Nick Griffin Recieves Eggstatic Reception in Hamilton

BNP leader Nick Griffin faced angry scenes yesterday when he arrived in Hamilton for an interview with local radio station L107 FM.

Protest outside the 107 building

With the radio station keeping Griffin's appearance under wraps until literally the day before the interview was set to take place, there was very little time for the protest to be organised. Nevertheless, Unite Against Fascism circulated details of it on Tuesday night and early on Wednesday morning a group of around 15 - bizarrely reported as 40 across the press (not compaining..!) - set out for Hamilton, to confront Griffin and attempt to deny him his spot on the radio.

Considering the relative low profile of the radio appearance, Hamilton was crawling with police - 5 or 6 vehicles and probably  20 cops monitoring the demonstration overall, as well as a presence at the train station. Griffin's eventual arrival, around 10.15, was met with eggs being thrown and an attempt to block his entry to the radio station building.
Two anti-fascists were arrested over the course of the demonstration, while another arrest took place for a racially motivated breach of the peace.

Griffin was expected in Glasgow North East later that day - indeed, by-election candidate Charlie Baillie had been claiming as much to the press until that afternoon - but in the end, while his people carrier and minders showed up, Griffin was nowhere to be seen. Seems he was scared of more egg-throwing....

Comments

Re: Nick Griffin Recieves Eggstatic Reception in Hamilton

By Anonymous

Nick Griffin wasn't afraid of some silly folk and their eggs he was off to Glasgow City Centre where he was a guest at a packed venue where he received a rapturous applause from many BNP supporters.  Why do people think abusing people for voicing thier opinions is right?  I just don't get it especially when the soldiers on their return from war were subjected to this from Muslims and nothing was again heard of this atrocity after 24 hours.  I think Mr Griffin may just have a point.   

Re: Nick Griffin Recieves Eggstatic Reception in Hamilton

By antifa

if you think mr griffin may have a point then you are as much of a twat as he is then aren't you?
it is now fashionable for all the stupidest and most trivial shows to haul the griffin on to try and get ratings. pathetic. people should consider those who give him exposure as fascists even while they purport to be impartial. 

Re: Nick Griffin Recieves Eggstatic Reception in Hamilton

By Anonymous

These groups, ANL, UAF and AFA have FAILED to stem the tide of the BNP. It's easy to go for neddish skin heads, not so easy to go for grannies and vicars who vote BNP, or educated people who do.

The "no passaran" thing is a bit too trendy too.

The anti-Fascist movement needs a new angle, and new tactics.

Re: Nick Griffin Recieves Eggstatic Reception in Hamilton

By Jon B

Anonymous wrote:

The anti-Fascist movement needs a new angle, and new tactics.

Ay, this is an interesting topic!

Many members of Anti-Fascist Action, and Red action (groups who would often confront BNP/NF with violence) changed their tactics when the BNP went for suits and elections and decided to do pro-working class communtiy politics.

They set up the Independent Working Class Association, a small political party, in deprived working class areas.

They reckon that the left hasnt come up with solutions for the real and lived problems that working class people are experiencing in working class areas - like anti-social behaviour, drugs and crime - perhaps by saying "after the revolution crime wont be a problem". But working class people are turning to organisations that are confronting these problems, such as the BNP, who have a hard line on anti-social behavour and crime.

So the IWCA advocates starting youth facilities and cleaning up estates, establishing community restorative justice schemes, local drugs detox centres and progressive local taxation.

There are many problems with the IWCA (so I hear from people who have been involved), but the general idea of community organising in working class areas is sound, and I think it is a model anti-fascists and anti-capitalists need to return to.

Re: Nick Griffin Recieves Eggstatic Reception in Hamilton

By Anonymous

Jon B wrote:
Anonymous wrote:

The anti-Fascist movement needs a new angle, and new tactics.

Ay, this is an interesting topic!

Many members of Anti-Fascist Action, and Red action (groups who would often confront BNP/NF with violence) changed their tactics when the BNP went for suits and elections and decided to do pro-working class communtiy politics.

They set up the Independent Working Class Association, a small political party, in deprived working class areas.

They reckon that the left hasnt come up with solutions for the real and lived problems that working class people are experiencing in working class areas - like anti-social behaviour, drugs and crime - perhaps by saying "after the revolution crime wont be a problem". But working class people are turning to organisations that are confronting these problems, such as the BNP, who have a hard line on anti-social behavour and crime.

So the IWCA advocates starting youth facilities and cleaning up estates, establishing community restorative justice schemes, local drugs detox centres and progressive local taxation.

There are many problems with the IWCA (so I hear from people who have been involved), but the general idea of community organising in working class areas is sound, and I think it is a model anti-fascists and anti-capitalists need to return to.

 

 

The UAF  fail to understand that denying folks free speech is the very essence of fascism.   IWCA sounds like a much more interesting and promising initiative.

Re: Nick Griffin Recieves Eggstatic Reception in Hamilton

By Anonymous

People have the right to free speech, Aye and the BNP, EDL and SDL choose to use that right to reveal themselves as facists. 

Where does the right to free speech take you if not used in combination with personal responsibility and mutual respect, (sometimes known as anarchy.)

It takes facists' marches to outside of Mosques, into the many, primarily Asain or black estates, (sometimes known as ghettos,) right into the hearts of the lives of the poeple they are trying to hurt.

When I go travelling I don't get treated the way people do for coming here.

It sickens me and makes me too ashamed to ever consider calling myself british, the way the immigration officials treat people desperately fleeing from countries Britian is bombing.

 

Re: Nick Griffin Recieves Eggstatic Reception in Hamilton

By Anonymous

There isn't some automatic freedom of speech.  I for one am into No Platform - why?  People shouldn't be free to say what they like IF what they say is these other people don't have the right to exist (here).  That's what the BNP say and other fascists.  I want to stop them, so that everyone has the right to live as they see fit if that doesn't shit on other people.  As to the racist bullshit about soldiers coming home etc, well I can imagine replies to this will be similar fascist 'I'm such a victim' nonsense - get a grip!

Re: Nick Griffin Recieves Eggstatic Reception in Hamilton

By Anonymous

The left have been asleep at the wheel!  Not speaking out when we also had religious extremists with ideas for a medieval style future  for our society organizing on our streets was as big a mistake as not confronting fascists.  We lost a chance for support from the working class when we kept silent about the intimidatory tactics of religious nutters, and we gain no real respect from religious groups with which we form alliances.  I don't know of any Muslim businessmen supporting socialists in elections.  Where are the left organizing against crime and drug abuse in their communities?  We do need to take a look at our tactics/strategy, rather than simply scream "fascist" at those who point out our lack of direction.

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