Student activist attacked by fascists

Submitted by AWL on 1 June, 2008 - 10:38 Author: AWL

A supporter of the Education Not for Sale student group in Huddersfield was attacked by the far right on Friday morning on her way to work. She was attacked by three men who pulled her to the ground and kicked her in the ribs, and slashed at her head with a knife. She suffered a fractured rib. The comrade has been campaigning to no-platform the BNP at her campus and has been obviously targeted. They knew her name and route to work. As she was attacked they called her a "Dirty red", "Lesbo", and "Britain-hater".

Please circulate the accompanying press release from the anti-fascist campaign Kirklees Unity as widely as possible. We need to make it clear to the far right that the comrade is not isolated. They cannot get away with targeting people who stand up to them. Publicise this in union branches, student organisations and anti-fascist groups.

Below that is a reply to a BNP councillor from Dewsbury who has claimed on his "news" website that the attack was a "hoax".

This attack must receive the widest exposure we can give it. Messages of solidarity have started coming in. Send them to education.not.for.sale@gmail.com

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Kirklees Unity Statement:

On Friday morning a young female student was attacked on her way to work by three armed members of the far right. They pulled her to the ground, kicked her repeatedly in the ribs and slashed at her head with a knife. Whilst attacking her they called her “A Dirty red” and “Filthy lesbo”, the latter being a reference to the victims sexuality.

She suffered a fractured rib and severe bruising, but given the severity of the assault the injuries could have been far worse.

The attackers singled out this student because she campaigns on her campus to drive out the BNP. The victim is also a member of Unison and the NUS.

They knew her name and route to work, and deliberately targeted her to intimidate her and others campaigning against the far right.

The incident has been reported to West Yorkshire Police and they are currently investigating the attack.

The victim may be available for comment but will require anonymity in the media for fear of reprisal.

For further information regarding this press release you can contact Kirklees Unity at the following email address.

kirkleesunity@yahoo.co.uk

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Dewsbury BNP councillor Alan Girvan has published an article on his "news" website describing the attack by fascists on a left-wing student activist in Huddersfield last week as a "hoax". (Dewsbury and Huddersfield are both part of Kirklees local authority; for information on Girvan's previous antics, see the Kirklees Unity anti-fascist blog here.)

Girvan claims that the attack by members of the "far right" (his quotation marks) "has been described as a hoax" - pointedly failing to state by whom, other than himself. "Kirklees Police have denied receiving any reports of an attack": a straightforward lie, since reports have been filed and pictures of the comrade's injuries taken by police in both Huddersfield and another town.

"New-365" (the name of Girvan's website) "believes that action is to be considered against several Anti-Fascist organisations for publication of reports via Internet sites, charges that could be as serious as incitement." Girvan may well believe that, but it is complete fantasy.

This pathetic, lying response is a desperate and transparent attempt to blunt the surge of outrage that has met the Huddersfield attack, and intimidate the comrade concerned. It will not work. Meanwhile, the facts speak for themselves.

Comments

Submitted by Jason on Mon, 02/06/2008 - 19:15

This should be spread far and wide. Is it worth getting local and indeed regional trade unions, Black communities and anti-racists to agree a demo fascists off our streets?

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