Local residents have been disturbed to find that the BNP have been using Royal Mail’s services to deliver their leaflets for the EU elections around Burngreave.
“We will be writing to Royal Mail formally to object to the delivery of these racist leaflets.” – staff at a local refugee project.
“I am disgusted by the divisive content of the leaflets. We all get on really well round here.” – resident on Firshill Close.
“The leaflets are very worrying. I live on a street where there are a lot of Muslim families. I am horrified to think that they have received these provocative, offensive leaflets.” – Scott Road resident
There will be a stall run by Unite Against Fascism (UAF) on Ellesmere Green on Sunday 31st May 2009 at 11.00am to distribute leaflets and posters urging people to use their vote on June 4th 2009 in the European elections.
The Messenger interviewed Paul Scarrott, Secretary of Sheffield UAF to ask about their campaign and more specifically about the effects of BNP propaganda in a community like Burngreave.
“This makes it clear that Burngreave needs to take a stand against the BNP who, if elected, would come to Sheffield and use racism to stir up hatred and conflict within multicultural communities.”
We asked what action local people should take. Paul emphasised that it is crucial that people use their vote in the European elections to stop the BNP claiming to represent the people of Burngreave, Sheffield or any of Yorkshire.
Paul explained,
“Unlike council or national elections, the BNP only need 11% of the vote in Yorkshire to get elected under the proportional representation system. So, to resist the BNP, the more people who vote, the more difficult it is for the BNP candidate to be elected.”
We asked Paul why he thought that the BNP posed such a threat to communities like Burngreave. Paul explained that the BNP is a white supremacist organisation, dedicated to creating an ‘all white’ Britain. “Recently their leader said that all Blacks and Asians should be classified as ‘racial foreigners’, who should be ‘repatriated.’ Such a policy could only be attempted with violence and the destruction of democracy.”
Paul repeated the campaign’s key message – “Your vote could stop the BNP”.
You can pick up posters and leaflets on Sunday 31 May 2009 at Ellesmere Green, or contact 07782 149 645 or email: info@sheffielduaf.org.uk to arrange for a delivery of campaigning materials.
Ken Riley joins the Hope not Hate campaign
Local resident and Normandy veteran, Ken Riley, encourages people to do what they can to prevent the BNP gaining power.