Organisers of a meeting due to go ahead on Monday in Fitzrovia are being threatened with legal action by the UK Independence Party (Ukip). The event entitled Stop Scapegoating Immigrants will feature the leader of the Green Party Natalie Bennett, prominent anti-racism campaigners, and a former Ukip press officer who Ukip are trying to prevent from speaking.
The meeting is being organised by the Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants under their campaign Movement Against Xenophobia (MAX) — “a new campaign aimed at countering the vicious anti-immigrant discourse of mainstream politics in the UK”.
The campaign say they are a coalition of trade unions, migrant groups and prominent individuals working to inform communities on the dangers of Ukip and the likely impact of the forthcoming Immigration Bill which they say is not being opposed by mainstream political parties.
According to the website Politics.co.uk Ukip have written to the group complaining about the proposed appearance of their former press officer Jasna Badzak. Since parting company with Ukip Badzak has become a fierce critic of the party. Now Ukip MEP Gerard Batten has warned that the group could face prosecution under election law if they allow Badzac to make any “false accusations” against him.
However the organisers of Monday’s rally say that Badzac will not be speaking about Batten but about the racism and xenophobia she claims to have witnessed while working for Ukip.
Speakers due to appear at the meeting include:
- Natalie Bennett, Leader, Green Party
- Dr Tommy Tomescu, Alliance Against Romanian and Bulgarian Discrimination
- Jasna Badzak, former UKIP Press Officer
- Shreya Paudel, International Students Officer elect, NUS
- Lee Jasper, Black Activists Rising Against Cuts
Public Meeting: Stop Scapegoating Immigrants, 7pm Monday 19 May 2014, Indian YMCA, 41 Fitzroy Square, London W1T 6AQ. More information from Movement Against Xenophobia.