UAF Deny Debate With BNP

[MilitantAnarchist]

On the Sunday programme The Big Question, there was a debate about whether or not the BNP have a right to be heard. The programme asked UAF to come on the show to argue against the BNP, but they refused because they dare to share a platform with racists...

Was this the right move?


(forget for a moment what a bunch of tossers UAF are)


Personally, i think they just had no way of preparing an argument against them that would be worth hearing... And i think they should of gone on to put the antifascist argument out there (still forgetting UAF are tossers).

[Forward Union]

On the Sunday programme The Big Question, there was a debate about whether or not the BNP have a right to be heard. The programme asked UAF to come on the show to argue against the BNP, but they refused because they dare to share a platform with racists...

Was this the right move?


(forget for a moment what a bunch of tossers UAF are)


Personally, i think they just had no way of preparing an argument against them that would be worth hearing... And i think they should of gone on to put the antifascist argument out there (still forgetting UAF are tossers).

No we need to challenge their policies.

[teenagebricks]

So.....the UAF refuse to debate the BNP, and they refuse to use direct action (last week's egging being an exception), what exactly are they doing to fight fascism?

[Spud]

So.....the UAF refuse to debate the BNP, and they refuse to use direct action (last week's egging being an exception), what exactly are they doing to fight fascism?

Exactly. The BNP must feel pretty safe if that's the best UAF can do.

[MilitantAnarchist]

exactly... which is why Antifa is the way forward...
im currently trying to make some antifa leaflets to hand out to people, obviously nothing that is incriminating to us, but just, well the usual antifascist stuff :p

Plus you can never trust UAF anyway, i never trust organisations with a 'tm' trademark in there title :p

[Holden Caulfield]

im currently trying to make some antifa leaflets to hand out to people
The name antifa (in England) is tied specifically to the group Antifa England, and so if you are to use that name best to get in contact with the national site and let them know. They might discourage you from doing so, but I would (off the record of course haha) suggest doing it anyways.

Before you distro any leaflets can I have a look (if you get round to making them)? PM me and send them or PM me and I'll give you an adress to send them to.

I'll give some comment on them, make sure they would be okay with the national antifascist groups line.

OR

Simply make antifascist ones not antifa ones. (I dont mean to be anal but if anybody puts out stuff on the antifa name then shit will get confusing and generally fucked up)

[Melbourne Lefty]

If the UAF did go on the show who would they send?

Please not Weyman. I am sure they have better speakers than him better able to put across their case.

[The Ungovernable Farce]

On the Sunday programme The Big Question, there was a debate about whether or not the BNP have a right to be heard. The programme asked UAF to come on the show to argue against the BNP, but they refused because they dare to share a platform with racists...

Was this the right move?


(forget for a moment what a bunch of tossers UAF are)


Personally, i think they just had no way of preparing an argument against them that would be worth hearing... And i think they should of gone on to put the antifascist argument out there (still forgetting UAF are tossers).
I think it's perfectly legitimate to refuse to debate them. If you support a No Platform policy, then that means you don't engage in any activity that gives them a platform.

[Holden Caulfield]

I think it's perfectly legitimate to refuse to debate them. If you support a No Platform policy, then that means you don't engage in any activity that gives them a platform.

True, but the BNP already have a platform in most cases: the radio debate fiasco and the GLA 'left list' fiasco are examples of this. If they already have a platform then refusing to debate with them hands them the platform unopposed, and so the 'no-platform policy' ceases to be 'no-platform'

[Melbourne Lefty]

True, but the BNP already have a platform in most cases


No platform belongs in the age where the far right were trying to march up and down the streets terrifying people they didnt like.

When the far right was not electable keeping them off the platform was a must to keep their views in shadow.

Those views are not in shadow anymore.

What is needed are people willing to go on these shows and offer a class based argument against the BNP.

The other commentators in the newsprint media and over the airwaves are doing a lot of the "oooohhhh arent you all nasty nazis and all" and doing it well.

But no-one is mentioning the main reason to oppose the BNP, because it and groups like it in other communities [we are not just against white racists] divide the working class and thus undermine the solidarity needed to get better rights for working people.

The BNP is getting their message out there. We are not. By denying the BNP a platform to debate us we are not denying them publicity, they already have it. We are denying OUR OWN VIEWS publicity.