SCOTLAND UNITED

• Posted on Nov 5, 2009

‘Scotland United’ is a coming together of trade unionists, political parties, anti-racist organisations, and faith groups for one purpose to hold a rally to celebrate multicultural Glasgow on Saturday 14th November in Glasgow Green provisionally at midday. We are also calling for the banning of the anti-Muslim protest planned by racist bigots, including the Scottish Defence League and English Defence League (EDL) in Glasgow city centre on the same day.
Previous EDL demonstrations have seen their thugs attack Asian people, chant “Muslims out” and worse at passers-by and make “Seig Heil” Nazi salutes. It is vital that we do not allow these racist thugs to terrorise and intimidate Muslim and Asian people. It is not a time to hide but to stand up for a multicultural Glasgow, a multicultural Scotland.
The fascists of the BNP or the SDL/EDL can only defeated by mass action and solidarity. So Scotland United will be the bringing together of all who wish to live in a multicultural, multiracial, democratic society. We need your voices, your music, and your skills to show the true diversity of our city. So ask your workmates, friends and family to join our rally. Let’s turn Saturday 14th November into a day that Glasgow and Scotland says loud and clear we don’t want fascists on our streets.
There are four immediate steps you can take:
1. Circulate the statement below condemning the SDL and email ‘Scotland United’ to add your name as a supporter of the statement.
"We the undersigned strongly oppose plans by the 'Scottish Defence League' - a group linked to the fascist BNP - to demonstrate in Glasgow city centre and march on the local mosque. The SDL is a racist group dedicated to attacking Asian people and Muslims. Islamophobia - bigotry against Muslims - is as unacceptable as any other form of racism. Its aim is to divide us by making scapegoats of one community, just as the far-right did with Jews in the 1930s. We have a simple message for these racist and fascist groups. We will not let you turn the clock back to the 1970s when their thugs could attack black and Asian people with impunity. An injury to one is an injury to all – and their attempts to target and scapegoat Muslims will fail. Today they threaten the Mosque, tomorrow it could be a Synagogue, Temple or Church. Today they threaten Muslims, tomorrow it could be Jewish people, Hindus, Sikhs, black people, lesbians & gay men, trade unionists, travellers or Eastern Europeans. There is no place for Nazis, racists or the BNP in Glasgow’s multi-racial, multi-cultural and multi-religious community. We call on the Leader of Glasgow City Council and the Police to ban the SDL/EDL action."
2. Publicise and attend the rally called ‘Scotland United’ on Saturday 14th November in Glasgow Green at midday provisionally.
3. Please write to the Glasgow City Council and the Police calling for a ban of the SDL racist action.
Cllr Steven Purcell, Leader, Glasgow City Council, City Chambers, Glasgow, G2 1DU steven.purcell@councillors.glasgow.gov.uk
Chief Constable Stephen House, Strathclyde Police, Police Headquarters, 173 Pitt Street, Glasgow G2 4JS contactus@strathclyde.pnn.police.uk
4. Invite a speaker to your trade union, community or faith group. Please email scotlandunited@gmail.com also if you wish to be contacted with further details of organising meetings as well as leaflets/posters etc.
Yours faithfully

Aamer Anwar- Human Rights Lawyer, Osama Saeed- Scottish Islamic Foundation, Dave Moxham Deputy General Secretary STUC, Kenny Ross Fire Brigades Union Scotland Regional Sec, Scottish Trades Union Congress, STUC Black Workers Committee, Glasgow Anti Racist Alliance (GARA), Unite Against Fascism (UAF), The Council of Ethnic Minority Voluntary Sector Organisations (CEMVO) Scotland, Scottish Catholic Justice and Peace Commission, Scottish Refugee Council, James Docherty President National Union of Journalists, Sejinder Singh Sikhs for Scotland, Indian Workers Association, Robina Qureshi-Director Positive Action in Housing, Mohammed Asif-Scottish Afghan Society, Malcolm Chisholm MSP (Labour), Bob Doris MSP (SNP), Pauline McNeill MSP (Labour), Elaine Smith MSP (Labour),Robert Brown MSP (Liberal Democrats), Sandra White MSP (SNP), Shirley-Anne Somerville MSP (SNP), Dr Bill Wilson SNP, Anne McGaughlin MSP (SNP), Michael McMahon MSP (Labour), Alasdair Allan MSP (SNP), Patrick Harvie MSP (Greens),Bill Kidd MSP(SNP), Angela Constance MSP (SNP), Cathy Peatie (MSP), Dave Thompson MSP, Prof Christopher Harvie MSP, Elaine Murray MSP (Scottish Labour Environment Spokesperson)Tommy Sheridan, Solidarity, Rev Ian Galloway Church of Scotland, Marion Hersch UCU Exec, Scotland Against Criminalising Communities, Glasgow Campaign to Welcome Refugees, Elaine C Smith, Mark Thomas Comedian, Hope not Hate (Searchlight), Show Racism the Red Card, Stop the War Coalition, Scottish Socialist Party, Prof Mike Gonzalez Glasgow University, Donald Nicolson Prof of Law University of Strathclyde, Cllr Jim Bollan SSP West Dumbartonshire Council, Jimmy Hughes, Geraldine Smyth, Beth Junor, Keith Baldassara (Housing advisor and Unite member), Maureen Brough-Central Paisley Justice and Peace Group, Rev Martin Johnstone Faith in Community ScotlandRev David A. Collins Church of Scotland, Professor Rebecca Kay University of Glasgow,Dr Rowena Arshad (Academic & Activist)Scottish Palestine Solidarity Campaign, Dr Tom Webster University of Edinburgh,
A LOT MORE CONTINUE TO BE ADDED

Email- scotlandunited@gmail.com

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