An American white supremacist has been barred from entering the UK ahead of tomorrow’s British National Party annual summer fete.
Hundreds of far-right activists and members of the BNP were setting up marquees, stages and fairground stalls in three fields just outside Codnor in Derbyshire today.
Tomorrow, hundreds more will gather for the annual gathering, although Preston Wiginton will not be among them after the racist campaigner was turned away from Heathrow yesterday.
The Home Office confirmed that Mr Wiginton was not allowed into the country as his presence may not have been conducive to the public good.
Mr Wiginton is an anti-immigration campaigner who travelled to Russia in 2007 to address a nationalist rally that responded by chanting “white power”. He contributes to the extreme right-wing Stormfront online forums and writes for websites including White Racial Patriots.
The Texan was expected to speak at this weekend’s event, but attractions will still include a raffle, comedians and a coconut-shy featuring the face of Sir Trevor Phillips, the black chairman of the Equalities and Human Rights Commission.
The party has more to reason to celebrate than ever before this summer after two members were elected to serve in the European Parliament in June, but local residents have complained that the growing event disrupts the area.
Last year’s event sparked violent scenes with around 30 anti-BNP protesters arrested. A high-profile policing operation has been put in place by Derbyshire Police for this year’s rally amid fears of more clashes.
Unite Against Fascism (UAF) plans to “kettle” the event tomorrow, with up to 50 coach loads of supporters coming from across the country to take part in an organised march.
Today UAF published an open letter on its website condemning the event. Signatories include Ken Livingstone, the former London mayor, Michael Rosen, a children’s author, and the secretary general of the Muslim Council of Britain.
The letter dismissed BNP claims that the event is a “patriotic family festival”. It claimed that last year’s guests included a Czech neo-Nazi and a Swedish fascist.
“The purpose of the BNP’s event is to build up a hardened neo-Nazi core at the centre of the organisation,” the letter read.
“We are already witnessing a spate of racist attacks in areas of high BNP activity. The BNP’s ’Red, White & Blue’ will only encourage more bigotry and violence on our streets.
“We condemn the BNP and its festival of race hate, and we urge people to reject this party’s poisonous and anti-democratic agenda.”
Derbyshire Constabulary has organised a “significant policing operation” for the festival and has invoked the Public Order Act to impose a number of conditions on the protest, running from 9am today until 4pm on Sunday.
Acting Assistant Chief Constable Steve Cotterill said: “Our main aim for this weekend is that it passes off peacefully and any disruption is kept to a minimum.
“We are expecting a lot of people to come to this part of Derbyshire both to attend the Red, White and Blue event and also to protest against it.
“We are very mindful of the impact that such large numbers of people coming into a relatively small area can have on the local community and we have been working closely with Amber Valley Borough Council, residents and all the interested parties.
“The people attending Red, White and Blue have a right to do so in peace and safety but we also realise that people have the right to protest in a lawful and peaceful way. Local people also have the right to be able to go about their lives as normal.”
The BNP insists that it merely wanted to enjoy its annual event - now in its 10th year. Deputy leader Simon Darby said: “It’s not in our interests to cause trouble. We’re up there with our wives, girlfriends and children.
“We just want to have a good time, but these protesters want to latch trouble on to us.”
Re: US white supremacist banned from UK before BNP's annual summer party
Don't take this the wrong way but they prevent this guy from turning up. Fair enough. But why is it that Islamic extremists' are allowed entry, residence, to receive benefits, to get jobs in the UK? Their presence here in the UK is "not conducive to the public good."
Re: US white supremacist banned from UK before BNP's annual summer party
format_quote Originally Posted by Blackpool
Don't take this the wrong way but they prevent this guy from turning up. Fair enough. But why is it that Islamic extremists' are allowed entry, residence, to receive benefits, to get jobs in the UK? Their presence here in the UK is "not conducive to the public good."
Noone here supports real extremism, and that's why I see no purpose of your comment.
By the way, BNP's members are extremists too.
In times of difficulties don't ever say, "Allah, I have a big problem!", say "Hey problem, I have a big Allah!"
Re: US white supremacist banned from UK before BNP's annual summer party
format_quote Originally Posted by Blackpool
Don't take this the wrong way but they prevent this guy from turning up. Fair enough. But why is it that Islamic extremists' are allowed entry, residence, to receive benefits, to get jobs in the UK? Their presence here in the UK is "not conducive to the public good."
where??? The guys like Omer Bakri and others were sent out to Jordon. Give exampes of Islamic extremist who have been allowed in to the UK and then not sent back??
Do you think the pious don't sin?
They merely:
Veiled themselves and didn't flaunt it
Sought forgiveness and didn't persist
Took ownership of it and don't justify it
And acted with excellence after they had erred - Ibn al-Qayyim
Re: US white supremacist banned from UK before BNP's annual summer party
format_quote Originally Posted by Blackpool
Don't take this the wrong way but they prevent this guy from turning up. Fair enough. But why is it that Islamic extremists' are allowed entry, residence, to receive benefits, to get jobs in the UK? Their presence here in the UK is "not conducive to the public good."
That's not the case. If you feel it is, please name some names.
Re: US white supremacist banned from UK before BNP's annual summer party
format_quote Originally Posted by Blackpool
Anjem Chouday (a good friend of Omar Bakri) - Even received UK citizenship
Weird. I'm very surprised he was allowed to live in the country. I was wrong about it not being the case. Unless he didn't show any signs of extremism until after he gained citizenship.
Abu Hamza - Currently held in prison at the taxpayers' expense. He should be thrown out
I thought he had been. Wasn't he born in the UK?
Abu Qatada just to name a few...
Very strange then.
If people show clear signs of terrorist tendencies/hate speech before emigrating, you'd think they wouldn't be allowed to live in the UK in the first place.
Re: US white supremacist banned from UK before BNP's annual summer party
format_quote Originally Posted by Muezzin
Weird. I'm very surprised he was allowed to live in the country. I was wrong about it not being the case. Unless he didn't show any signs of extremism until after he gained citizenship.
I thought he had been. Wasn't he born in the UK?
No he still remains in the UK. He's Egyptian. It's the Human Rights Act that messes it all up.
Re: US white supremacist banned from UK before BNP's annual summer party
format_quote Originally Posted by Blackpool
Don't take this the wrong way but they prevent this guy from turning up. Fair enough. But why is it that Islamic extremists' are allowed entry, residence, to receive benefits, to get jobs in the UK? Their presence here in the UK is "not conducive to the public good."
I'll tell you where the fallacy in that is. These so called "Islamic extremists" are nothing more than political activists agitating for change in Muslim countries, and rail against the despots ruling the Muslim world. They call for independent Islamic leadership and not a subservient one that kowtows to foreign interests.
The BNP on the other hand, is an overtly racist organisation, spewing its hatred on a platform premised on the dangerous concept of racial purity. That is how blinkered they are. All they do is propagate their bigoted ideas in the hope of inciting disorder and then when skirmishes erupt, they use such incidents like the Birmingham riots to make their xenophpbic points.
Re: US white supremacist banned from UK before BNP's annual summer party
format_quote Originally Posted by Blackpool
Anjem Chouday (a good friend of Omar Bakri) - Even received UK citizenship
Abu Hamza - Currently held in prison at the taxpayers' expense. He should be thrown out
Abu Qatada just to name a few...
Greetings,
If individuals preach hatred and are a threat to society then they should be punished. If they were born within the UK then they should be judged according to UK law. If they are a foreigner then they should be sent back to the country where they belong. This should apply to all individuals who have preached hatred.
Freedom of speech should be limited in my opinion. People have the right to express themselves but in a proper manner and not for the purpose of provoking groups of individuals. If people want to live in an Islamic state then they should move to a country ruled by Shariah law.
On the topic I fully support this individual being banned from visiting the UK.
I was looking at myself talking to myself and I realized this conversation...I was having with myself looking at myself was a conversation with myself that I needed to have with myself.
Re: US white supremacist banned from UK before BNP's annual summer party
format_quote Originally Posted by Blackpool
Don't take this the wrong way but they prevent this guy from turning up. Fair enough. But why is it that Islamic extremists' are allowed entry, residence, to receive benefits, to get jobs in the UK? Their presence here in the UK is "not conducive to the public good."
it definitely should work both ways..
Our Lord! Verily, we have heard the call of one calling to Faith: 'Believe in your Lord,' and we have believed.
Our Lord! Forgive us our sins and expiate from us our evil deeds, and make us die (in the state of righteousness) along with Al-Abrar
Hey there! Looks like you're enjoying the discussion, but you're not signed up for an account.
When you create an account, we remember exactly what you've read, so you always come right back where you left off. You also get notifications, here and via email, whenever new posts are made. And you can like posts and share your thoughts. Sign Up
Hide
Looks like you're enjoying the discussion, but you're not signed up for an account.
Posting Permissions
Bookmarks