Birmingham and Coventry National Union of Journalists

Reminder NUJ June Branch Meeting

Wednesday 12th June 2013
Kahawa Cafe
163 New Union Street
Coventry
CV1 2PL
6:00 pm for 6:30 start

Any apologies to branch chair:  alan.weaver1@ntlworld.com

Topics in this message:
Don't let the Racists Divide us - Support Unite Against Fascism
UN Committee Against Torture Strongly Critical of UK Human Rights
Understanding Gezi Park, the AKP, and the Turkish Protest Movement

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Don't let the Racists Divide us - Support Unite Against Fascism (UAF)

We must never let the politics of hate divide us. Creating more good quality jobs and affordable homes is the best way to give ordinary working people hope for the future and to tackle the root causes of fear and insecurity that the likes of the EDL and BNP feed on.'
Frances O'Grady, TUC General Secretary

Unite Against Fascism has launched a campaign - Don't let the racists divide us - to organise a nationwide response to the attempts by the racist and fascist English Defence League (EDL) and British National Party (BNP) to exploit the tragic death of Lee Rigby by whipping  up racism and hatred. This is a cynical attempt to pursue their own agenda directed against Black, Asian and especially Muslim communities.

Since the day of Lee Rigby's death there has been a severe spike in Islamophobic attacks and a wave of assaults on Mosques. Muslim communities are experiencing verbal abuse, women's headscarves have been torn off as well as more serious threats and violent attacks. Racists are simply stepping up their campaign.

Last Saturday, Unite Against Fascism organized counter demonstration against a number of planned demonstrations by the EDL and BNP, in Coventry, London Leeds, Glasgow and successfully stopped the EDL and BNP from marching.

In Coventry, there were a variety of speakers at the counter demonstration at Broadgate which included representatives from the Warwick & Coventry Student Unions, Unite, NUT, Unison, PCS & Coventry Trade Union Council. As well as observing a minutes silence for Lee Rigby, speakers spoke about the need to work in unity to ensure the proud anti racist tradition in Coventry. The small number of EDL supporters who did turn up were not able to do much in the face of the strength of UAF opposition.

In Light of the above as Equality officer, I would like to table a motion, at this months branch meeting, that the NUJ Birmingham and Coventry Branch 'Affiliate to Unite Against Fascism', cost £50 for one year.

Eleanor Lisney <<mailto:elisney@gmail.com>elisney@gmail.com>

Unite Against Fascism Website



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UN Committee Against Torture Strongly Critical of UK Human Rights
Concluding observations on the fifth periodic report of the United Kingdom, adopted by the UN Committee against Torture report at its fiftieth session (6-31 May 2013). The report notes 36 areas of serious concern and in its' conclusion, 'invites the State party to ratify the core United Nations human rights treaties to which it is not yet a party, namely the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of their Families and the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance.'
Read the full report <>  here . . . .