BNP capitalises on cancelled DUS debate

The BNP have launched an internet publicity campaign to capitalise on the cancellation of the Durham Union Society’s multiculturalism debate. On their website, Facebook pages and right wing forums, the party used elaborate spin to pass the Palace Green protest off as a rally to support their cause and attack Unite Against Fascism (UAF).

Andrew Brons’ website described the protest as “a grass roots opposition that has sprung up in response to the disgusting actions of the NUS and the UAF terror group”. The BNP’s website also blamed any potential violence on the “far left Communist Party-front UAF thugs”.

Four BNP members who are running as prospective candidates in nearby constituencies penetrated the ranks of students at the Palace Green protest. The men surreptitiously photographed and filmed themselves at the event, then using the footage as propaganda.

Just hours after the protest had ended, three videos appeared on YouTube in which BNP members claimed they had attended to demonstrate “solidarity with students over freedom of speech”. The clips have now attracted hundreds of viewers, with many right wing activists posting comments of support for those present.

Palatinate identified Peter Molloy (North Durham), Michael Stewart (North West Durham), Adam Walker (Bishop Auckland) and his brother Mark Walker (Sedgefield) in the crowd. When our reporter approached to question their presence at the protest, they were initially reluctant to admit that they were BNP members.

Adam Walker, a former teacher at Houghton Kepier Sports College in Houghton-le-Spring, currently faces being struck off by the General Teaching Council, following an incident in March 2007 when he used a school laptop to post racist and religiously intolerant views. The posts, in which he criticized Muslims, homosexuals and asylum seekers, could make Walker the first teacher to be banned for religious intolerance.

Commenting on the cancelled debate Walker said, “It is just typical of the fascist UAF to stifle an individual’s right to hear what the BNP have to say. [It] should be called Unite Against Democracy because it’s them that are stifling democracy and a rational debate”.

He subsequently claimed “there were many students telling all of us that both the UAF and the NUS were the real fascists. We have a lot of support from all walks of life, from the student fraternity to plumbers, builders, doctors”.

Mark Walker, a former technology teacher sacked from Sunnydale College, County Durham after it emerged he accessed BNP websites from school computers, added, “We think it’s very dangerous to suppress free speech. We’re supposed to live in a free country, a democracy, and I think the students of Durham made a very good point in protesting against the decision of the NUS”.