The European Parliament stripped parliamentary immunity from French extreme-right MEP Bruno Gollnisch on Tuesday, to enable a complaint of "incitement to racial hatred" to be investigated. French authorities will now interview Gollnisch after asking for the move, following a complaint over an October 2008 press release issued by Rhone-Alpes regional authorities near Lyon, which Gollnisch led, that cited "the invasion of our land and the destruction of our culture and values" by Islam.
The International League against Racism and Anti-Semitism launched the complaint, and the European Parliament decided that, as the case related to Gollnisch's activities as a regional councillor, "applying parliamentary immunity to such a situation 'would constitute an undue extension of those rules'," a statement said. Lawmakers voted 511 in favour, 56 against and 65 abstentions. First elected to the European Parliament in 1989, Gollnisch had his immunity lifted in 2005 after he called for a debate on the Nazi gas chambers and was given a three-month suspended jail term and a 5,000-euro fine in 2005, although an appeal court threw that out in 2009.
AFP
Thursday, 12 May 2011
Racism is ‘worse for white people than it is for black people’ (UK)
Many white people think racism against black people is no longer a big problem, according to new research.
They believe whites suffer more racist abuse and discrimination that black people.
Both groups agreed that racism against black people had reduced in America since the 1950s – but disagree on the problem of anti-white sentiment, it was claimed.
Many white people believe it is harder for them to live in the US than black people – despite evidence to the contrary.
‘If you look at any metric you might want to use – childhood nutrition, educational opportunities, salaries –black people in America continue to have worse outcomes than white people,’ said Prof Michael Norton, from Harvard Business School, who helped carry out the research. ‘But the feeling of being discriminated against is a very powerful feeling for anyone, whether accurate or not.’
They claimed white people saw racism as a ‘zero-sum game’ – if there’s less racism against one group, there must be more against another.
A black US president was a sign that ‘progress had been made’ in tackling racism – not that the problem had been solved, Prof Norton added.
The Metro
They believe whites suffer more racist abuse and discrimination that black people.
Both groups agreed that racism against black people had reduced in America since the 1950s – but disagree on the problem of anti-white sentiment, it was claimed.
Many white people believe it is harder for them to live in the US than black people – despite evidence to the contrary.
‘If you look at any metric you might want to use – childhood nutrition, educational opportunities, salaries –black people in America continue to have worse outcomes than white people,’ said Prof Michael Norton, from Harvard Business School, who helped carry out the research. ‘But the feeling of being discriminated against is a very powerful feeling for anyone, whether accurate or not.’
They claimed white people saw racism as a ‘zero-sum game’ – if there’s less racism against one group, there must be more against another.
A black US president was a sign that ‘progress had been made’ in tackling racism – not that the problem had been solved, Prof Norton added.
The Metro
Padiham's BNP deputy mayor sworn in (UK)
The first British National Party councillor to take up office in a mayoral role has confirmed his wife, who is a BNP borough and county councillor, will be his mayoress.
John Cave took up office as deputy mayor for Padiham Town Council following a town hall ceremony and announced Sharon Wilkinson would be his mayoress.
Coun Wilkinson represents the BNP in the Hapton with Park ward of Burnley Borough Council and Padiham and Burnley West seat for Lancashire County Council.
It is expected that in a year’s time Coun Cave will move up into the role of full mayor for the town.
On accepting the chains of office he said: “This is an unexpected honour and a privilege and for that I have got to thank those councillors who supported me in this appointment.
“I will do my best to support this year’s mayor Coun Bob Clark and will learn from him the duties of office.
“I will be assisted by my wife Sharon who will is looking forward to being deputy mayoress.”
Coun Cave was voted in as deputy mayor at a town council meeting in April, when nine of the 11 councillors supported him, with two abstaining.
The appointment made national headlines with Coun Cave thought to be the first BNP member to take on the mayoral chains in the country.
At the time of his nomination he said the town council was non-political and that politics did “not come into it,” and his political affiliations were “irrelevant”.
But the nomination was criticised at the time by the Bishop of Burnley John Goddard and the Hope Not Hate campaign, which claims to expose the BNP.
Lancashire Telegraph
John Cave took up office as deputy mayor for Padiham Town Council following a town hall ceremony and announced Sharon Wilkinson would be his mayoress.
Coun Wilkinson represents the BNP in the Hapton with Park ward of Burnley Borough Council and Padiham and Burnley West seat for Lancashire County Council.
It is expected that in a year’s time Coun Cave will move up into the role of full mayor for the town.
On accepting the chains of office he said: “This is an unexpected honour and a privilege and for that I have got to thank those councillors who supported me in this appointment.
“I will do my best to support this year’s mayor Coun Bob Clark and will learn from him the duties of office.
“I will be assisted by my wife Sharon who will is looking forward to being deputy mayoress.”
Coun Cave was voted in as deputy mayor at a town council meeting in April, when nine of the 11 councillors supported him, with two abstaining.
The appointment made national headlines with Coun Cave thought to be the first BNP member to take on the mayoral chains in the country.
At the time of his nomination he said the town council was non-political and that politics did “not come into it,” and his political affiliations were “irrelevant”.
But the nomination was criticised at the time by the Bishop of Burnley John Goddard and the Hope Not Hate campaign, which claims to expose the BNP.
Lancashire Telegraph
Five arrests as far-right group clashes 'with Muslims' in Hammersmith (UK)
Far-right group the English Defence League was involved in fights with 'young Muslims' outside West London Magistrates Court in Hammersmith on Wednesday afternoon, prompting police to make five arrests.
Up to 150 members of the EDL descended on the area to show support for its founder, Stephen Lennon - also known by the pseudonym Tommy Robinson - who was in court charged with a public order offence during Armistice Day in Kensington last year, when Muslim extremists burned poppies. .
A police source said more than 100 officers were drafted in to break up clashes between EDL supporters and Muslim students from nearby Ealing, Hammersmith and West London College.
The EDL claims the clashes were started by members of Muslims Against Crusades. A female EDL is alleged to have been taken to hospital with a facial injury.
The police source added people involved in the fights tried to storm the court, which had to be locked-down and suspended to prevent thugs getting in.
There were also reports of disorder in nearby Margavine Cemetery in Baron's Court.
A police helicopter hovered overhead for about an hour, as people were ushered out of the area.
A Met spokesman confirmed: "Police were called at 4.40pm to reports of disturbances in the vicinity of West London Magistrates Court.
"Officers attended to deal with two groups fighting. Five people have been arrested for various public order offences."
The EDL, which has a history of being involved in demonstrations which descend into violence and end in multiple arrests, insists it was the innocent party in the fights.
In an email to the Chronicle from a woman claiming to be Lennon's PA, Hel Gower, she says the EDL were protesting peacefully when one of its female members was attacked.
"The Police stood there and allowed the Muslims to go among the EDL members, when it was quite clear from their demeanour they were intent on causing trouble, in which they succeeded," she wrote.
The EDL opposes what it sees as the spread of Sharia Law and Islam extremism in England.
It has been banned from marching in the past due to its threat to public safety and is being investigated by police.
Commentators have described the group as being "a dangerous cocktail of football hooligans, far-right activists and pub racists".
The EDL insists it is not racist.
Lennon was later fined by JPs.
Fulham Chronicle
Up to 150 members of the EDL descended on the area to show support for its founder, Stephen Lennon - also known by the pseudonym Tommy Robinson - who was in court charged with a public order offence during Armistice Day in Kensington last year, when Muslim extremists burned poppies. .
A police source said more than 100 officers were drafted in to break up clashes between EDL supporters and Muslim students from nearby Ealing, Hammersmith and West London College.
The EDL claims the clashes were started by members of Muslims Against Crusades. A female EDL is alleged to have been taken to hospital with a facial injury.
The police source added people involved in the fights tried to storm the court, which had to be locked-down and suspended to prevent thugs getting in.
There were also reports of disorder in nearby Margavine Cemetery in Baron's Court.
A police helicopter hovered overhead for about an hour, as people were ushered out of the area.
A Met spokesman confirmed: "Police were called at 4.40pm to reports of disturbances in the vicinity of West London Magistrates Court.
"Officers attended to deal with two groups fighting. Five people have been arrested for various public order offences."
The EDL, which has a history of being involved in demonstrations which descend into violence and end in multiple arrests, insists it was the innocent party in the fights.
In an email to the Chronicle from a woman claiming to be Lennon's PA, Hel Gower, she says the EDL were protesting peacefully when one of its female members was attacked.
"The Police stood there and allowed the Muslims to go among the EDL members, when it was quite clear from their demeanour they were intent on causing trouble, in which they succeeded," she wrote.
The EDL opposes what it sees as the spread of Sharia Law and Islam extremism in England.
It has been banned from marching in the past due to its threat to public safety and is being investigated by police.
Commentators have described the group as being "a dangerous cocktail of football hooligans, far-right activists and pub racists".
The EDL insists it is not racist.
Lennon was later fined by JPs.
Fulham Chronicle
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)