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BNP ‘will increase racism’
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WARNING: Doreen Lawrence
COMMUNITY ACTIVIST Doreen Lawrence, whose son Stephen was killed by racists in 1993, has warned Brits not to be fooled by far-right group the British National Party.
Lawrence said the BNP is still a racist organisation, no matter how its leader, Nick Griffin, tries to portray the group differently on the BBC’s current affairs programme, Question Time.
"It’s obvious what they are trying to do and I still clearly see the BNP as a dangerous organisation which seeks to encourage racism. Don’t let anyone be fooled by them,” said Lawrence.
“They [the BNP] will increase racism in this country and bring tragedy to the families of young men born in this country, like my son, and attacked and killed because of the colour of his skin,” Lawrence told the Daily Mirror.
Anti-racism campaigners blasted the BNP after some of its members took swipes at Question Time panellists Muslim politician Baroness Warsi and black playwright Bonnie Greer on the BNP website, ahead Griffin’s October 22 appearance on the show.
The BNP reportedly called Greer ‘a black history fabricator’ and mocked Warsi’s Muslim roots.
Lawrence said she feared there could be a surge in racism following the rise of the BNP, which now has two members of the European Parliament (MEPs) and several councillors, including one in London’s City Hall.
“Over the last few years racism has slid off the Government's agenda and people think it has gone away and does not exist. But we all know how the BNP is seeking to capitalise on people's fears about new minorities coming into the country,” she said.
A row erupted over the BBC’s decision to invite Griffin, with anti-fascists and other campaigners criticising the invitation.
‘He just wants to build the BNP by using Question Time as a platform to whip up race hatred and bigotry. More air time for the BNP will just lead to more racism in our society and more racist violence on the streets,’ said anti-fascist group Unite Against Fascism (UAF).
More than 700 anti-fascist protestors gathered outside the BBC TV centre to show their disapproval.
Published: 26 October 2009
Issue: 1395
