Nick Griffin's latest attempt to fleece yet more money from gullible BNP members reveals just what depths he'll sink to. Laughingly entitled 'The People's Support Fund', the appeal claims to be raising money to defend BNP activists and supporters from a 'witch hunt' following the recent leaking of their membership list. From what we've read on some neo-fascist blogs and forums, many nazis have their doubts about where all of the cash donated from such begging campaigns actually goes. Griffin's lavish lifestyle, fancy house and financial management have raised a lot of suspicion, it has to be said.

We're not bothered one way or another whether the far-right idiots all fall out with each other over who gets their grubby hands on the purse strings. What really caught our eye in the appeal's launch statement was this:

Independent observers such as leading libertarian Dr. Sean Gabb (above) are comparing the onslaught launched against us to the political witch hunts in the early days of the Soviet and Nazi regimes.

Would this be the same 'independent' Dr. Sean 'Sicko' Gabb who, like Griffin, has written for the neo-fascist Third Way group and supported Holocaust deniers? The same individual who denounced the prosecution of Gary Glitter (aka Paul Gadd) for being a paedophile?

That's the one.

Don't believe us? Writing of Glitter's trial in 1999 for having sex with a 14-year old girl and possession of child porn, Dr. Sicko said (emphasis ours):

An adult who complains 20 or 30 years after the event should be laughed at. I would say that anyone who spends so long brooding over something that might at the time not have been so terrible [...] should not be seen as a reliable witness

Note his casual dismissal of the trauma and suffering that victims of sexual abuse have to go through.

He claims that, rather than being prosecuted for being a filthy paedo, Glitter

…was made to stand trial not because there was overwhelming evidence against him, but because the authorities do not approve of sexual pleasure

In Glitter's case, his 'sexual pleasure' came from the abuse of children. It's not "the authorities" who disapprove of paedophiles, it's society, ordinary people like you and me who know that such behaviour is disgusting and depraved.

And just in case you had any doubts about how ill-informed and twisted Dr.Sicko is, he asserts that

…it can be argued that it is less harmful for a child to be photographed in a warm studio over several hours than to be worked day after day in a factory with unguarded machinery all around

To try and create a 'hierarchy' of childhood suffering is about as warped as it gets. Child exploitation is not acceptable in any way, shape or form, whether sexual, physical or emotional. Any right-thinking person would try and work towards a world where no kid has to suffer for any reason, not try and find a reason to justify such suffering.

The fact that Griffin seeks approval for his politics from an apologist for paedophiles shows how desperate he is and how low he will go, and will sicken any decent person to their very core.

UPDATE: The appeal has now been hidden on the BNP's site, but we've got a screen grab to back up our story.

The BNP make much of the housing crisis (it was the basis of the leaflet they attempted to distribute in Bedminster last week) but, as ever, look for scapegoats that fit their racist outlook rather than address the real issues. Bristol Antifa prefer to deal in facts. To this end, we've produced an information poster (PDF) that challenges common misconceptions about housing and immigration. All of the information was provided by an independent housing expert and can be easily verified. The poster also briefly examines the true nature of the housing crisis and offers up a genuine solution that would benefit all working class people. It would be great if you would download the poster, copy it and put it in convenient locations around your neighbourhoods.

Full text from the poster:

Do immigrants and asylum seekers get housed first?

Immigrants or asylum seekers from outside Europe are specifically excluded from any 'recourse to public funds' and this includes housing and benefits. Only asylum seekers who have been accepted as genuinely fleeing violence or torture may be given indefinite leave to remain in the UK. They can then work or apply for housing if they are eligible. The same rules apply to them as apply to anyone else. Don’t believe the racist lies of the BNP and tabloids.

Have asylum seekers got all the housing?

It’s important to look at the facts, not the hype. Across the country, asylum seekers granted indefinite leave occupy less than 2% of council and housing association properties. The main reasons for getting housed by the council are relationship breakdown and parental eviction, not immigration, and the biggest share of social housing goes to elderly people.

So why was my friend turned away by the council?

There simply isn't enough social housing to go around. Successive governments have left it to the private landlords to provide more houses but this just hasn't happened. As always, the system we are ruled by prioritises profit over the needs of real people, whatever our colour or race. If we want people to have access to decent housing, then more social housing has to be created.

Where have all the council houses gone?

The policy of 'right to buy' has led to the sale of millions of council houses. The houses are far cheaper than if bought in the open market, were often heavily discounted further to encourage people to buy them, and are a total bargain. However, councils are not allowed to build new houses with the money from the sales, and housing associations have built very few. This has meant that total social housing has reduced from 35% of housing stock in 1965 to about 21% today.

Why is renting so expensive?

Councils and housing associations charge what it costs to provide housing, about £250 a month for a flat. Private landlords, who as well as getting their mortgage paid are also making a profit, usually charge at least £500 a month. Modern built social housing is built to better standards than private housing. Private renting is basically a rip off! This is an insult to all of us simply trying to get by. Such greed is a genuine threat to our lives, unlike living with people of other races who are also just trying to get by.

Don’t be divided and ruled –

ZERO TOLERANCE OF FASCISTS ON THESE STREETS!

In recent weeks, local members of the British National Party have crawled from their sewers and onto the streets of Bristol, in an attempt to stir up division and hate between working class people. Decent members of the community have been on the receiving end of their odious propaganda in Keynsham, Kingswood, Fishponds, Knowle and, most recently, Bedminster. This racist rent-a-mob consists of around half-a-dozen numbskulls as its core [1], with a few other misfits tagging along. But it seems they don't like it up 'em when the tables are turned.

We know that local people in Fishponds and Knowle have confronted these morons when they've realised just who they are, leading to the 'stout-hearted' BNP half-wits turning tail and scuttling off back to their hovels as fast as their legs will carry them.

And, following a tip-off, a local anti-fascist was on hand to monitor the nazis when they had the nerve to take to the streets of Bedminster last Saturday. Bedminster is a solid working class area and our activist was proud of how quickly locals of all races challenged them when they clocked that they were BNP. A lone shopper gave one pair (no's. 7 & 8 in the pics below) a thorough verbal lashing when he saw the BNP logo on the leaflet he'd been handed, while another group made it clear to the rest of 'em that they weren't going to tolerate the BNP on Bemmie streets. Needless to say, the fascists immediately beat a hasty retreat to the Asda car-park before scarpering in their vehicles.

Even better, we've been able to get some great mug-shots of the so-called 'master race', to help you spot them more easily if they try and infest your area. We'd also like to put names to faces, so we've helpfully numbered them – if you know who's who, just use our contact form to pass the info on.

Some of their rent-a-mob (no's. 1 – 4), as hopefully not seen on a street near you.

Not wanted (no's. 3 & 4). By anyone.

No. 4 seems to have forgotten the instructions not to show the BNP's true colours in public. They just can't seem to help snapping out that Hitler salute. Meanwhile, Clutterbuck (no. 5) flicks the V's (charming), while the toothless muppet in the middle (no. 6) seems to be wanting a fight. That would probably explain his lack of teeth.

7 & 8 have that 80's old-school bonehead-and-football-casual thing going on. Trying to tone it down with a dodgy leather blouson jacket and flares is ill-advised, especially when your neck and arse (not shown on grounds of public decency) are that fat.

This unsavoury character (no. 1) is Clive 'Pie Face' Courtney, who's stood (and lost) for the BNP in various local elections.

We know that this particular lardy (no. 5) is Mark Clutterbuck, Bristol area organiser and possibly BNP Central (Staff) Management team.

"Come in Number Six, your time is up!". He can't be too much longer for this earth, surely? No. 9, the Clueless Wonder, really doesn't seem to have much going on upstairs. He must fit in very well.

[1] No's. 1 & 3-7 made up the bulk (in more ways than one) of the group who lingered a bit before disappearing, just like a bad fart, in Keynsham a few weeks ago. They also match descriptions given after they were spotted in other locations.

…has revealed some very interesting information. We would imagine that, right now, 193 people across the greater BS postcode area are not very happy with the British National Party's security measures. While we accept that there may be a handful of inaccuracies in a list containing just under 13,000 names and addresses (and we would encourage anyone who's seen it to double-check and confirm the info themselves), the party hierarchy have conceded that it's essentially correct. According to the whistle-blowing website Wikileaks, their own staff have independently verified the list too.

For the record, Bristol Antifa has no interest in the legality or otherwise of the BNP. Nor do we care whether the State permits or prohibits such fascist groups. But we do think that we, the working class, have every right to stand up to and act against fascist politics and sympathisers in our communities and workplaces. We don't want nazis for neighbours, we don't want to work alongside racists and we don't want our kids to be taught by bigots.

We know that the BNP has managed to hide its true colours from many of the working class people who may have voted for or got involved with the party in recent times. Part of our role as working class activists is to expose the real nature of fascism and ensure that our class is not fooled by such deception. We are working hard on challenging and demolishing the fascists' lies.

But equally, as a part of the working class (rather than, like the leadership of the BNP, apart from it) we will not shirk from taking whatever action is neccessary to confront, disrupt and destroy fascist organisations wherever they are found.

We know that fascism doesn't start with the gas chambers, that's where it ends, and we will not allow history to repeat itself.