We have just sent this letter to the Socialist Workers' Party Central Committee.
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Dear comrades,
At the SWP fringe meeting at NUS conference 2010, SWP speaker Yunus Baksh accused the AWL of racism: "You don't like black people".
Three AWL comrades, including myself, had intervened in the meeting with political criticisms of the SWP. Yunus responded, with no connection whatsoever to what we had said, by accusing our Newcastle comrade Ed Whitby of not mobilising for the Bolton anti-EDL demo. When Ed replied that he had, in fact, been in Bolton, Yunus shot back "Look, I know you don't like black people, but be quiet".
This was from the 'platform' (the meeting was by the SWP stall), in full hearing of about 20 SWP students. No one denied, or could deny, that it took place. Later in the conference Hanif Leylabi approached us to apologise and say he would raise the issue with Yunus.
For a socialist to accuse other socialists of racism is extremely serious. We ask you to investigate this matter.
Sacha Ismail
Alliance for Workers' Liberty
PS Please confirm receipt of this message.
