MEMBERS OF Socialist Youth in Trinity recently helped prevent the youth organiser of the Nazi BNP from speaking in Trinity College in the University philosophical society. Wentworth is publicly on record of blaming the Socialist Party and Socialist Youth from preventing him from speaking! In this report we will explain why we a dopt a 'no platform' postion and who the BNP are.

The College philosophical society had advertised in the Freshers magazine “Philander,” a public meeting on the topic of this house believes new right wing political parties are just parties of hate. Guests advertised for the meeting included Tony Wentworth – youth organiser of the fascist British National Party.

The Socialist Party were quick to move on the issue with Socialist Youth taking up the issue outside the College holding a weekly stall against Wentworth’s visit, while the Socialist Party group within Trinity undertook the initiative to bring all anti fascist activists together to prevent Tony Wentworth gaining a platform arguing within the campaign that Wentworth is not interested in debate but only in organising people around his fascist ideas. The broad campaign soon gained the support of many members of staff, including many academics, we argued against Tony Wentworth from speaking in our college while at the same time threatening a major protest action to prevent him from having a platform to air his racist and fascist views.

It emerged a week ago that the senior dean had moved to refuse permission for the planned meeting with Tony Wentworth in attendance to take place in the College in the GMB (Graduates memorial building where the “Phil” hold their meetings) or any other venue in College.

With Wentworth’s invitation withdrawn from the evenings “debate” a prepared statement was read out by an actor from Tony Wentworth going on to blame the Socialist Party amongst others for preventing him from having a platform. In response Trinity Socialist Party member Shane Kenna claimed, “We are delighted that Tiny Wentworth will not be coming to Trinity College to express his openly fascist and racist views. The campaign of students opposed to Wentworth’s visit must be commended for this successful outcome.” Kenna went on to claim that he was delighted to know that Wentworth is aware of the Socialist Party’s role in preventing him from speaking describing it as “a bonus”

No Platform

The College philosophical society had argued that the Socialist Party (see the Trinity news for last week) should not be so quick to put “Our genius” above others in calling for no platform. While the society had made clear its opposition to Tony Wentworth’s views, it had made clear its position that it believed Wentworth should be heard and that people should come to their own conclusions. We in the Trinity Socialist Party group made it clear that one person won over to the ideas of fascism and the British National Party was one person too much. As such we countered the Phil with our argument for no platform.

The argument as to whether the B.N.P, N.F, or any other rag-tag Nazi organisation has the right to propagate their vicious views is one that provokes much discussion.

Often, when campaigning or leafleting, the argument is put forward that we live in a democratic society, and as such, the fascists have a legitimate right to organise. However, things are not quite as simple as that. Is it really true to say that everyone has freedom of speech? I believe in freedom of speech, but not when that freedom is used in a way that discriminates against whole communities.

For decades working class people have fought to build up a democratic society; the right for everyone to vote; the right to join a trade union; the right to assemble; the right to freedom of speech, the list goes on.

If the B.N.P are allowed a legal platform, everything we and our ancestors have built up through the decades risks being destroyed. The B.N.P will do its best to smash our democratic rights and organisations, and limit media freedom.

Our "NO PLATFORM FOR THE B.N.P" argument is not a question of taking democratic rights away from people we disagree with, it is just the fact that the B.N.P abuse their right to freedom of speech. Additionally, the B.N.P use these benefits to inflict violence and death on anyone who challenges their "ideal" of "racial purity",

There is a proven link between allowing the B.N.P a platform and the incidence of racist attacks; this is all borne out by events in the area around the B.N.P "ex" headquarters in welling south London, where attacks have escalated, culminating in the murders of Rolan Addams, Rohit Duggal and Stephen Lawrence.

As Caitlin Morgan, Co-presenter of Naked City, said "freedom is being able to walk down the street without getting your head kicked in"

In effect, the B.N.P pose a threat to democracy, as we know it, a fact proven by their attacks not only on ethnic communities, but also homosexuals, left-wing organisations, and even the disabled.

In Germany before the war, Hitler used the process of democracy to gain power, and then systematically dismantled the democratic system. It is on this basis that the B.N.P should be denied a platform, and the responsibility lies with all of us to achieve this.

Fascism and Racism – Creations of Capitalism

The right wing media and the Fianna Fail/PD government have tried to scapegoat refugees and asylum seekers for the social problems that exist today such as the housing crisis. These social problems have been created by the policies of the establishment parties – policies which have been geared toward the market and the interests of wealthy speculators and bosses. We believe that this right wing government is ultimately responsible for racist ideas in our society. A similar scape-goating across Europe by various right wing governments has helped neo-Nazi and extreme right wing parties gain support for their ideas. Capitalism, a system based on the drive for profit, is absolutely incapable of providing for the needs of ordinary people. It is this system that creates the breeding ground for the ideas of fascist organisations to gain an echo in society.

Socialist Youth believes that we have to confront Nazis like the BNP on the streets in order to push them back. Ultimately however it is only by fighting for a socialist future where the basic needs of ordinary people are put before profit that the roots of racism and fascism can be smashed!

The Trinity Socialist Party is an unofficial grouping of students in Trinity College, should you wish to contact us you may do so at socialist_tcd@hotmail.com

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