The Cazenove Blog

Ruff Justice

2011-09-26T03:59:00.000-07:00

The Black Parent Community Forum, (BPCF), is holding its annual GGDK Awareness Conference on the 1st October 2011. The theme is 'Ruff Justice' and comes at a crucial time when the community is demanding answers with the increase in number of people dying while in police custody, and the dissatisfaction of many communities with the criminal justice system.

Guest speakers include;- Professor Gus John

- A Representative Commissioner from the Independent Police Complaints Commission, [IPCC]

- Local MP's / Councillor

- Representative from the Youth Service

- Metropolitan Police representatives

Date: 1st October 2011

Venue: City Edge 125-127 Mare Street Hackney E8 3RH

Time: Registration 10.30am - 4pm

The event is free and lunch will be provided. Full details are on the attached flyer, please free to disseminate to other interested parties.

EARLY REGISTRATION BY EMAIL IS ADVISED

Hackney Riots

2011-08-11T08:43:00.000-07:00

Dear Neighbour,

Like you, we have been shocked by the sequence of events that has unfolded across our city over the last three evenings. London has suffered a level of lawlessness unseen in living memory - with homes, businesses and shops in Hackney and elsewhere targetted.

The riots in Hackney have been particularity shocking for our community. Hackney Police have performed admirably under very difficult circumstances and I know that they have the full support of Cazenove ward residents. A number of arrests have been made and the Council is assisting the Police with their inquires using CCTV surveillance footage recorded over the course of these terrible disturbances.

As your elected local representatives I want to assure you that we are working closely with the council, the police and other emergency authorities to ensure there is an adequate response to this situation. And we have been assured that they will do everything they can to keep people and property safe here and across London.

As a community, we all also need to play our part in encouraging anyone we know to desist from any potential engagement in lawlessness. We know that our young people in Cazenove ward and across Hackney are, on the whole, positive and inspiring members of our community. We all want to encourage this to continue. So please use whatever influence you may have locally and across London to ensure that the actions of a tiny minority do not damage community cohesion for us all.

Please see the latest updated information from Hackney Council below. In the meantime, please ensure that you and your loved ones stay safe.

Warmest Regards,

Dawood, Ian & Abraham

Top line briefing – public disorder incidents in Hackney, w/c 8th August 2011

Incidents

An outline of the incidents that took place is provided below. This is a live criminal investigation, and is being co-ordinated across London by a central MPS operation.

The police are currently assessing 30+ hours of CCTV footage, which will provide a fuller picture of the number and scale of incidents around the borough.

Saturday night/Sunday morning

There were a few incidents of theft/looting and attempted theft mainly in and around Kingsland/Dalston, with some damage to chain stores in and around Kingsland Shopping Centre. 12 arrests were made.

Monday

The disturbances in Hackney on Monday night were focussed in Hackney Central and Hackney Downs. No buildings were burnt, although around 15 local shops and businesses were broken into or suffered damage, and around 24 cars were torched. There were also disturbances on the Pembury Estate, and a single decker bus was also attacked and set on fire in Shacklewell Lane. Further arrests were made (52 in total, over the two days).

All the streets were cleaned and clear by 7.30 the next morning, save for some of the burnt cars. These were all gone by lunchtime.

Tuesday

There were no disturbances, bar one burglary.

Policing

Deployment

Additional policing resources have been deployed in the borough this week, and an increased police presence will continue until next Monday. Across London, 16,000 police officers were on duty on Tuesday this week – five times the usual number for a Tuesday, and 10,000 more than the previous night.

The SNTs in Hackney are doing 12 hour tours of duty - one third 7am-7pm, and two thirds 12 - midnight. This will continue through to and including Monday at this time. All rest days cancelled through to and including Monday. SNTs tasked with high visibility re-assurance. The police will task their high visibility re-assurance patrols to those areas most impacted by the disorder and dependent on a changing incoming intelligence picture.

Local arrests

There have been 52 arrests in Hackney, as a result of the recent disturbances. Of these 52, Hackney's Burglary Squad dealt with the following:

Sunday night:
• 12 arrested, of which 11 were charged: 5 with burglary, 6 with conspiracy to burgle. 1 was bailed to return.
Monday night:
• 21 arrests, of which 19 were charged: 17 with burglary and remanded in custody to attend court; 2 for theft and remanded in custody.
• 2 were bailed to return.

Council support

CCTV operations

• Extra operators were brought in to the Stoke Newington CCTV control room – effectively double-staffed. The CCTV and Emergency Planning team also adjusted its shift system to provide maximum senior level cover in immediate period.
• Live CCTV feeds provided to police, and the police were alerted re suspicious gatherings as well as observing criminal actions
• Lots of quality images were captured to be used as evidence
• The police are currently engaged in working through 30hrs+ of footage
• Two live arrests made based on CCTV footage. Police have already acted on CCTV footage with follow-on arrests
• London Fire Brigade Borough Commander based at CCTV centre on Monday evening, to ensure co-ordinated operation.
• The Council’s Head of Growth Centre Regeneration (Town Centre areas) was also there linking in with business real time.

Public Realm

• The Council street cleansing team started clearing Mare Street and surrounding area from 8pm and Clarence Road and surrounding area from 3am. This was based on Police advice. The evening crew worked past 2.30am until 7am, and overlapped with day crews coming on shift. The Narrow Way was cleared twice, on the first occasion around 8.30pm on Monday night immediately after police had cleared the rioters. Street cleaners then had to clear the top of it again at shortly after 3am as a result of further damage.
• Most scenes cleared by 5am
• Streets washed down by 7am to 7.30am
• 14 burnt vehicles identified and removed by parking in Clarence Road by 12.15 with 10 in other areas removed.
• The damaged carriageway in Clarence Road will be repaired by close of business on Friday, with Clarence Place, Goulton Road and Clapton Square following on early next week.
• All minor street lighting damage was repaired on Tuesday and 2 burnt lamp columns to be replaced next Monday and UKPN will connect them on Wednesday.
• The graffiti that covered the whole wall in Clarence Road was also removed at 7am on Tuesday
• All bins and loose street furniture removed from Hackney Central, Dalston and the A10 on Tuesday, as a precautionary measure. They will be returned on police advice.

Council services

The Town Hall campus was closed from 4.30pm on Monday as a precautionary measure. All Council leisure facilities and libraries were also shut by about 6pm, and parks were locked early where it was safe to do so. On Tuesday, the Town Hall campus was closed from 12.30pm.

A few windows were smashed at Clissold Park House on Monday night, a window in the Hackney Service Centre was broken, and around 8 CCTV cameras were also broken around the borough. No other damage has been reported to any Council facilities.

Essential Council Services continued largely as normal. In adult social care, the meals on wheels/transport service had to do some re-routing and started slightly earlier than usual on Monday. Day Centres were open as usual although closed earlier.

Hackney Homes officers were out in the early hours of Tuesday checking housing estates and those of our RSL partners for damage. Thankfully, Hackney Homes’ estates incurred very little damage, including to those properties near the scenes of unrest. The out of hours service also did not receive many calls - the only serious incident involved someone trapped in a lift that required fire brigade assistance. To our knowledge, no residents were made homeless as a result of the disturbances – the reports back from RSLs (as well as Hackney Homes) confirm this.

Support to local businesses

• From Wednesday (10th August) we have been urging business to fully open and return to business as usual. Use shop radios to stay in contact.
• We have urged as many businesses as possible not to leave clutter and furniture outside of shops and restaurants if possible purely as a precautionary measure. We will update this advice when we receive briefing from Police and Community Safety.

Hackney Central

The table below lists the damage to local businesses in Hackney Central that we are aware of (15 in total, including 7 locally owned – in bold). The police are currently assessing 30+ hours of CCTV footage, and these numbers may increase.

The Council has been supporting local shops and businesses in Hackney Central in a variety of ways, including:

• We have been visiting all shops in the town centre frequently on a daily basis since Monday.
• We have distributed Police Advice Sheets to all possible businesses and asked businesses to cascade information onwards to fellow businesses to ensure maximum coverage
• From CCTV footage, we have been able to give advice to retail managers about how their shops were broken into and measures they can take to make them safer going forward.
• 50 Clarence Road Western Union – the business that was most affected we have organised waste removal from inside Mr Sivas shop and we have handymen from Hackney Homes doing some internal repairs in the shop.
• We also cleared glass and debris from Harris Euronics

Business Location Extent of damage
50 Clarence Road (Western Union) 50 Clarence Road Major looting and damage to store. Owner has no contents insurance.
Harris Electrical (Euronics) 62-64 Lower Clapton Road Major looting – TVs and other electrical goods taken
Burberry Factory Shop 29-53 Chatham Place Looting.
Carhartt Warehouse Outlet 18 Ellingfort Road
Apetite Mare Street Broken window
Ladbrooks Mare Street Broken window
JD Sports Mare Street Window smashed. Store raided 5 times – stock stolen.
Boots Opticians Mare Street
Eye London opticians Mare Street £15,000 of frames stolen.
Pawnbrokers (name?) Narrow Way
Second pawnbrokers on Narrow Way (name?) Narrow Way
Marks and Spencers Narrow Way Broken window
Santander Narrow Way Broken window
Holland & Barrett Broken window. Minor looting.
Jeweller (name?) Mare Street

Shoreditch, Hoxton, Dalston, Stoke Newington

A number of stores in Dalston suffered damage on Sunday evening:

Business Location Extent of damage
T mobile Kingsland shopping centre Broken doors
Foot locker Kingsland shopping centre
Argos Sandringham Road Broken window
Tesco Express Kingsland Road Broken window
Currys Kingsland Road

As a precautionary measure based on intelligence we asked businesses in Stoke Newington and Dalston to close on Monday night, and distributed the Police Advice Sheets.

Town Centre Managers have been out talking to businesses providing reassurance and advice since then.

Bars, Clubs, Theatres etc have been updated on a regular basis to give them advice and information about whether they should open – today the message is business as usual but be cautious and use shop radio systems linked to CCTV and stay in regular touch.

Shops advised that opportunistic crime due to stretched police resources is the most likely issue that business will face. Businesses urged to take this into account when opening - again this is based on Police / LBH Community Safety Advice.

Community engagement and reassurance

As detailed above, the Council has been in constant contact with local businesses affected by the public disorder.

The Mayor and Chief Executive visited local residents and businesses affected on Tuesday morning and Wednesday, including a meeting with residents, businesses, community and faith leaders on Wednesday afternoon. Cabinet and ward members have also been meeting with local residents and businesses affected.

SNTs are updating CAP Chairs regularly; and providing reassurance through face-to-face contact with residents.

About 150 people turned up at the Town Hall on Tuesday morning as part of the Twitter campaign (#RiotCleanUp) and were thanked but told that the streets had been cleared and they should go elsewhere in London where their help was needed.

Hackney Riots - Message from Tim Shields - Chief Executive Hackney Council

2011-08-11T08:18:00.000-07:00

Over the course of yesterday and last night there were no significant disturbances in Hackney, and on the whole the streets were relatively quiet. Local police have confirmed that they will have additional officers in place in the borough and they are due to stay in place over the coming days. Please reassure your local residents that the police are remaining vigilant, and advice can be found on the Metropolitan Police website. Updates of any disruption to Council services will be reported on the Hackney Council website.

Tim Shields

http://cms.met.police.uk/met/boroughs/hackney/index

http://www.hackney.gov.uk/hackney-council-newsflash.htm

Police non emergency number 101

Hackney Council 020 8356 3000

Today we are all Norwegian

2011-07-25T03:47:00.000-07:00

I have received an email from Nick Lowles from Hope not hate in regards to the terrible attrocity that occurred in Norway. We would like to express our most heartfelt condolences to the victims of this terrorist attacks and offer our deepest sympathy and prayers to the families and Norwegian people.

It is time now for us to all show solidarity to the people of Norway and work to together to ensure that Terrorism and violent extremism should find no shelter or refuge in any ideology, political opinion or religion. We must unite as one human race against terrorism, violent extremism and murderous ideologies to prevent these types of attacks from recurring in the future.

I leave it to Nick in his email below on his thoughts on what we can do;

Dear Dawood,

I am sure you will share with me a sense of shock, disbelief and outrage at the appalling events that took place in Norway last Friday. The horrors we have seen unfold are almost unimaginable and our thoughts go out to everyone affected.

The response of the Norwegian people has been humbling – a poignant contrast to those who so quickly and hysterically sought to blame Muslims for this act of extremist terror. Instead of vengeance, the Prime Minister of Norway called for more democracy, asserting that their values would not be shaken by the politics of hate made so violently real.

As a supporter of HOPE not hate, and of our struggle against fascism, hatred, bigotry and racism, I would ask that you join me in signing our book of condolences.

Will you join me in signing our book of condolences to the Norwegian people?
http://action.hopenothate.org.uk/today-we-are-all-norwegian

The atrocities were the awful consequence of the politics of hate. While Anders Breivik appears to have acted alone he was motivated and driven by the propaganda and anti-Muslim hatred pushed by Christian fundamentalist, right-wing Conservative and far-right groups. It is the same hatred that inspired the London nail bomber David Copeland and drives groups such as the BNP and the English Defence League in this country.

It is how we respond to this hatred that a society will be measured and the people of Norway have shown us the way. Just as London united after the 7/7 bombings, the people of Norway are refusing to get drawn into anger and hatred. Instead they are fighting hate with hope – standing firm together and reaffirming their democratic principles.

Let’s send them a message of support.
http://action.hopenothate.org.uk/today-we-are-all-norwegian

We will present copies of this book of condolences to the Norwegian Embassy in London and to the youth section of the Norwegian Labour Party.

Although we are stunned by the events we have seen it is also vital that we turn grief into action and hope. If we do, then the likes of Anders Breivik and the EDL that he actively supported will fail.

I dag er vi alle norske. Today we are all Norwegian.

In solidarity

Nick

To follow the HOPE not hate campaign, visit www.hopenothate.org.uk

Thank you!

2009-10-17T08:04:00.000-07:00

A BIG THANK YOU to everyone one who sent words of kindness and good wishes for myself and my family. As most of you are aware, my eldest son had been quite ill and due to a serious condition with his, was under treatment at the Royal Brompton, at the same time my mother became quite ill as well. Subsequently, I havent been able to hold my weekly surgeries as regularly as I would have liked to. Anyway, by the Grace of the Almighty my son is improving fantastically and he has returned to studies, though he will have to take things very slowly for quite sometime. Also my mother is improving as well. So once again, thank you all for your kind understanding, now I am back and I remain at your service.

Dawood-Ebrahim Akhoon

Message from Ken Riley (Veteran of D-Day 1944) - Hope not Hate

2009-05-30T13:50:00.000-07:00

Sixty-five years isn't a long time ago to me, it often feels like yesterday. I was in a tank division on D-Day 1944. It was a long, long day for us all - and the horrible, lonely sacrifices made that day by men scared yet brave is something I think about every day.These European Elections are personal to me. Some of the lads who went on D-Day and who never came back were barely old enough to vote. If they had made it through the fight against fascism, they would be voting now, voting to stop the BNP for the same reasons they fought in 1944.Sixty-five years ago might seem like a long time - but what made me volunteer then is what has made me volunteer now. Will you join me by volunteering for HOPE not Hate's campaign against the BNP to mark D-Day on Tuesday 2 June?

You can find your nearest event by going to this site and entering your postcode -http://action.hopenothate.org.uk/eventsnearme

It is a source of great pride that the slog and sacrifice of my generation freed Europe from the tyranny of Hitler's Nazis. The sadness brought by the price we paid is overshadowed by the happiness that we made the modern Britain we have today possible. Our nation has so much to be proud of - but the BNP want to drag Britain down. They would drag us back to what I remember Churchill calling "a monstrous tyranny never surpassed in the dark and lamentable catalogue of human crime".I was barely into my twenties on D-Day 1944. We didn't fight then just to allow the Nazis a route back 65 years later. And while I am getting on, I will be back on the streets this Tuesday doing my bit with HOPE not hate.Please take a moment to go online and see if there any events near you. A couple of hours leafleting will mean a lot to me, and will make a real difference.

Click here and enter your postcode to find your nearest
event:http://action.hopenothate.org.uk/eventsnearme

Thank you for taking the time to read my message - and thank you for taking a stand sixty five years on from my D-Day.Yours,Ken RileyNormandy Veteran - Tank DivisionP.S. If there aren't any events near you, can you organise your own? Enter the event details on the site and the HOPE not hate campaign will provide you with the leaflets that you need.
You can do that here:http://action.hopenothate.org.uk/page/m2/4c18c09/618ee844/61c447bc/167f5600/2742727802/VEsC/

STOP THE BNP - USE YOUR VOTE: 4th JUNE 2009

2009-05-30T07:40:00.000-07:00

http://www.uaf.org.uk/

Click on the link or images to read what exactly what the BNP stands for!

Goodbye Marjorie

2008-12-22T03:09:00.000-08:00

Leaving due for Rev Marjorie Brown of St Thomas Church, Stamford Hill. Marjorie has now moved to St Mary the Virgin (Elsworthy Road), London NW3 3QP. In acknowledging her contributions, Fozel Ali of the NEDA Trust in conjunction with the Aziziye Mosque organised a small leaving/farewell gathering in Aziziye for Marjorie on the 17th December 2008.

A loss for Hackney and a gain for Camden as Marjorie was a true community activist and supportive of all communities and faiths. We will miss you Marjorie.

Hackney's Borough Commander Guest at Tawhid Boys School Sports Day.

2008-07-30T05:35:00.000-07:00

I had informed the Hackney Today about this event last year, but it seems that this was not relevant news at that time and as always they had their usual Labour Spin and propaganda to publish. Anyway here is the original submission.

Hackney’s Borough Commander and his officers proved themselves a big success at the Tawhid Boys School Sports Day, which was held on Wednesday the 04th July 2007 at the Spring Hill Playing Fields off Spring Hill Road, E5.

Steve Dann was invited to the Sport’s Day by Councillor Dawood Akhoon of Cazenove Ward, who is a member of the School’s Development Committee and also a member of the IAG (Independent Advisory Group) for the Metropolitan Police. The Borough Commander and his team met students, teachers, parents and other members of the school’s management committee. 120 boys from both the junior and senior school took part in various sports events. Medals and prizes were handed out to the student’s by the Borough Commander.

Chief Superintendent, Steve Dann, said “I was pleased and honoured to be invited to such a fun filled event, the students played hard, but more importantly fairly and really deserved the medals”

Cllr Dawood Akhoon added, “It’s really great to see our Borough Commander taking part in community event’s such as this, everyone at the event had a wonderful day”

Other guest’s who attended the day were, Eusoof Amerat who is a lead IAG member, PC Halil Huseyin who is Hackney’s Borough Faith & Community Liaison Officer. PS Maurice Hutchinson for the Cazenove Safer Neighbourhood Team and PCSO Osman Qureshi,

The event was sponsored and catered for by PC Foods UK Limited of Argall Avenue, London E10.

Heartfelt thanks, you raised over £7,000 for the people of Burma.

2008-07-24T07:29:00.000-07:00

Sunday the 18th May 2008. The Burmese Community held a fundraising event at the North London Muslim Community Centre, for the relief efforts in Burma after the devastation of Cyclone Nargis, which has left 75,000 dead and missing and 2.5 million people directly effected.. £7,195.18 was raised for the Ummah Welfare Trust (www.uwt.org) which will be able to provide much needed relief by providing emergency packs and assisting in reconstruction and livelihood recovery. A Heartfelt thanks to all who attended and made the event such a success.

This event once again displayed the true generosity and caring spirit of the people of Hackney. This is what makes me so proud to live in Hackney and be part of this great varied community. Thanks once again and please do not allow the plight of the people of Burma to be forgotten.

Women's Event - Burma Cyclone Appeal - Sunday 18th May NLMCC

2008-05-14T03:27:00.000-07:00

FROM STOP THE WAR

2008-02-20T15:50:00.000-08:00

From: Stop the War Coalition
Date: 20 Feb 2008 13:22
Subject: Eyewitness from Iraq and Lebanon
To: stwc@lists.riseup.net

STOP THE WAR COALITION
NEWSLETTER No. 1033
20 February 2008
Email office@stopwar.org.uk
T: 020 7278 6694
Web: http://www.stopwar.org.uk

IN THIS NEWSLETTER:

1) EYEWITNESS FROM IRAQ AND LEBANON
2) MARCH 15: WORLD AGAINST WAR - DEMONSTRATE
3) PROTEST DAILY EXPRESS ATTACKS ON MUSLIMS

**********************************
1) EYEWITNESS FROM IRAQ AND LEBANON
The World Against War tour starts London, Thursday 28
February. Five years after the invasion of Iraq, leaders of
the opposition to US plans in the Middle East are coming to
Britain to tour the country, speaking about the reality of
the war on terror on the ground. This will be a unique
opportunity to hear from leading activists about the impact of
war and occupation in the region and the prospects for the
opposition.

Hassan Juma, President of the Iraqi Oil Workers' Union has
been a key figure in leading the successful campaign against
the US attempt to privatise Iraqi oil.

Ibrahim Mousawi is editor of the Hezbollah newspaper
Al-Intiqad and was a leading spokesperson for the successful
resistance to the Israeli invasion of Lebanon in 2006.

At the first meeting of the tour in London, they will be
joined by Tony Benn, Independent journalist Yasmin Alibhai
Brown and Lindsey German, Convenor of the Stop the War
Coalition.

EYEWITNESS FROM IRAQ AND LEBANON
Speakers: Hassan Juma, President of the Iraqi Oil Workers'
Union, Ibrahim Mousawi, editor of the Hezbollah newspaper
Al-Intiqad, Tony Benn, Yasmin Alibhai Brown, The Independent,
Lindsey German, Convenor of the Stop the War Coalition
THURSDAY 28 FEBRUARY 6.30PM
FRIENDS MEETING HOUSE, EUSTON ROAD
LONDON NW1 2BJ

The tour then continues to:
BRISTOL (Feb 29)
BIRMINGHAM (March 1)
MANCHESTER (March 1)
CAMBRIDGE (March 2)
NORWICH (March 2)
CARDIFF (March 3)
LIVERPOOL (March 4).

For more details, go to: http://tinyurl.com/2hdyzo

***********************************
2) MARCH 15: WORLD AGAINST WAR - DEMONSTRATE
Everything the two million marchers said on the demonstration
five years ago has turned out to be tragically accurate. Iraq
is a disaster created in Washington and London. There are as
many as one million dead and four million refugees as a direct
result of the occupation. Afghanistan is -- in the words of
the US based Afghanistan Survey Group -- 'becoming a failed
state'. Now it's official that the dodgy dossier that took us
to war had indeed been 'sexed up'. Meanwhile there has been no
apology and no public accounting for the lies and deceit that
took us into these dreadful wars.

Stop the War is asking all its supporters to do everything
possible to publicise our demonstration on March 15, the fifth
anniversary of the Iraq invasion, which is organised in
conjunction with the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament and
British Muslim Initiative. Coaches have already been booked
from 35 towns and cities with many more to follow (see
http://tinyurl.com/2hdyzo for updates).

Please contact the Stop the War national office (tel 020 7278
6694) for leaflets, posters, badges etc to pass to your
friends, workmates, classmates and colleagues. Please forward
this e-mail where you can. Contact your local Stop the War
Coalition group and join in their local activities for
building the demonstration (contact the StWC office for
contact details).

There will be WORLD AGAINST WAR demonstrations around the
world on the fifth anniversary of the Iraq invasion, with
events in close to 30 towns and cities already announced (see
www.theworldagainstwar.org).

WORLD AGAINST WAR DEMONSTRATION
Troops Out Of Iraq And Afghanistan. Don't Attack Iran. End The
Siege Of Gaza.
SATURDAY 15 MARCH
ASSEMBLE TRAFALGAR SQUARE, 12 NOON

***********************************
3) PROTEST DAILY EXPRESS ATTACKS ON MUSLIMS
The Daily Express regularly splashes its front page with
titles such as "Christmas is banned. It offends muslims.",
"Muslim plot to behead Briton." These disgusting attacks are a
threat both to the muslim community and to all those who value
our civil liberties. The National Union of Journalists at the
Express has been campaigning against these racist stories.

The Stop the War Coalition, together with Media Workers
Against the War, the Stop the War Muslim Activists Network and
the British Muslim Initiative have called a picket outside the
Daily Express Office from 12.30-2pm on Thursday 21 February.

Thursday, 21 February 12.30-2pm outside the Daily Express
office, the Northern Shell Building, 10 Lower Thames Street,
London, EC3R 6EN.
Nearest tube: Monument
MAP: http://tinyurl.com/387eah
LEAFLET: http://tinyurl.com/2uv7rq

Please join us if you can and publicise as widely as possible.

STOP THE BNP!

2008-02-17T03:44:00.000-08:00

An important message: Stop the BNP!

From: John Page [mailto:john.page45@btinternet.com]
Sent: 16 February 2008 17:09
To: Recipient List Suppressed:
Subject: Stop the BNP

Dear supporter,

I am writing to thank you for showing support for the campaign to mobilise votes in Hackney with the intention of blocking the BNP from gaining electoral success in the GLA election. I am also writing to ask you to do a number of things to increase the strength of this campaign. In the last week we have launched a facebook site which has attracted almost 100 members, http://city.facebook.com/group.php?gid=10515640986
(you need to be signed up to facebook for this link to work, but joining is free).

We have also gained support from representatives of the Kurdish, Muslim and Jewish communities. Councillors from all political parties represented on Hackney council. Jeanette Arnold the current Assembly member for this area as well as local representatives of the following trade unions; Union of Shop, Distribnution and Allied Workers union, Unite-Amicus, National Union of Teachers, University and Colleges Unions, UNISON, Communication Workers Union, and the Transport Salaried Staff Association. The College branch of Unison. The Transport for London branch of the TSSA, and the London Metropolitan University Branch of UCU have already circulated details of this campaign to their members. A number of other trade union branches have promised to do the same. This is an incredibly good start, but it is not sufficient. Over the next few weeks we need to ensure that everyone in Hackney is aware of the consequences of not voting on 1 May. Put simply, if the BNP win 5% of the vote they will get an Assembly seat, if they reach 8% they will get two seats. We can stop them easily if we alert friends, neighbours and colleagues to the fact that if they do not use their vote they will make it easier for the BNP to succeed. What needs to be done?

1 Please forward this email to everyone you know who lives or works in Hackney and ask them to act on it.

2 Please sign up (and get others to sign up) to the following statement which we intend to use accompanied by a list of endorsers in a full page advert in the Hackney Gazette which will alert residents to the risk of a BNP victory.

'DECLARATION IN OPPOSITION TO RACISM AND FASCISM

We, the people of London, are totally opposed to all those who seek to promote racism in our society. We strongly believe that the lessons of history show that racism, discrimination and fascism, if unchallenged, causes hatred and division in society and will provoke fear and intimidation among many within our city. We believe that diversity is a strength and a cause for celebration, and that those who promote racism and discrimination divide our community. All signatories to this statement have a shared belief in justice, fairness and equality for all. We oppose racism and discrimination wherever it takes place and will not co-operate in public meetings or media events that offer fascists or racists a platform to normalise their repugnant views or to legitimise the politics of hatred. We declare our desire to co-operate with trade unions, political parties, faith groups and others that take a stand against those that promote racist and fascist political views.'

'The deadline for receiving public endorsements of this statement is 9 March, so that we can compile them and publish them in the Hackney Gazette on 13 March. Endorsee's should email John Page (john.page45@btinternet.com) stating their name and if appropriate their organisation.

3 If you are a member of a faith, trade union, community or other group, please try to get an article in your newsletter alerting people to the consequences of not using their vote on 1 May.

4 On 13 March we intend to hold an organising meeting/rally to bring everyone together, to finalise the details for the weekend of activity (see below), to distribute campaign leaflets and to agree a strategy going forward. Details will follow, but please put this date in your diary now.

5 Over the weekend of 14-16 March we plan to distribute leaflets across the borough door-to-door, as well as through faith and community groups. If you are a member of a group that can distribute leaflets, either by inclusion in a members mailing, distribution on a noticeboard, or through a faith group, please let us know how many leaflets you require. We are also asking people to agree to leaflet their streets door-to-door. If everyone agrees to leaflet just two or three streets, we can cover the borough without difficulty. Please let John Page know what leaflets you need and where you will use them.

6 After all this campaign work we will be entitled to some fun, so why not attend the Love Music Hate racism 30th anniversary event in Victoria Park on April 27th from 12 noon to 6pm. The 1978 anti-racist carnival took place at a pivotal point in the struggle against the National Front (the forerunner of the BNP). Music has always been one medium that breaks down cultural barriers and this celebratory event will give a powerful message, just days before the election, that for the BNP the party is over. Please visit www.lmhrcarnival.com for more details.7 Finally, we would welcome donations (payable to Hackney TUC, PO Box 44656, London N16 5YX). We expect this campaign to cost in the region of £1,200, so every little will help.Please consider what you can do to spread the message now and how you can contribute over the weekend of 14 - 16 March.

Any ideas you have about how to get maximum publicity for our message will be gratefully received.Together we can make a difference.Thank you for your continued support.

John PageCo-ordinator.

Eid Mubarak!

2007-10-13T10:05:00.000-07:00

Happy Eid!

Assalamualaiykum Wa Rahmatullah Wa Barakatuh

May God's peace and blessings be upon you

Wishing you a very Happy Eid. May the Mercy & Blessing's of the Almighty be with you, your family, and friends during this auspicious Day and continue to be with you always, and may the Almighty accept all our prayers/duas, fasts and charity during this blessed month of Ramadan, Insha'Allah (God Willing).

May your years ahead continue to be filled with health, wealth and prosperity, and may you have a joyous and spirited Eid Day with all your nearest and dear ones, including people of all faiths and humanity, filled with Love, Peace, and Happiness. Ameen.

Respectfully in Prayers & Dua’s Always

Wa Salaam,

Dawood-Ebrahim Akhoon & Your Local Libdem Councillors & Libdem Team in Hackney.