feeling the pinch in one way or another and such economic discontent can be a breeding ground for the BNP.
But the BNP thrives on alarmist statements. Talk of a flood of asylum-seekers and implying that these people are the cause of our economic problems peddles the lie the BNP thrive on. Actually the numbers are very small. If you look at the 2001 census results, Leeds is no where near as multicultural a city as we are often led to believe. Leeds is 92% white. But even if it were these people are not to blame for any problems we face and we need to say that more often than we do.
The message I came away with was there is a real threat because this hate-filled bile is being peddled and it is voter apathy and ignorance that will let them in. They are not a morally neutral, third way party. This country went to war against their political heroes in the last century and we do not want to let them get a foothold in this one.
Our readings this morning gave us images of conflict and confrontation (Zephaniah 3:14-20, Luke 3:7-19). Zephaniah described God as ‘a warrior who gives victory’ (v17), who will ‘deal with all your oppressors’ and ‘save the lame and gather the outcast’ (v19). John the Baptist gave practical examples of justice and fairness. We forget sometimes that the Christian faith has this struggle for liberation and peace at its heart. Evil has to be confronted and shown for what it is.
Advent is a time when we focus on light shining in darkness. Lighting the Advent candles can seem such a heart-warming thing to do, but it can also disturb and take us into the heart of the conflict that is around us. The great Advent themes of judgement, death, heaven and hell place us under the microscope of the God of justice and unity. Standing against poisonous hatred and rejecting the lies that thrives on are part of living the Advent hope.
© Ian Black 2003
Our Statement of Unity
We, the undersigned, are deeply concerned at the threat now posed by the British National Party and other Fascist organisations in Leeds.
Building on their disturbing recent gains of 17 council seats across the country including most recently Heckmondwicke in West Yorkshire, the BNP are already organising to achieve a major breakthrough next year (June 2004) in both the Euro and council elections. In Leeds, they could possibly field as many as 33 candidates.
We know that the majority of people in Leeds, along with millions nationwide, are appalled at the growth of the BNP and other Fascist groups.
Leeds Unity Against Racism and Fascism is a local broad-based active campaign similar to many others currently emerging across the country. In our region campaigns of this nature already exist in Oldham, Burnley, Bradford, Calderdale and Kirklees.
Our primary aim is to campaign against the BNP and all racist and fascist organisations in council and national elections.
We stand united against Racism and Fascism in Leeds in our communities, our trade unions, our religious and political organisations. In unity we endorse this campaign and urge you to join us.