Salford City UNISON, which represents public sector workers in the city, has joined the call for a huge protest against Tommy Robinson and his far right supporters who are planning a rally at Media City this Saturday.
"Protesting against the far right is not about attacking free speech. It is about recognising that wherever they go, their actions cause violence and division" says Steven North UNISON branch secretary.
"Challenging the Far Right has always been a duty of trade unionists, especially as now they are starting to attack workers' picket lines, as with the RMT in Manchester a couple of weeks ago" he adds.
Four Salford councillors - Mike McCusker, Charlie McIntyre, Mike Pevitt and Colette Weir - are also supporting the protest, together with Salford MP Barbara Keeley and six other North West MPs - Angela Rayner, Afzal Khan, Cat Smith, Andrew Gwynne, Kate Hollern and Kate Green, who says "There is no room here for hate...we need to send a clear message. Tommy Robinson is not welcome here."
Tommy Robinson, whose real name is Yaxley-Lennon, is to be the subject of a forthcoming Panorama programme which is set to expose him, so he has called on his supporters to protest outside the BBC in Media City, Salford.
"When Yaxley-Lennon last held a demonstration in Manchester in June 2017, it was attended by former members of the National Front, Combat 18, and other fascist groups. They tried to attack anti-racist protestors, used anti-Muslim chants and threw a pig's head" says Nahella Ashraf, of Stand Up To Racism "Wherever he goes racism and hatred follows."
"The BBC staff must not be intimidated by Tommy Robinson" say media workers in a joint statement...
"The NUJ and BECTU say BBC staff should be free to do their jobs without intimidation, threats and violence carried out by far-right protesters who systematically target the media, especially photojournalists. We unreservedly condemn all threats against media workers" says Michelle Stanistreet, NUJ general secretary, while Dawn Taylor of the National Education Union adds: "We are with the thousands of people who are prepared to march against racism in all its forms".
Dawn is one of many leading trades unionists from across the region supporting the protest against Robinson. Representatives from the TUC, the FBU, GMB, NEU, Unison, Unite, and the PCS have all have signed a statement supporting the protest against Tommy Robinson organised by Unite Against Fascism and Stand Up To Racism.
No To Fascist Tommy Robinson in Salford
Saturday 23rd February 11am
Media City
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