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Searchlight

Fighting against racism and fascism

Mystery behatted nazi revealed

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Now you see her…
…now you don’t

So, our friends over at HOPE not Hate have put a name to the mystery behatted lady in the Patriotic Alternative post from the Britain First rally in Birmingham three weeks ago.

She aroused our interest because the post was put up twice, the first time with her face shown but the second, later, with it concealed. The picture was taken by PA activist David Miles, on the left with the beard.

Concealed

The mystery fascist turns out to be Melanie Powell from Walsall – hence the Walsall FC football top on her companion.

Melanie Powell (again, in hat) at National Rebirth Party meeting with Alek Yerbury (wearing tie) in Birmingham, 2024

Melanie now runs with Alek Yerbury’s National Rebirth Party and the reason her face was concealed in the second post may well be that she was hoping her boss wouldn’t notice.

Because Yerbury was frequently online before the event denouncing Paul Golding as a grifter and the event itself as a massive grift and waste of time and political energy.

He will not have been at all happy seeing one of his own giving it her public support.

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Nick Davies

Nick Davies

To investigate fascists takes real courage and unusual commitment. The government, police, mainstream media occasionally take a look, but in the UK only Searchlight have kept at it, relentlessly and admirably, regardless of threat or obstacle. It’s journalism that matters. A rare thing.

Nick Davies
Multi-award-winning investigative journalist and writer

Professor Colin Holmes

Professor Colin Holmes
Everyone who wants to understand contemporary racism and its historical background needs to read Searchlight.
Professor Colin Holmes
University of Sheffield

Alf Dubs

Lord Alf Dubs

Searchlight’s voice is more important than ever, and I am delighted that it will now be available to a wider audience than ever before in its new incarnation online. Searchlight has been extremely helpful over the years in exposing the far right, corruption, criminality and the murky links between organised crime and powerful interests in the UK and abroad. I wish Searchlight the very best.

Alf Dubs
Labour peer, former MP and Cabinet Minister, and Kindertransport child

Paul Holborow

Paul Holborow
In the campaign against the National Front, Searchlight provided a rich and utterly reliable basis for much ANL propaganda – particularly with reference to the two leading NF figures, John Tyndall and Martin Webster. The appearance of Tyndall in full nazi uniform, drawn from the archives of Searchlight, was a key part of ANL propaganda, coupled with deeply damaging nazi quotes from Webster.
Paul Holborow
Founding member of the ANL and National Organiser 1977-81

Peter Hain

Peter Hain, founder of the ANL and friend of Searchlight

British Jews have been persecuted over the centuries; British blacks since the Windrush generation of the 1950s; British Muslims, especially after the Islamist 9/11 and then 7/7 terrorist attacks in New York 2001 and London 2005. But until the last few years there has not been a simultaneous threat against all three British communities of Jewish, Black and Muslim Britons – meaning the need for Searchlight has never been greater.

Peter Hain
Labour peer, former MP and Cabinet Minster

Paul Nowak

Paul Nowak
The essence of trade unionism is solidarity, fairness and equality – for all workers – from all backgrounds. That’s why our fight against the far-right has always been part of our movement’s DNA. Searchlight is an incredibly important resource for trade unions and members to understand the contemporary tactics of far-right activity. Their work and intelligence gathering over the years have been incredibly insightful for the work we do, and how we fight the scourge of fascism.
Paul Nowak
TUC General Secretary