PRESS RELEASE: for immediate release
Friday 17 Jan 2020
Campaigners have reacted with anger and dismay at the inclusion of groups such as Stand Up To Racism, Unite Against Fascism. Extinction Rebellion, CND and Greenpeace with neo-Nazi groups in a guidance document produced by the Counter Terrorism Policing National Operations Centre (CTPNOC)
The guide is being used across England as part of training for Prevent, the “anti-radicalisation” scheme already widely criticised since its inception for targeting the Muslim community and contributing to the growth of Islamophobia.
A Police spokesperson has been quoted as saying that rather than smearing legitimate campaigns, this guidance is for Prevent partners to “help them identify and understand the range of organisations they might come across”. However apart from “right wing” or “left wing”, no distinction is made in the document between violent fascist groups such as Combat 18 and peaceful campaigning organisations such as Stand Up to Racism or the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament.
Sabby Dhalu, Stand Up to Racism co-convenor, said, “We have already seen Prevent used to target the Muslim community and undermine democracy and free speech in schools. The targeting of legitimate non-violent campaigns mean the right to protest is now genuinely under threat.
“We have already seen heavy handed policing of protests and infiltration of progressive campaigns by security forces, where will this process end?”
SUTR co-convenor Weyman Bennett said, “It is absolutely outrageous that now anti-racist groups, environmentalist and peace groups are being lumped in with far right and fascist organisations, groups that are actually linked to terror attacks and violence.
“To argue that those opposing the far right, war or the destruction of our planet can be equated with Nazis and terrorist groups is deeply worrying. We have to remember the history of police action against the civil rights LGBT rights and anti-apartheid movements and act now to defend the right to peaceful protest.
Notes to editors:
1) Stand Up To Racism is a broad based organisation made up of anti-racists, students, trade unionists and faith groups. We organise various activities and events aimed at challenging the rise of racism.
For further quotes and information email
info@standuptoracism.org.uk
