June 19th, 2008
Richard Barnbrook, the oddball BNP member of the London Assembly has strongly welcomed Boris Johnson’s decision to cut anti-racism from the Rise music festival funded by the GLA.
This follows the decision of Boris Johnson to drop the central message of the festival which was ‘London united against racism’ from the publicity and character of the event.
A spokesperson for the National Assembly Against Racism said:
”This is the ‘different’ kind of anti-racism Munira Mirza, Boris Johnson’s advisor on culture, was talking about on the BBC – one that is welcomed by the BNP. The BNP judged accurately in giving its second preferences votes to Boris Johnson – the first time that the BNP endorsed a mainstream candidate for Mayor. They were relying on Boris Johnson to dismantle the defences against racism in London and he is doing just that. The fact that Johnson/Mirza’s position is welcomed by the BNP shows the real issues involved.’
Samuel Tarry Chair of Compass Youth and London Young Labour Anti Racism Officer said:
“The fact that Boris Johnson, the new Mayor of London has already moved to make such a blatant political gesture is indicative of what we will come to expect from the new Tory administration at City Hall. You would have thought given the accusations of racism levelled at Boris Johnson from the Black and Asian communities in London during the Mayoral election then he would have made every effort to dispel those ideas. Instead at a time of increased racism, Islamophobia and anti-Semitism he pulls the plug on the anti racist message of one of London’s biggest free music festivals. Given the momentum of the BNP at the moment and the fact that they openly backed his run for City Hall he has gifted them another opportunity to come out in support of his agenda and claim credit for this move”
youthchair@compassonline.org.uk
