Fascist attack on ENS supporter in Huddersfield
A statement from the Communist Student Exec:
Communist Students would like to extend our solidarity to the Education Not For Sale (ENS) supporter who was attacked by far right thugs on Friday 30th May in Huddersfield. She was attacked because of her prominent role at the students union and her vocal support of No Platform for the BNP.
During the attack she received a fractured rib and severe bruising. The comrade was also slashed at with a knife. As she was attacked they called her a “Dirty red”, “Filthy Lesbo”, and “Britain-hater” .
It is essential to show our support for the comrade. Far right thugs could have attacked anyone involved in anti-fascism and left wing politics. It is essential to show that these attacks will not deter us from our struggles. This attack shows once again the necessity of propagandising and organising for the self-defence of the workers movement. Communist Students is prepared to work with others in attempts to ensure the physical safety of working class activists and communities.
Communist Students wish the comrade a speedy recovery and are happy to help in any way we can.
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ENS report: http://www.free-education.org.uk/?p=536
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A press release from Kirklees Unity:
31st May 2008
FOR IMMEDIATE USE
The fascist BNP and their far right friends have stepped up their intimidation of trade unionists and political activists in Kirklees.
On Friday morning a young female student was attacked on her way to work by three armed members of the far right.
They pulled her to the ground, kicked her repeatedly in the ribs and slashed at her head with a knife.
Whilst attacking her they called her “A Dirty Red” and “Filthy Lesbo” the latter being a reference to the victims sexuality.
She suffered a fractured rib and severe bruising, but given the severity of the assault the injuries could have been far worse.
The attackers singled out this student because she campaigns on her campus to drive out the BNP.The victim is also a member of Unison and the NUS.
They knew her name and route to work, and deliberately targeted her to intimidate her and others campaigning against the far right.
The incident has been reported to West Yorkshire Police and they are currently investigating the attack.
The victim may be available for comment but will require anonymity in the media for fear of reprisal.
For further information regarding this press release you can contact Kirklees Unity at the following email address.
kirkleesunity@yahoo.co.uk
END
This attack shows what the fascists are capable of – it’s a warning to anyone who thinks that the BNP is developing from a fascist movement into some kind of right-wing electoral party. I hope the left in Huddersfield can respond with a massive display of unity and willingness to defend itself against fascist terror.
We’d like to send solidarity to the comrade from Berlin, and wish her strength for the ongoing struggle!
Please send messages of solidarity to education.not.for.sale@gmail.com
For a reply to a Dewsbury BNP councillor who has claimed on his website that the attack was a “hoax”, see
http://www.free-education.org.uk/?p=536
We of the independent youth organization REVOLUTION express our solidarity with the student in Huddersfield (UK) who was attacked by fascists on May 30. This young woman was thrown to the ground, kicked in the ribs and slashed at with a knife. She was called a “Dirty Red”, a “Filthy Lesbo” and a “Britain-hater”.
She was attacked because she is active against the BNP, a Nazi party, at her university. She is also active in the campaign “Education Not for Sale”, the National Union of Students and the trade union Unison. The fascists targeted her to try to intimidate all left-wing activists.
Fascism means terror against immigrants, the workers’ movement and alternative young people. All these groups need to stand together against the fascist threat – which is growing in Britain and throughout Europe – and organize to defend ourselves against these kind of attacks.
We won’t let this intimidation stop our movement. We continue to struggle for working class self-defense and no platform for fascists in Britain and around the world. We stand in full solidarity with the comrade and wish her strength for the ongoing struggle!
REVOLUTION International Coordination, June 4, 2008
* http://www.revolution.int.tf/?p=196&language=en *
Statement against BNP attack in Huddersfield
9 June 2008
Last week a young woman was attacked by fascist thugs in Huddersfield. The left-wing student activist was followed on her way to work and was attacked with a knife as the fascists shouted abuse such as “lesbo”, “Britain-hater” and “dirty red”. She has suffered knife injuries and a fractured rib. The attack was clearly planned and organised as they knew her name and route to work. The young activist, who is a member of student campaign group “Education Not for Sale” is likely to have been targeted for her anti-fascist work at university where she has been campaigning to no-platform the BNP.
REVOLUTION of course utterly condemns this attack and we extend our solidarity to those affected. Last year, several REVOLUTION members in Leeds received threatening letters through our doors in the early hours of the morning warning us away from anti-fascist work. The letters featured the graphic of a skull and neo-Nazi images including the logo of the SS, Adolph Hitler’s paramilitary force responsible for organising the planned execution of millions of Jews in Nazi Germany.
The attack in Huddersfield shows how seriously such threats are to be taken. In addition, it is a stark reminder of the fascist nature of the BNP, who may wear suits and stand in elections, but are a fascist organisation who aim to build a violent movement on the streets to attack working class people and those who expose them as racist thugs.
REVOLUTION wants to build an anti-fascist movement to stop the growing BNP in their tracks and we will be attending the June 21st Love Music Hate Racism demonstration in London to do just this. We will be bringing the following message:
-Self defence is no offence! Organise against BNP attacks.
-No platform for racist lies! BNP out of our schools, colleges, universities and workplaces.
-No to racism! Unite against Islamophobia. Down with racist border controls.
-Down with capitalism, the system of poverty and racism that allows the fascists to grow!
two Revos?!? i’m so confused…