Nick Griffin sent packing

Jim Jepps

Unite Against Fascism won another victory last night (Thursday 3rd July 2004)..

The far-right British National Party had hoped to host a meeting with their fuehrer Nick Griffin in Southend but local campaigners - who'd had a hard slog during the Euro elections - mobilised an excellent number of supporters and closed the meeting down, preventing the BNP from furthering their message of race hate.

The south of Essex had been the focus of the BNP's Eastern Region campaign and had been seen off at the polls, but with a worryingly high vote. The Nazis hope to keep the pressure up in the region but anti-fascists are determined to prevent that from paying off.

The UAF groups in Southend and Basildon show exactly what can be achieved by a broad coalition of those who oppose fascism - and the local roots of these groups are absolutely excellent. But where the BNP are focusing on an area, it is also important for those nearby to support these campaigns in whatever way they can.

To contact the South Essex UAF click here

Unite Against Fascism's website can be found at www.uaf.org.uk

Update;

Southend: BNP candidate bailed

British National Party candidate Matt Single, 33, has been arrested on suspicion of assault.

He was helping organise a BNP meeting at the Golden Lion Hotel, Southend, when trouble flared with anti-fascist protesters.

Mr Single and another man were arrested. Both were bailed until August 11.