Author Archives: Gerry Gable

FLA, the mask slips

Stand Up To Racism published the following article on 9 January 2018.

The Football Lads Alliance (FLA) have increased in their Islamophobia and racism, in recent weeks. John Meighan, FLA founder, revealed his true colours in defending Donald Trump after even Theresa May had criticised Trump for retweeting the fascist group, Britain First. That Meighan chose to back Trump’s racist stance, says much. Meighan, over Xmas, posted an openly Islamophobic post, see here:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Below is a post by Meighan which many suspect shows he has been talking to ex EDL leader, Tommy Robinson, concerning FLA troubles. If so, this would be notable for many reasons, not least, that any link up with Robinson, would mark a qualitative shift rightwards, by the FLA. Some in the FLA might flinch at such a move, but many would welcome linking up with Robinson, given his Islamophobia, shared by so many FLA members.

2018 sees the FLA getting to grips with a faction fight. Two admins from the FLA social media have been dropped and have savaged Meighan. Moreover, a leading player in the Scottish FLA has admonished Meighan. The FLA were set to announce the location of their next march in early 2018, but as a result of internal tensions, this was released earlier. Bowing to pressure, from Birmingham FLA supporters, this will now be in the city on March 24th. The FLA are also backing the right wing, Veterans Against Terrorism event in Newcastle, in February.

Meighan and the FLA leadership have let the mask slip with posts like the above. It reflects a hardening up of the FLA’s racism and confirms Stand Up To Racism’s analysis of the dark politics of those who run the FLA. Sickening posts attacking refugees finds favour with many in the FLA, Open fascists now post on the FLA wall, and are not removed or blocked by the admins. Their anti extremism is a sham.
Those in the FLA who back far right groups and want to confront the left are one factor in this. Another is the accusation that Meighan is taking much of the FLA merchandise for his own largesse. Meighan has partly blamed people from within his own football ‘firm;’ Spurs, but a number from several hooligan firms are critical of the FLA. FLA members have spoken of the heavy handed way the FLA is run, and of a heated meeting in Birmingham where Meighan had to be embarrassed into handing money over.

Some FLA members claim that they have been physically threatened by those loyal to Meighan. Meighan has blamed FLA members in the West Midlands for insisting the next march is in Birmingham. Rival camps may be forming, the FLA slogan, Together We are Strong, sits somewhat uneasily. Former members of the FLA, from two notorious, hooligan firms have talked of ‘settling scores’ with Meighan, Queensbury rules, it will not be.

Information received by SUTR is of younger FLA members wanting confrontation with Muslims in Birmingham, on their March demonstration. Comments from football firms, linked to the FLA reflect such remarks made on the ‘secret’, FLA Facebook site.

The FLA have also linked up with a tiny set of Islamophobes, calling themselves Make Britain Great Again. The latter had no issues with fascists being on a recent event of theirs, in London.

It was a different story for the FLA in October, when their 15,000 strong demonstration showed them confident; however, the march also revealed much about the FLA. Ostensibly, a demonstration against extremism, it attracted known racists and various fascists. Ex EDL leader, Tommy Robinson attended for some of the march, and was treated like a celebrity by many, who took selfies with him. Friend of fascists, Katie Hopkins also tweeted support for the FLA.

Speeches by Meighan and Phil Campion, an ex soldier, were reminiscent of UKIP rhetoric eg “We want our country back…political correctness has gone too far…we’ve lost freedom of speech. I’m not allowed to say anything anymore”.

Meighan had earlier criticised Diane Abbott, Shadow Home Secretary, who had signed with others such as Show Racism The Red Card, a SUTR statement, expressing concern over the nature of the FLA. From wanting to supposedly meet Abbott, the FLA have turned their fire on her.

Stand Up To Racism (SUTR) supporters took an anti racist message to the FLA demo as it went past Downing St. They included NEU joint general secretary, Kevin Courtney. Some FLA people took leaflets from SUTR but FLA marchers often displayed hostility towards SUTR. Racial abuse was also directed at trades unionists in SUTR.

Meighan attempted to gatecrash the SUTR conference. The previous day had seen him express support for a small, fascist led march in Whitechapel, East London, aimed at the East London Mosque. When challenged on this and being made aware of who had organised the islamophobic provocation, he replied that he “supported anyone demonstrating against Islamic extremism”.
Meighan knew the politics of those behind Whitechapel but chose not to condemn open fascists.

The FLA have linked up with Veterans Against Terrorism, supporters of ex UKIP, Anne Marie Waters, led by an Islamophobe. The FLA supported and attended a Veterans demonstration in Edinburgh in November. Work done by Scottish SUTR members saw good press articles locally, pointing to the darkness within the FLA. Contrary to FLA claims of being against the far right, Meighan rubbed shoulders with Toni Bugle, a former candidate of the far right, English Democrats. Moreover, the FLA speaker that day was Bill Weir, known as an EDL supporter. So much for the FLA’s anti racism.

SUTR supporters have leafleted a number of football grounds over the FLA issue. Results vary, but mostly, we have had a warm response. In some areas like Cambridge, Sheffield and Scotland and London, supporters from various clubs have met to discuss their attitude to the FLA. The Mayors’ of Tower Hamlets and Newham have written to West Ham United, regarding their own and fans worries over the FLA’s presence in the ground.

Show Racism The Red Card got behind SUTR over this issue and spoke at our October conference.

The FLA have a foothold at some clubs, throughout the divisions, but apart from banner drops, are relatively quiet at many games. One area of activity at matches has been collections done for the Justice for 21 campaign, for the victims of the Birmingham pub bombings in the 1970s. Many give, not knowing that ex Loyalist gun runners, for instance, are holding the buckets!

They have taken a hit in Scotland, but Meighan is looking to move forward after the recent rows. Of note is a number of BME fans who the FLA courted, distancing themselves from the FLA.

FLA splits are to be welcomed, as the nature of the organisation spews forth. Anti racists however will keep campaigning, as the mainstream islamophobia the FLA feed off, intensifies.

Britain First suffer washout in Bromley

Jayda Fransen and Paul Golding surrender yet again to bail at a police station – this time it’s Bromley

Saturday saw a pathetic turnout from Britain First in Bromley, reports Unite Against Fascism. Less than 50 turned out to see their leaders, Paul Golding and Jayda Fransen, sign on at the police station, as part of their bail conditions on charges of religiously aggravated harassment.

The fascists had hoped to march from Bromley North to the station, but for reasons not yet clear, were not able to. Of course, they blamed everyone but themselves for this. Around 200 answered Unite Against Fascism’s call and anti-fascists demoralised the little Hitlers, opposite the police station. The fascists had put out a national call for support and their low numbers clearly disgruntled several who did turn up. Ex-BNP members mingled with ex-Combat 18 thugs. This really was a rump and was the lowest Britain First demo for some time.

Labour Party members, Greens, trade unionists from the railway workers unions – RMT, TSSA and Aslef – Unite the Union, the NEU educational union and the civil service union PCS,made for an excellent contingent of anti-fascists. Disabled People against Cuts were also represented.

Britain First’s racist poison was largely drowned out. A few fascists gave Nazi salutes and tried to intimidate people but they were roundly rebuffed.

Lots of local people also joined our protest. Hardly any joined the fascists. They tried to prolong their hate fest but looked bedraggled at the end. Well done all who stayed the course and ensured that the fascists looked like the rump that they are. There were more flags than people for the fascists. Noteworthy was the EDL hanger-on who spoke for the fascists. He is the man who at the EDL demonstration in June, in London, said, “it is time to attack mosques”. He wasn’t arrested  for this and is clearly still at liberty. Why?

Several speakers stressed that fascists are attempting to regroup, hoping to emulate the far right in much of Europe. Groups like the Football Lads Alliance have been targeted by fascists, looking to get out of their current, fragmented status. Its a credit to all today, that Britain First were so well humiliated and often silenced. We need to remain on guard and ensure that the fascists remain in the gutter. Help us by joining UAF.

Two young Britain First supporters

Historical revisionist honoured by Polish Ministry of Education

This article is contributed by Jacob Fleming, Searchlight’s Polish correspondence

At the end of September, Tomasz Panfil, who is employed by the Institute of National Remembrance (IPN), wrote an article for Gazeta Polska, a newspaper owned by Law And Justice societies. He claimed that after the German aggression against Poland in 1939, the situation of the Jews was not too bad. He accepted that the Germans made Jews wear armbands with the Star of David and forced them to work as semi-slaves and confined them in ghettos, but they allowed the Jews to have their own self-government – the Judenrats. In contrast he claimed the Polish people did not have their own self-government. Recently Panfil received the Medal of Commission of National Education.

His statement was criticised by historians of Holocaust and even his employer distanced itself from his words. But this is not first scandal in his career. At the same time the media had questioned his expertise about Nazi symbols used by a far-right organisation on its website, banned on the grounds of propagating fascism which is officially illegal in Poland.

Panfil claimed that the swastika has many meanings and nobody can claim that it is always used as a Nazi symbol. And the symbol of a white fist with the slogan “Blood & Honour – Against Red Democracy” refers to victims of communist repression. Connecting the NSDAP with the far right was in his opinion impossible because the NSDAP was a left wing party.

The IPN is a public institution responsible for the investigation of crimes against Polish citizens in World War II and the communist period, education and historical research projects. But it is often used as a political weapon by right-wing societies that have controlled the IPN for many years. The new president of IPN, Jarosław Szarek, is also a revisionist of the Jedwabne pogrom history.

On 10 July 1941, during the German occupation of Poland, 340 Polish Jews of all ages from Jedwabne were killed when their Polish neighbours locked them in a barn and set it on fire. Szarek belongs to a tendency among Polish revisionists who claim that Jews from Jedwabne were killed by German troops or the Waffen SS. The Minister of National Education, Anna Zalewska, who honoured Panfil, is also a follower of Szarek’s opinions on Jedwabne.

Zalewska is one of the most controversial members of the Polish government because of her reorganization of the school system from 7-12 (primary school), 13-15 (secondary school) and 16-19 (high school), into 7-14 (primary school) with 15-19 (high school) in the current school year.

Protest against EDL founder’s book launch tomorrow

MANCHESTER CITY CENTRE
PICCADILLY GARDENS
5.00PM
TOMORROW, 3 NOVEMBER

 

Unite Against Fascism has issued a call for a protest against the fascist English Defence League founder’s book launch in Manchester tomorrow. It was been confirmed today that the event will take place in Manchester City Centre as a previous venue, the Bowlers in Trafford, has cancelled.

UAF asks people who cannot make the start of the protest at 5pm to get there as soon as they can. They ask as many trade unionists and anti-fascists as possible to mobilise for this, to send a clear message that Tommy Robinson’s hatred and division are not welcome here.

UAF’s protest is supported by North West Regional Secretaries from: CWU, FBU, GMB, NUT Section – NEU, PCS, UNISON, Unite; and MPs, MEPs, Councillors and others.

Kate Green, MP for Stretford and Urmston, has said: “Mr Robinson’s political opinions are vicious, divisive and dangerous, and he is not welcome in our diverse, multicultural and friendly communities here in Greater Manchester. I abhor all forms of discrimination, including antisemitism, Islamophobia, and all forms of racism, and I warmly support Unite Against Fascism in their campaign against this event.”

For more information, please contact 0750 737 3609 or [email protected] or see Facebook.

Anti fascist and community anger at fascist provocation in Whitechapel

Anti-fascists and members of Tower Hamlets’ diverse communities were angered by the appearance, locally, last Saturday, of a fascist gang, who have connections to the Football Lads Alliance, Unite Against Fascism wrote on Tuesday 24 October.

Around 50 members of the notorious football hooligan gang the Chelsea Headhunters and a few other thugs were facilitated by police to walk close to the East London Mosque. They claim to be part of the Chelsea FLA.

Indeed, the FLA’s founder, John Meighan, wished the march “good luck” on Friday night. When questioned about this, he said, “I will support anyone protesting against Islamic terrorism”. Such a statement and his awareness of the fascist politics of those behind the hate event in East London, undercut his claims to be anti-racist.

Some of the fascists on Saturday  have previously had online rows with Meighan, claiming the FLA is “not hard enough on Muslims”. Meighan’s message to them indicates he thinks they may have a point. It is also evidence of the pressure he is under from Nazi thugs who want the FLA to be a vicious, fascist organisation.

Gun running

Moreover, FLA member and convicted Loyalist paramilitary gun runner Frank Portinari joined the event as it ended at City Hall, another example of the far-right nature of those involved. He was joined by Terry Blackham, another convicted gun runner. In 1994, Blackham, then a supporter of the Nazi Combat 18 terror group, was arrested trying to deliver sub-machine guns and a rocket launcher to the paramilitary Ulster Defence Association.

Portinari was behind the forerunner to the fascist English Defence League, the British Ulster  Alliance (BUA). This brought together far-right football hooligans and some serving soldiers in and around the late 1990s. Marches were held on Finsbury Park Mosque and the formation fostered relations with Loyalist paramilitaries. Many were also supporters of fascist groups such as the BNP.

On Saturday, the fascists had first congregated in two pubs in the area. The march was billed as being ‘against Islamic terror’, racist code for Islamophobia. Anti-fascists were aware that fascists had been making noises about marching in East London, but some of those involved have a history of calling events which don’t, in reality, happen. (These are fascist thugs from the Pie n Mash, a splinter group from the EDL.)

Those who promoted and led the march are unashamedly fascists. Two of the admins on the closed group who organised Saturday have posted vile, antisemitic imagery online. Ex-members of the EDL and Combat 18 were among those who led the thugs. Croydon National Front supplied a few figures and some from Saturday had been at the Nazi riot, in Dover, in 2016. Others are linked to the often convicted, hooligan, Andy Frain. Frain is another fascist who has long run with various far-right and hooligan groups, especially at Chelsea and Reading FC.

Solidarity

Activists from UAF and Stand Up To Racism went down to the Mosque to show solidarity with those targeted. As news spread, Muslims and those of other faiths or no faith stated that such an outrage will not be allowed to happen again.

Anti-fascists are to launch a statement on the matter and a public meeting is planned for later in the month. Local activists think the fascists’ actions are aimed at initiating further provocations in Tower Hamlets. The borough of course has a rich history of anti-racism and anti-fascism, from Cable Street in 1936 to the defeats the English Defence League suffered. Such a tradition will be crucial in thwarting any attempts at fascist incursions.

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Searchlight adds: our photos below show a breakaway group from the FLA who described the FLA as a bunch of ‘pussies’. Among the faction’s older supporters are some violent Chelsea Headhunters and other convicted criminals. Photos by KSW.