Defend Harrow mosque from anti-Muslim racists

unite against fascism

email bulletin, 9 September 2009 – www.uaf.org.uk – unite@ucu.org.uk

Defend Harrow Central Mosque from anti-Muslim racists

assemble 4pm, Friday 11 September, Harrow Civic Centre 

 

Speakers include: Tony McNulty MP, London assembly member Navin Shah, NUJ general secretary Jeremy Dear, Jo Lang from Harrow Teachers Association, Unite convenor and bus worker Abdul Omer Mohsin, Weyman Bennett from Unite Against Fascism

 

>>> download the leaflet HERE

>>> download the poster HERE

 

Racist bigots including the BNP-linked English Defence League and "Stop the Islamisation of Europe" are planning on holding an anti-Muslim protest outside Harrow Central Mosque on the evening of Friday 11 September. Unite Against Fascism has called a solidarity vigil in response to defend the mosque from racists and fascists.

We are calling on everyone in London who opposes the racists and wants to stand up for Harrow's multicultural and multiracial society to assemble on Friday at 4pm outside Harrow Civic Centre on Station Road, just north of the junction with Rosslyn Crescent (postcode HA1 2UA, nearest tube Harrow & Wealdstone). Please bring union banners.

The vigil starts at 1.30pm, so please get there earlier if you can. We want a dignified but determined demonstration that will show the racists that they are not welcome in Harrow. There will be a public rally with speakers starting at around 6pm. 

Sign the unity statement

Anti-racist activists in Harrow have drawn up the following statement which has been signed by local MPs, trade unionists and community activists. Send an email to uafbrentandharrow@googlemail.com to add your name to the statement.

"We the undersigned strongly oppose plans by the 'English Defence League' - a group linked to the fascist BNP - to demonstrate against Harrow Central Mosque. The EDL is a racist group out to attack Asians. It is trying to provoke and intimidate Muslim people by organising its 'protest' on a Friday in the holy month of Ramadan.

"Islamophobia - bigotry against Muslims - is as unacceptable as any other form of racism. Its aim is to divide us by making scapegoats of one community, just as the Nazis did with the Jews in the 1930s. Today they threaten the mosque, tomorrow it could be a synagogue, temple or church. Today they threaten Muslims, tomorrow it could be Jews, Hindus, Sikhs, blacks, gays, travellers or Eastern Europeans. There is no place for Nazis, racists or the BNP in Harrow's multi-racial, multi-cultural and multi-religious community."

Signatories so far include: Tony McNulty, MP for Harrow East; Barry Gardiner, MP for Brent North; Navin Shah, London assembly member for Brent & Harrow; Jo Lang, president of Harrow Teachers Association (NUT); Nick Grant, NUT national executive member for outer London; Martin Francis, Green Party candidate for Brent North; Abdul Omer Mohsin, union convenor for Unite at Harrow and Edgware bus garages; Raj Gill, branch secretary, GMB Harrow general branch (pc); Pete Firmin, president of Brent Trades Council; Alf Filer, UCU Harrow College; Indro Sen, UCU branch secretary, College of North West London; Milad Ahmed, Muslim Youth Helpline

 

Please distribute this email bulletin as widely as possible, especially in workplaces and trade union networks. Apologies in advance for any cross posting. If you have any comments or suggestions, email them to unite@ucu.org.uk or call the UAF office on 020 7801 2782.

 

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