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Friday, 12th March 2010

Campaign launched to keep BNP festival away from area

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Published Date: 12 November 2009
A CAMPAIGN to stop the BNP holding its annual festival in Amber Valley has been started by a local anti-fascist organisation.
Amber Valley Campaign Against Racism and Fascism has plans to fight the right-wing party with a 'No BNP here, thank you' campaign, which it is hoping will be taken up by other people in the borough and around the county.

The group plans on setting up a huge petition, signed by thousands of people, which it hopes will keep the event out of the area.

The group said it set up the campaign in response to the £500,000 which was spent on policing this year's Red, White and Blue festival, and the protest march of more than 1,000 people which took place in Codnor on the same weekend in August.

John Kimberley, spokesman for the group, said: "We felt most local people did not want the BNP holding its international fascist festival in our community.

"Talking with local people over the past few months it is clear they hate the bad name the BNP gives our area.

"Plus, police money could be better spent on community relations, fighting crime and supporting victims.

"We believe the best solution is that the BNP do not hold its festival here again."

A spokesman for the BNP said the party had discussed moving the three-day event elsewhere in the country following this year's festival, but no decisions had yet been made on the location for next year, which will be the party's 11th rally.

The petition against the Amber Valley rally, which has been held on land off Codnor-Denby Lane for three years, will be set up online within months.

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  • Last Updated: 11 November 2009 11:11 AM
  • Source: Ripley & Heanor
  • Location: Ripley & Heanor
 
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M Foster,

Lancashire 11/11/2009 13:51:24
re. My earlier post - if published.
I realise I confused the Amber Valley Campaign Against Racism and Fascism with the UAF but, no matter, the thrust of my argument remains exactly the same. In fact,it is further corroborated by the online survey which is presently 66% in favour of this rally.
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M Foster,

Lancashire 11/11/2009 13:53:01
The UAF have got some cheek. Backed by David Cameron, amongst others, it is THEY who are the fascists in stifling free speech and the democratic process with their actions, such as splitting peoples heads open with a claw hammer because they disagree with them.
The BNP is a legal political party, representing a million British people (and growing fast) who have every right to be heard. Let the people decide.
As for saving the taxpayer hundreds of thousands of pounds in police time, I would say it is the UAF, and their pathetic, mindless activities that are creating these costs.
If you so represent the voice of the general public, become a political party and see how many votes you get.
An enlightened patriot.
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metmum,

Ripley 11/11/2009 14:32:24
Both sides can say what they want about free speech and legitmate political party etc but they both forgot one thing, the fact that the roads around this area can not take the amount of traffic this event generates. They are small side roads and cause a lot of congestion. It means that we are unable to do anything the weekend of the event because all the roads are blocked. The site is unsuitable for this size of event. Neither side truly gives a dam about anyone in this area and the fact they bring their fight to our small roads/area shows this.
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Big.B,

Denby 11/11/2009 15:26:50
Metmum I heartily agree with your comments. The BNP have had their festival here for the last three years and it is now time for us to have a rest from all the upset caused. It doesn't matter who causes the most aggravation, BNP or anti BNP activists, the problems have occured and its time to move on. I have said many many times on this forum , the area is just not suitable so please give us all a break!!
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Exeter student,

11/11/2009 18:02:45
I agree totally with Big B and Metmum. As for regards to the BNP being a political party etc, I think Nick Griffins appearance on question time said it all. There is a certain song that springs to mind 'i'll see your true colours shining through.....'
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Freelance,

Kilburn 11/11/2009 20:43:02
Not wanting to steer this thread away from the main topic but I'm hoping some of you guys will be able to set me straight on the difference between fascism, democracy, socialism, etc. This is what I've got so far:

If a government wants to keep all of its own people in jobs and keep a roof over their heads, and not allow skilled jobs to be taken by unskilled immigrants - then that is a 'fascist government'.

If a government bans people from smoking in public areas, but still allow them to smoke in front of these public areas - then this is a 'democratic government'.

If a government gives away their country's sovereignty to another country without a public vote, and allows all of its domestic services to also be foreign owned, runs its own industry into the ground - then that is also a 'democratic government'.

If a government installs CCTV cameras all over the country, brings in a law to allow eaves-dropping on private phone calls and emails to be read by the security forces - then that is also a 'democratic government'.

If a government creates its own overdraft facility to borrow £200 billion and then still insists on using a huge chunk of that money to give to other countries, at the expense of its own peoples future - then that is also a 'democratic government'

I think I've got the general idea, but just wanted to confirm it. can anyone tell me if I've got the above wrong.
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SylvieM,

Codnor 11/11/2009 22:40:15
hbxm5gs7John Kimberley, spokesman for the group, said: "We felt most local people did not want the BNP holding its international fascist festival in our community.
Most local people Mr Kimberley?
So are we all quite happy to go along with this are we? So ask yourselves, exactly who was it that caused all this trouble – anyone? Was it the BNP? Did they march through all the streets causing traffic jams and caos? Why were so many police needed do you think? Was it because truckloads of unwashed, jobless, violent bullies desended on this place? When did the BNP threaten anyone? The UAF will try and shut them down wherever they go, and they don't care who they hurt in the prosess, because they hate anyone who stands up for this country. They ask us for tolerance. Tolerance to what? Tolerance to loss of sovereignty? Tolerance for loss of our common history, culture and values? Tolerance for loss of our identity and nationhood. You Sir can be tolerant of all these if you want to but the Great British people will NEVER NEVER be. And you do not have to be a memeber of the BNP to agree with them eiher.
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Big.B,

Denby 12/11/2009 08:42:23
Freelance, whilst I do see many things in your comments that do make lots of sense, you are in your own words,'steering this thread away from the main topic' which is surely we have now had our fair share of the disruption and the festival needs to be elsewhere.
SylvieM, it would be very interesting to see if 'most people' are against the festival. I know the Ripley news poll shows majority are for it but how many of those voting are directly affected by the disruption.
You are right; unfortunately the thugs who caused the problems are bullies and should not be allowed to behave in this way. I am not saying the BNP are totally innocent but some of the so called 'protesters' do nothing for the cause and drag a our free democratic society into the mire. That said, three years in one venue is enough, we now need to return to normality on our streets, to be able to walk the footpaths in the fields without being blocked by closures due to the festival. It may only be a few days in August, but this is the time we make the most of the beautiful area we are so privileged to live in.
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Joan Walters,

Exeter 12/11/2009 09:08:07
"John Kimberley" thinks "..most local people did not want the BNP holding its international fascist festival in our community" - how does he know this? Has he conducted an opinion poll locally? And he thinks the BNP are the fascists: after seeing his rentamob last time attempting violence against peaceful BNP members, I reckon his grasp of reality is weak. The BNP are winning the argument - even getting the Home Secretary AND the Prime Minister to make feeble excuses for losing control of immigration under Labour. The likes of Coun Emmas-Williams and MP Malaber are being exposed for what they are - traitors.
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Exeter student,

12/11/2009 09:55:39
Joan, apparently you are from Exeter, so how does this festival affect you can I just ask? I am a student in Exeter, but Derbyshire is my home. Secondly, can I ask if you watched the BBC's question time with Nick Griffin, I agree totally that Immigration is out of control, there is no denying that, but a party such as the BNP which is routed in Racist viewpoints is not the answer, and I am thankful that 69 million other people agree with me!
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