The only person lying here is Josh.
We met with the woman who told us that UAF threatened us with legal action originally this morning. She confirmed that this is what she was told on the phone. The threat was made. That it was later recanted is good, but nevertheless, this does not negate the original threat.
Josh then says that we were not expelled from Leeds Uni UAF but only the meeting. This is a complete lie to cover up for the back tracking of UAF central office and the Leeds Uni and Met SWSS groups. The motion made it clear that all Revolution Society members were expelled from the Leeds Uni UAF group. I'm please to say that the woman who chaired the meeting that expelled us, told us this morning they are willing to withdraw the expulsion. Good. Perhaps then we can get on with building the movement. We will work to ensure that the movement has the maximum possible democracy, open and honest debate on the strategic questions and democratic accountability in its decision making structures.
I can't let Mr T's post go without comment. The classic argument of keeping Lib Dems, Greens, Tories, etc, on board in the anti-fascist movement. This is a complete joke. Activists from these parties are no where to be seen at the base of the movement. Their presence at the top allows them to act as a phantom right wing that checks the development of more radical approach to fighting the BNP (which is desperately needed) at the base.
The truth is the anti-fascist movement is tiny. Every day that goes by that sees UAF not addressing islamophobia (indeed, conducting threats and mini-purges against those that do want UAF to address it!) and refugee racism, the need for no platform, organised self defence, etc, is a day lost to the BNP. We will continue to raise these issues within the movement, fight for their adoption etc. We will also, leaving aside the outrageous slanders levelled at us from some quarters, do this in an entirely loyal fashion and in the context of unity.
Finally, for all their talk of unity, etc, its worth pointing out that there is an artificial split in the anti-racist and anti-fascist movement since Searchlight left UAF eighteen months ago. Its funny that SWP members always "talk left" when they are making venomous attacks on Searchlight - "Labour Party bastards", etc - but their politics are not qualitatively different to UAF's, they just advocate a Labour vote, and, it has to be said, tackle some local issues (admittedly from the perspective of right wing social democracy). There is a probably a case for arguing that there needs to be a national conference (call it a people's assembly?) of all forces that want to campaign against racism and fascism in Britain to discuss the way forward.
Cheers,
Luke
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