Justin Baidoo barred from UAF election
February 23, 2012 at 7:12 pm (anti-fascism, Anti-Racism, class, democracy, immigration, Jim D, socialism)
I’ve been stopped from participating in the UAF election. I need your help to kick out David Cameron.
Statement by Justin Baidoo, socialist and trade union activist from South London:
So I found out yesterday that I am not allowed to run for a position in UAF due to a mistake made by my union branch. UAF rather than giving me an opportunity to correct the mistake have refused to let me stand citing bureaucratic reasons. Who would have thought trying to get rid of David Cameron from UAF would be so controversial?
In response, I with others have formed this statement which essentially calls for UAF to change in the ways that I pledged to do in this piece.
Please add your name in the comments and via social networks. I’ll be printing off the names on Saturday 25th Feb at 8am so please add your name by no later than Friday 24th 11pm.
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We the undersigned activists and organisations are calling for the following:
1. For UAF conference to become a democratic forum for anti-fascist activists to elect officers and debate policies, strategies and tactics. Holding committee elections is a step forward, but only a small step. We need much more open elections (with proportional representation, not just a list of individually elected senior positions) and motions allowed to conference.
2. A commitment to direct action and mass mobilisation to no platform fascism. No to calling for state bans.
3. For UAF to put forward concrete, positive, working-class solutions to the problems the fascists exploit. UAF is not a political party, nor should it become one. But without commonly agreed positive demands, we are fighting with one hand tied behind our back. Our basic message needs to be: black and white, all religions and none, British-born and migrant – workers unite and fight for decent jobs, homes and services for all, and against all forms of racism.
4. As a logical part of this, we should break our links with fake “anti-fascist” politicians. We want unity on the basis of a common struggle, not a bare willingness to say “Fascism is bad”. This includes breaking links with eg Tory and Lib Dem MPs. We should begin with a strong public renunciation of links with David Cameron.
5. A strong drive to build broad, democratic local groups, ideally based on the organisations of the labour movement and Black, Asian, Jewish and other oppressed communities.
Initial signatories: Justin Baidoo, South London CAN formerly South London Anti-Fascists Group Adam Cooper, NUS Black Students’ Committee (pc) Saraid Dodd, Lewisham NUT (pc) Patrick Murphy, Executive Member of National Union of Teachers (pc) Nishma Doshi, Open Rights Group (pc) Jerry Hicks, Unite Grass Roots Left Nadine Houghton, GMB organiser (pc) Ruth Cashman, Lambeth Unison Adam Ramsay, Oxford Green Party (pc) Daniel Lemberger-Cooper, Royal Holloway University London Students’ Union President Matthew Smith, Kingston GMB Chair (pc) Koos Couvee, The Multicultural Politic Neil Griffiths, No Sweat Mark Boothroyd, Guys & St Thomas Hospital Unison (pc) Jake Lagnado, Unite Grass Roots Left Sacha Ismail, Workers’ Liberty
skidmarx said,
February 24, 2012 at 12:53 am
A shame about bureaucratic manoeuvring, and apparently Justin Baidoo was instrumental in chasing off some fascists in Surbiton today,; but what a hypocrite is Jimbo who has never had a good word to say about UAF.
http://www.workersliberty.org/story/2011/04/18/why-we-opposed-support-uaf-nus-conference
representingthemambo said,
February 24, 2012 at 4:05 pm
Skidmarx
I can’t speak for Jim Denham but that seems a bit harsh.
I think that there is a massive problem with ‘anti-fascism’ in this country.
It is all very well saying that fascism is bad and not very nice but it misses the point. Surely the bigger issue is that the preconditions for fascist growth are being created by successive government policies (and yes I know, that includes Labour). The huge assault on the welfare state and public services isn’t being carried out by the BNP. The BNP aren’t responsible for the 2008 financial crash and the austerity measures being pursued by the Coalition.
Any serious anti-fascist movement needs to be built on a radically different political basis to the one that UAF goes in for. A good start would be telling the Tories to go forth and multiply. Point 5 in the article seems like a good place to start.
skidmarx said,
February 24, 2012 at 5:26 pm
Then you presumably disagree with this article calling on the UCU (and in its headline all unions) to distance themselves from the UAF:
Why unions should not automatically line up with UAF.
Of course JD’s line on the UCU is that the UCU is now an anti-semitic organisation, so I don’t see them caring what the AWL says for a long time to come.
Jim Denham said,
February 24, 2012 at 1:05 am
“Hypocrite”?
1/ I don’t recall ever saying / writing *anything*, one way or the other about the UAF here (though I acknowledge that I’ve personally always been highly critical)
2/ If I *had* ever criticised the UAF (which I didn’t, but still…), then this rather goes show that I’d have been correct.
lostbutnotreturning said,
February 24, 2012 at 1:39 am
i was unable to access what might be a different article or a petition referred to in this shiraz piece,so i have no other information and have resorted to this.
although there seems to be room for confusion here,in that there might well be some bureaucratic muddle,im concerned that this should not be used to hinedr the development of open,democrartic fighting organisations and the activist,militant membership and indeed leadership on which they ought to depende.
i am therfore happy to sign indicative of my concern,and for fighting organisations in our communities.we have to build the spirit of what we want into everything we are fighting for and to link all those struggles
uniting against fascism in UAF is but one.
lotta continua!
lost
(member of NAPO/NationalAssociation of Probation Officers,and NAPO Members Action Group.signatory member of international luxemburgist network)
representingthemambo said,
February 24, 2012 at 7:51 pm
Skidmarx
I’ve just read through it and although I agree with a lot of the politics I certainly wouldn’t advocate just walking away from UAF (not that I’m involved anyway).I’m not an AWL member or supporter so I don’t feel the nee to answer for them.
But I think if that the is the campaign that most unions are working with then that is where I think anyone else should be, but advocating a wholly different set of tactics and strategies.