BNP activist told he is liable for unpaid debt (UK)

Adam Walker

A judge has ruled a North- East BNP activist is personally liable for unpaid debts following a county court hearing which could have far reaching consequences for the cash-strapped party.

District Judge David Robertson ruled that Adam Walker, of Spennymoor, County Durham, must pay £21,000 out of his own pocket to the party’s former graphic designer, Mark Adrian Collett.

A case brought by Mr Collett against the BNP itself, thought to be £700,000 in debt, was dismissed, but the judgement against Mr Walker could still spell disaster for the party.

It paves the way for other creditors to take action against activists, who could be declared bankrupt and therefore barred or even stopped from holding political office at any level.

Durham County Court heard on Monday that Mr Collett, 30, was employed as the extreme far right party’s principal graphic designer and Mr Walker was a senior officer and staff manager.

The BNP was described as an unincorporated association with no corporate identity which left senior officers responsible for contracts.

An agreement was made on September 9, last year, between Mr Collett and both Mr Walker and the BNP, which Mr Collett said had been breached.

Mr Collett said he only received £750 from the BNP, instead of the £7,500 he claimed was due at the time and, as a result, said the full amount of £15,750 was now liable.

District Judge Robertson awarded Mr Collett £14,250 plus £7,333.60 costs against Mr Walker, but dismissed Mr Collett’s claim against the party.

The BNP’s money woes were highlighted last year when former chief fundraiser James Downson wrote letters to creditors, seen by The Northern Echo, offering 20 per cent settlements.

Mr Dowson told Newton Press, a printing firm in Newton Aycliffe, County Durham, which is owed £16,500 for printing its newsletters, that the finances were like a “shipwreck”.

Newton Press confirmed last night that the debt was still outstanding.

Mr Walker, 42, of Winchester Court, Spennymoor, said last night he respected the judge’s decision and would do his utmost to comply with the judgement.

He added: “The contract was signed in good faith as party manager and at that time that was my job. I’m not the treasurer and I don’t decide where the money goes.”

Mr Walker, who represented himself against a barrister and a senior solicitor, said he was grateful the judge dismissed an application for the senior solicitor’s fees.

The former teacher said: “To anybody else in a similar position, I would say they should be very cautious about legal fees.”

Northern Echo

We'll march against the far right, vow anti-racism campaigners (Scotland, UK)

Anti-racism groups are mobilising a major counter-protest after the right-wing Scottish Defence League vowed to go ahead with a demonstration in Scotland's capital despite it being banned by the city council.

Activists on the SDL's Facebook page have revealed the event will take place the day before the tenth anniversary of the 9/11 attacks in the United States.

Councillors threw out the group's application last week, claiming they were worried about risking disorder and violent confrontations, despite police saying they had "no objections" to the march.

The SDL, an off-shoot of the anti-Islam English Defence League, is already promoting the planned protest on 10 September. Details of the route and location of any rally are being kept under wraps, after an SDL meeting in a Royal Mile pub in February 2010 was ambushed by dozens of anti-racism protesters, leading to scuffles in the street.

But the SDL has received messages of support from across the UK after announcing some form of demonstration in Edinburgh would go ahead regardless.

One post stated: "The march is banned. We are having a static demonstration. And most likely the police will have to march us if they want rid of us."

The SDL spent weeks negotiating with police and council officials over its planned demo, which was due to leave from Regent Road, near the American consulate, and include a rally at the Wellington Statue at the east end of Princes Street.

Councillors said the threat of a "significant risk" of disorder outweighed concerns about flouting principles of freedom of speech by banning the march.

The protest had attracted more than 1,000 complaints from politicians, anti-racism groups, community organisations and trade union leaders, who were concerned the group would trigger racial unrest.

SDL representatives told the council the group had distanced itself from more hard-line members and the EDL, but left councillors unconvinced.

No-one from the SDL was available to comment yesterday.
Luke Wright is spokesman for the Unite Against Fascism group, which is organising a public meeting in the city tomorrow to rally support for a counter-demo.

He said: "We've applied to the council for a counter-demonstration on 10 September after we spotted quite a bit of online activity about the SDL going ahead with a demo despite the council's decision last week.

"Despite enormous public opposition including a wave of complaints to the council, and despite political opposition it seems that the SDL still do not understand Edinburgh does not want their violent racism."

The Scotsman

Sweden's Jews, Muslims face web hate rise: study

The number of xenophobic web sites have almost doubled since 2007 and Jews and Muslims wearing apparent religious symbols are subjected to significant discrimination in Sweden today, according to a new report from the Living History Forum (Forum för levande historia).
“Sweden as a whole is a tolerant country but this report shows that racism is growing and is being professionalized on the internet. There is today a small but growing minority that harbour hatred against Muslims and Jews,” minister for integration, Erik Ullenhag, wrote in a statement on Monday.

The report, which was requested by the government and carried out by the Forum, also shows that an increased number of racist web pages have been created in recent years and that prejudice is being spread through schoolbooks.

According to the report, the number of racist sites in Sweden has almost doubled in two years. In 2009 there were around 8,000 xenophobic Swedish sites whereas today the authors of the report estimate an increase to 15,000.

This follows a EU-wide trend where right wing extremist groups are using the internet to spread hate-propaganda.

According to the report, these are characterized by anti-Semitic and Islamophobic views, where conspiracy theories are the most recurring elements.

The Jewish group is often cast as world conspirators whereas the Muslim group is seen as physical occupiers, actively are on their way to taking over society through mass-immigration and rising nativity figures.

The Jewish community in Sweden consists of some 20,000 individuals and the Muslim community of 300,000. Fresh crime statistics show that there were 161 reports of crimes with anti-Semitic motives and 272 with Islamophobic motives last year.

But according to the Forum it is difficult to get a fair idea of the situation from these statistics as they are based on police reports and the authors believe there may be many more unrecorded cases.

“Above all this study shows that research and follow-ups into preventative actions regarding intolerance against Jews and Muslims is sorely needed,” said head of Forum for Living History, Eskil Franck, in a statement.

According to Ullenhag, Swedish authorities must further their knowledge about what causes the hate against these groups to grow in Sweden and how they should meet it. That, he said, is the aim behind the investigation regarding xenophobia that the government launched earlier this spring.

“We have learnt from experiences in other European countries that all the forces who want a tolerant society need to be active in the public debate. Prejudice against Jews and Muslims can never be normalized,” said Ullenhag.

When American research centre Pew recently investigated the development of religious conflicts and oppression worldwide between 2006 and 2009, Sweden distinguished itself as a country where hostilities related to religion are increasing the most.

The Local Sweden

SLIGHT RISE IN ANTI-SEMITIC ACTS IN GERMANY AS VANDALS STRIKE AT BERLIN'S WEIßENSEE CEMETERY

In Germany, a slight rise in anti-Semitic crimes has been noted in the second quarter of 2011, according to the federal government. From April to June, 215 incidents were registered by police, including four acts of violence against Jews and 41 cases of anti-Semitic hate propaganda. Three victims were injured in attacks. Five people were temporarily arrested and criminal investigations opened against 106 persons. In the first quarter of 2011, a total of 211 anti-Semitic crimes were registered across Germany.

Meanwhile, vandals struck Europe's largest Jewish cemetery in Berlin, stealing metal objects from graves. Jewish leaders in the city are now asking metal dealers in the region to check for wrought-iron objects that might have been stolen from the Weißensee graveyard, where 115,000 Jews were laid to rest between 1880 and 1998. Vandals recently damaged 16 graves and stole 47 items from Weißensee , located in the former eastern part of the German capital. Renovations on some of the tombs had been completed as recently as last April. The stolen items are worth about US$ 16,000. "However, the immaterial damage is much greater," the Jewish Community said in a statement on Monday. "Theft in general is a serious offense," Grigory Kristal, head of cultural affairs for the community, was quoted by JTA as saying. "But to destroy graves at the Jewish cemetery demonstrates a lack of respect and lack of understanding of the past."

Observers suggested the motive was profit and not anti-Semitism since specifically metal objects were removed. Such thefts reportedly are on the rise at cemeteries all over Berlin, from all religious denominations. Police patrols and surveillance have been stepped up at Weißensee. The community plans to contact metal dealers to warn them to be vigilant regarding sellers of potentially stolen goods.

World Jewish Congress

Americans Protest Wilders Anti-Islam Film

A local screening of an anti-Islam movie by far-right Dutch politician Geert Wilders in Tennessee has sparked Americans protests, deploring the hatred message it conveys.

"We're here to voice another side," Pat Handlson, minister of Cookeville First Presbyterian Church and event organizer, told Herald-Citizen Newspapers on Saturday, August 20.

Wilders movie, A Warning to America, was broadcasted in Cookeville county commission chambers on Friday.

The Tennessee Freedom Coalition's event is organized by Rachel Welch, the vice-chair of the Putnam County Republican Party.

Rejecting the message of the movie, around 100 peaceful protestors gathered outside the courthouse last night with signs saying "We love Muslims" and "All religions believe in justice.”

The demonstration of Wilders hateful message in the movie is not the first in Tennessee.

Last May, he made a visit to Nashville in the course of an event to honor the anti-Islam speaker sponsored by the Tennessee Freedom Coalition.

Spreading his hateful message, Wilders, the leader of the far-right Freedom Party (PVV), called for closing Islamic schools and halting construction of mosques.

He also called for banning immigrants from “non-Western and especially Islamic countries,” and expelling any immigrants who do not “assimilate.”

Wilders is notorious for his rants against Islam and Muslims.

He has called for banning the Noble Qur’an, describing the Muslim holy book as “fascist”.

In 2008, the far-right politician released a 15-minute documentary accusing the Qur'an of inciting violence.

Ahead of last year’s general elections, Wilders’ anti-immigrant party campaigned to "stop the Islamization of the Netherlands", and the building of new mosques.

His party’s anti-Islam campaigns, however, have helped it make its biggest gains since Wilders has founded it in 2006.

Negative FeelingsProtesters decried the movie message, saying it fuels growing anti-Muslims rhetoric in the south-eastern US state of Tennessee, already intensified over calls to ban Shari`ah law in courts.

A heated debate also surrounded plans to construct new Muslim center in Murfreesboro when local residents waged a fierce campaign to hinder the project.

"I think it's sad there's been such negativity surrounding the Murfreesboro mosque," Handlson said.

Yet, he hoped their protests would reflect the true feelings of love shared for the Muslim community.

"I just wanted everyone here to be a witness to this event," Handlson continued.

"To be a witness to love your God and love your neighbor. We all can co-exist."

Though there are no official figures, America is believed to be home to nearly seven million Muslims.

US Muslims have been sensing a growing hostility following a hearing presented by representative Peter King on what he described as “radicalization” of US Muslims.

Recently, a Republican Missouri lawmaker described Islam as a disease like polio while another Alaska Rep. branded Muslims as ‘occupiers’ of American neighborhoods.

Condemning repeated attacks, CAIR called last March on the Republicans to end fear mongering campaigns targeting Islam, urging all moderate lawmakers to stand up to the US anti-discrimination principles.

A recent survey by the Pew Research Center has showed that the majority of Americans know very little about Islam.

A Washington Post-ABC News poll has also found that more than half Americans already hold negative views about the faith.

On Islam

Czech PM: Today the threat of invasion is posed by extremism

Czech PM Petr Nečas (Civic Democrats - ODS) has issued a press release on the 43rd anniversary of the Warsaw Pact invasion, an event which deprived communist Czechoslovakia of the hope of transforming its totalitarian regime. The PM's statement claims that the country does not face the threat of invasion by a military "alliance" today, but of "invasion" by displays of extremism, intolerance and radicalism. The 1968 Warsaw Pact invasion put an end to the Prague Spring - the attempt by Czechoslovak communists to establish "socialism with a human face" - and began the lengthy "normalization" period which did not end until November 1989.

"Today the threat is not that of an invasion by a military 'alliance', but of invasion by displays of extremism, intolerance and radicalism, as we have witnessed in many countries. This extremism, of various flavors, can pose a threat to democracy and freedom at any time, whether today or in the near future," Nečas said.

The Nečas cabinet is grappling with the problem of political extremism itself these days. Ladislav Bátora, a controversial bureaucrat at the Czech Education Ministry, is guilty of extremist opinions and his work at the ministry has prompted the most recent rupture in the governing coalition. Right-wing extremism in particular, however, most recently shocked Europe in the context of the terrorist attack in Norway.

Czech Defense Minister Alexandr Vondra (ODS) issued a declaration commemorating the symbolic significance of the anniversary. "We should not view this anniversary with resignation, but learn a lesson from it. A state that gives up on defending itself cannot exist independently for long," Vondra wrote in a statement sent to the Czech Press Agency by the press department of the Czech Defense Ministry.

Other politicians commemorated the 43rd anniversary of the Warsaw Pact invasion of what was then Czechoslovakia together with citizens and survivors in front of the Czech Radio building on Vinohradská třída in Prague. Czech MP Miroslava Němcová (ODS), the speaker of the lower house, emphasized that Czechs have been freely commemorating today's anniversary for 20 years but were unable to do so during the era of communist dictatorship and Soviet occupation. "Since November 1989, a new generation has come into the world who knows of the occupation of 21 August 1968 only from the stories of others," Němcová said in her speech.

Mayor of Prague Bohuslav Svoboda (ODS) reminded those gathered that Praguers assembled in front of the radio building to defend it on the day the occupation began. They did so spontaneously, without previously arranging to do so through social networking sites, which did not exist in those days. "Today's younger generation, with its need to be constantly online, almost finds it impossible to imagine how big, not to say crucial, a medium radio was in those days," Svoboda said.

The armies of the five eastern bloc states crossed the Czechoslovak border 43 years ago just before midnight on 20 August 1968, invading the state's territory without the authorities' awareness. The first platoon to invade the territory of the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic was comprised of roughly 100 000 soldiers, 2 300 tanks and 700 aircraft. The occupying army gradually grew to 750 000 soldiers. People lost their lives during the tragic events that halted social reform in the country.

The press release of Czech PM Petr Nečas is printed in full below:

Today we are commemorating 43 years since the events that deprived people of the hope of changing what was a totalitarian regime. Those events proved that communism is irredeemable, that it is capable of exploiting an atmosphere of fear, of using tanks and weapons against defenseless people. People who were convinced of their truth soon recognized they had no possibility of fighting off this brute force, but they gave their lives for our country in the defense of freedom anyway.

Today we are living in democracy and in freedom. Like everywhere in the developed world, our system is imperfect - but we take it for granted. What was just a dream to people decades ago, that we would return to our rightful place among the traditional democratic states, is a reality today. However, the world is constantly changing and still faces many threats.

Today the threat is not that of an invasion by a military 'alliance', but of invasion by displays of extremism, intolerance and radicalism, as we have witnessed in many countries. This extremism, of various flavors, can pose a threat to democracy and freedom at any time, whether today or in the near future.

We must continue in the process of facing up to the totalitarian past, when August 1968 extended communist domination for another 21 years. However, we must also be capable of responding to current threats, which could endanger our freedom in a much more insidious way. Let us remember that, and not only today.

Romea.cz

Facebook tribute site for Ayen Chol ruined by racists (Australia)

Vulgar photographs and racist posts have ruined a Facebook tribute site dedicated to the little girl mauled to death by a dog last week.

The State Government and police will try to erase the posts.

The two pages have 35,000 followers, several of whom have contacted Crimestoppers.

Some vile comments and images already have been removed. But others remain on the sites dedicated to four-year-old Ayen Chol.

One post on a page described the pit bull-cross linked to the girl's death last Wednesday as a legend.

The Herald Sun has chosen not to detail the contents of other posts that have not been removed.

One racist comment triggered the responses: "I hope you get mauled by a dog, so you know what she had to go through!!!" and "Go die in a hole ... u heartless waste of space".

Relative Daniel Atem said the family was not aware of the shocking photos and posts until contacted by the Herald Sun.

"It's bad. It's not good," he said.

It is the latest incident of tribute pages of people who have died being vandalised. Minister for Crime Prevention Andrew McIntosh said he was outraged the girl's memory had been attacked by cyber ghouls.

"These comments are despicable and offensive," Mr McIntosh said.

"The Victorian Coalition Government will seek advice on any action that may be taken against the cowards who have sought to defile the memory of Ayen Chol using the supposed anonymity of the internet."

A Victoria Police spokeswoman said police would work with Facebook to try to have any offensive content removed.

A Facebook spokeswoman said the site wanted to express its sympathies to Ayen's family and friends.

"We are also deeply saddened that a few individuals have shown a complete lack of respect for this tribute page," she said.

She encouraged page administrators to remove offensive content from the pages they have created and ban unwelcome visitors.

Herald Sun

FACEBOOK’S HOLOCAUST PROBLEM

Is Facebook in denial about Holocaust denial? For years, international organizations opposing anti-Semitism have been urging the planet’s preeminent social-networking platform to delete any content that asserts the Nazi-orchestrated extermination of 6 million Jews never took place. And for years, officials of Facebook, boasting more than 750 million active users, have refused, insisting that mere denial of the Holocaust, however “repugnant and ignorant,” doesn’t constitute “hate speech” as defined by Facebook’s Terms of Service policy prohibiting “content that: is hateful, threatening, or pornographic; incites violence; or contains nudity or graphic or gratuitous violence.” (Which gave a huge opening to TechCrunch founder Michael Arrington, who noted that while Facebook was meticulously removing photos of breast-feeding women, it was allowing the proliferation of Holocaust-denial pages. His mordant headline: “Jew Haters Welcome At Facebook, As Long As They Aren’t Lactating.”)

Facebook’s critics—including such groups as the Anti-Defamation League and the Global Forum for Combating Anti-Semitism, which describes itself as an Israeli-led “alliance of statesmen, parliamentarians, diplomats, journalists, legal experts, NGOs and scholars”—argue that Holocaust denial is, by definition, an expression of hatred for the Jewish people. “Holocaust denial is basically a form of classic anti-Semitism,” said Deborah Lauter, ADL’s director of civil rights and its cyber-hate response team. “It’s anti-Semitism per se because it serves as a powerful conspiracy theory that basically says the Jews have manipulated history to advance their own worldview, whether to create sympathy or world domination. In other words, we have fabricated this monstrous event in history in order to further our own hidden agenda.”

Facebook spokesman Simon Axten doesn’t see it that way. “We find Holocaust denial to be repugnant and ignorant, just as we object to many of the other ideas expressed on Facebook,” Axten told me via email this week. “We’ve come to the conclusion that the mere statement of denying the Holocaust is not a violation of our policies. We recognize people’s right to be factually wrong about historical events.” The controversy surrounding Facebook’s free-speech position isn’t especially new. It has been a matter of anxiety among Jewish groups at least since November 2008, when blogger and attorney Brian Cuban—the less-famous brother of Dallas Mavericks owner and Dancing With the Stars contestant Mark Cuban—sounded the alarm and prompted a spate of media attention.

This item continues at the Daily Beast

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Dutch Anti-Islam Politician Becomes Brand (Netherlands)

Far-right Dutch politician Geert Wilders, notorious for his rants against Islam and Muslims, has become a ‘brand name’ in the Netherlands.

Dutch newspaper Het Financieele Dagblad said Wilders and his anti-immigrant Freedom Party (PVV) have been registered as trademarks to prevent misuse of their names, Reuters reported Wednesday, August 17.

Wilders' trademark application included a category for seeds, plants and flowers following the christening of a tulip in his name in February.

The far-right lawmaker has already been listed in the brand register for the Benelux for services such as lobbying.

When a name is registered, it can be marketed commercially.

“A politician should not be for sale,” Tobias Cohen Jehoram, professor of intellectual property, told the Financieele Dagblad.

Wilders is notorious for his rants against Islam and Muslims.

He has called for banning the Noble Qur’an, describing the Muslim holy book as “fascist”.

In 2008, the far-right politician released a 15-minute documentary accusing the Qur'an of inciting violence.

Ahead of last year’s general elections, Wilders’ anti-immigrant party campaigned to "stop the Islamization of the Netherlands", and the building of new mosques.

His party’s anti-Islam campaigns, however, have helped it make its biggest gains since Wilders has founded it in 2006.

Wilders’ party, the third-largest in parliament, is the minority coalition government's key ally, providing crucial support when the government needs a majority to pass legislation.
Wilders stands out among Dutch politicians because of his mane of bleached-blond hair and was nicknamed "the golden pompadour" in US diplomatic cables disclosed by WikiLeaks.

OnIslam

Two plead guilty to hate-crime charges in swastika branding (USA)

Two men have pleaded guilty to federal hate crimes for a racially motivated assault in New Mexico that included branding a developmentally disabled man of Navajo descent with a swastika, the Justice Department has announced.

Paul Beebe and Jesse Sanford of Farmington, N.M., entered their guilty pleas Thursday. A third defendant, William Hatch of Fruitland, N.M., pleaded guilty in June to conspiracy to commit a federal hate crime stemming from the same incident.

The three men were indicted by a federal grand jury in November 2010 on one count of conspiracy and one count of violating the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act. They were the first to be charged under the October 2009 law that expanded the reach of federal anti-hate measures.

Read more at L.A. Times

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Tory councillor apologises over racist remarks (UK)

A Dover district councillor suspended from the Conservative Party after posting a racist remark on Facebook has apologised.

Maths teacher Bob Frost used the derogatory term for ethnic minorities “jungle bunnies” during an online conversation about the recent riots.

He has apologised “unreservedly” and deleted the posts.

“What I said was wrong and I apologise unreservedly. I am mortified by the offence that I have caused and have deleted these comments. I am very sorry.”

Deputy council leader Sue Chandler said: “There is no place in our society for this kind of language.

“We have therefore suspended Cllr Frost from the Conservative group pending investigation.”

Kent News

Council tells May: Ban EDL march or face judicial review (UK)

Tower Hamlets council is threatening to take the Government to court if it refuses to ban a march by far-Right group the English Defence League.

Leaders are warning of violence if the event goes ahead on September 3 and will seek a judicial review if Home Secretary Theresa May does not ban it.

A council source said: "Something must be done to prevent this demonstration. If a judicial review is the only way then that is what we will do."
The EDL told members in an online message to take "our message into the heart of militant Islam within our own country". The message added: "We will go where we want, when we want."

Last week the Home Secretary banned an EDL march in Telford, Shropshire, saying she was acting to protect communities and property.

A Home Office spokesman said: "The Home Secretary can only ban a march in London following a formal application from the Commissioner of the Metropolitan police. No such application has been received. The Home Secretary will carefully consider any formal application, subject to the relevant legal tests."

Tower Hamlets Labour group leader Josh Peck said: "The EDL march should be banned. The police are more than capable of keeping them under control, but that won't stop the tension and anger that could exist long after they have left."

London Evening Standard

MP’s call for police probe into far right (UK)

A South Yorkshire MP has written to Home Secretary Teresa May to call for police investigation into extreme right-wing incitements during the riots posted on social media like Twitter and Facebook.

Denis MacShane, who represents Rotherham, said BNP MEP Nick Griffin told his supporters the riots were a ‘black/Jewish affair’ and provided details of areas where riots were taking place.

A member of the English Defence League also used Facebook to say ‘these riots look brilliant’.

Mr MacShane added that another EDL supporter used Facebook to ask where he could obtain Semtex.

He said: “At a time when major prison sentences are being imposed on Facebook users who did not generate any response the police should also take action against the extreme right which used the riots to stoke up race hate and create an atmosphere of violence which contributed to the feeling that anything was permitted.

“Other elected people used their tweets to urge calm and restraint but Griffin tweeted with an orgasmic excitement as he watched the break-down in law and order.”

Mr MacShane added: “I do not think that social media should be used to encourage hate and incitement.”

The Star

Neo-Nazi murder suspect convicted on firearms, methamphetamine charges (USA)

A federal jury here took about an hour Tuesday to convict a Neo-Nazi murder suspect of a host of firearms charges and a drug offence.

Daniel Dwight Brown, a self-avowed member of the Aryan Brotherhood, faces at least 15 years in prison on the federal charges. He also has a pending murder charge in Mobile County.

His attorney, Bill Scully, said his client will fight the federal conviction.

“I’m disappointed in the verdict,” he said. “My client steadfastly maintains his innocence, and he will do whatever he can to appeal the verdict.”

Mobile police officers investigating a shooting death in on March 11 found a pair of 9mm pistols in a Dumpster outside a bar on Swedetown Road in Theodore. Authorities contended that those guns potentially were used in the shooting of James Huddleston III, whose body was found on Rabbit Creek Road just north of Hamilton Boulevard.

An acquaintance of the defendant, Gary Paul Schreiner, testified that he knew the guns belonged to Brown.

Investigators also got a search warrant for Brown’s home and found a pair of active methamphetamine labs, a .22-caliber pistol and ammunition on March 18, according to testimony.

Brown, 40, was convicted in 2006 of third-degree escape, making it illegal for him to have firearms.

During his testimony, Schreiner told jurors and he, Brown and their girlfriends did drugs together. Schreiner also testified that he joined a white pride group in prison called Southern Brotherhood and bristled at suggestions by Scully that it was akin to the Aryan Brotherhood.

“We’re not racist,” Schreiner said. “They’re racist.”

Schreiner testified that members of the Southern Brotherhood merely are proud of their race. In a recorded interview with Mobile police homicide detective Mac R. “Rusty” Hardeman, Schreiner called the Aryan Brotherhood “ugly, hateful a-- people.”

The jury found Brown guilty of 3 counts of possession of a firearm by a felon and one count of possession of ammunition by a felon. The panel also convicted him of possession with intent to distribute more than 500 grams of methamphetamine, which carries a 10-year mandatory-minimum prison sentence. The 6th charge he was convicted of, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, carries a 5-year sentence that must be served consecutively.

Scully said he would try to persuade U.S. District Judge Kristi DuBose to run the prison time from the other gun charges simultaneous to the other charges.

“There’s going to be an issue, probably, if they’re going to be stacked,” he said.

AL.com

March by far-right set to go ahead in capital despite ban demands (UK)

A controversial far-right group is set to win permission to stage a demo in Edinburgh after police chiefs said they had no objections to the Scottish Defence League being allowed to stage a parade - despite protests from politicians, trade unions and anti-racism organisations.

The group wants to march from near the American Embassy to the east end of Princes Street the day before the tenth anniversary of the 9/11 attacks in the United States.

Critics believe the group has deliberately chosen the date to inflame racial hatred and capitalise on recent publicity linking its sister group, the English Defence League, with Norwegian terrorist Anders Breivik.

The SDL has given Edinburgh City Council, which will rule on the application tomorrow, "freedom of speech" as the main reason for holding the event, which it expects to attract around 200 supporters.

Justice secretary Kenny MacAskill wants the protest banned, claiming the group is known to espouse "both racist and homophobic views" and expressing concern the march could pose a threat to public safety.

Local MSPS are also among those against the application.

Lothian and Borders Police has warned the local authority to consider the group's proposed demo "in the context" of the recent riots that flared across several English cities.

But it has effectively given the green light to the march, which will include a rally beside the statue of the Duke of Wellington, despite admitting the group's views are "controversial" and that a sizeable "opposition rally" is likely to be held.

Superintendent David Carradice has told the council he is confident the force can handle a demo by the SDL and any planned counter-demonstration, insisting it is used to catering for groups that want to "exercise their right to protest".

He said: "Whilst there can be no guarantees there will be no disruption to the daily business of the community, we are confident that, with the assistance of the council, an operation can be put into place to minimise such and thereby allow the SDL rally to go ahead and cater for an opposition rally too."

SNP councillor Rob Munn, chair of the regulatory committee, said it was not legally allowed to take into account criticism of the group's political stance, but could consider equalities and public safety issues.

read more at the Scotsman.com

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Jobbik MP arrested at Sziget Festival protest (Hungary)

Several members of the far right 64 Counties Youth Movement scuffled with security guards and later with police at the entrance to the Sziget festival Friday evening. About 70 members of the Movement attempted to enter the island festival without tickets but security guards stopped them.

Several demonstrators then blocked the way to festivalgoers. Police broke up the group and put several of them on a bus reserved for detainees. Those detained included Jobbik MP Gyula György Zagyva. Police said Zagyva and four others were detained for the misdemeanour of disturbance of order.

Zagyva asked on Sunday that his right to immunity from prosecution be lifted over the matter. He initially said in a written statement Friday night that he would not waive his right to immunity.

Politics.Hu

Czech neo-Nazi on trial for fraud

The trial began in Ostrava today of David Dembinski, once a leading figure in the neo-Nazi movement in Karviná district and a well-known organizer and provocateur of anti-Roma marches. Dembinski is not being charged with a violent crime this time, as he was in the Stodolní street shooting case, but with committing fraud to the tune of CZK 6 million. The Czech daily Právo reports on the case at http://www.novinky.cz/krimi/241837-byvaly-vudce-neonacistu-na-karvinsku-pred-soudem-za-milionovy-podvod.html?ref=boxD .

David Dembinski is one of the main founders of the National Resistance (Národní odpor - NO) organization in Silesia, which organizes ultra-right demonstrations against the Roma in Karviná district in particular. For example, Dembinski organized a right-wing extremist march the town of Orlová that intentionally targeted a housing estate occupied by Romani people. He was also involved in Miroslav Sládek's Republican Party, even running for municipal elections on the party ticket. He later became an entrepreneur, but his business dealings were always on the edge of legality.

Dembinski is currently serving time for extensive credit fraud. An armed escort accompanied him from prison in Plzeň to the Regional Court in Ostrava today. The state prosecutor has charged Dembinski with defrauding a private firm of auto parts and fuel worth more than CZK 6 million in 2008.

"Between 15 February 2008 and 12 March 2009, the defendant received CZK 6 172 948 worth of auto parts and fuel from a vendor. It is unknown what he did with the goods he took, and he never paid the invoices for the items delivered even after multiple urgings," Lucie Böhmová, spokesperson for the court, said of the case.

In 2009, Dembinski faced trial in Ostrava District Court for an incident in Stodolní street where he shot a business owner in front of a bar with an illegally obtained weapon, supposedly as part of a settling of scores. The prosecution alleged Dembinski had also used violence to force a restaurant owner to sign his business over to him.

The prosecution charged that would-be "entrepreneur" Dembinski fired a single round at another business owner in front of the "Divoké kočky" bar, allegedly because the man owed him money. The shot clipped the 33-year-old man from Olomouc in the left shoulder. The injury was not serious and his medical treatment lasted two weeks.

Dembinski refused to testify during the trial but had previously denied firing the round in Stodolní street. He claims he was in Slovakia at the time, which he has been unable to prove. However, he explained that somehow it was his work vehicle that was at the scene of the crime. The shooter exited the vehicle to fire the round and then drove off. "I don't have anything to do with it. I have never had or owned a weapon," he said.

Prior to the start of the trial, the judge indicated she was concerned that the witnesses summoned might lack discipline. "Some of them never retrieved their writs of summons. Others are afraid to testify," she said. The fear Dembinski spread also complicated the investigation. "We determined that many of those in his circle live in fear of him," a police officer involved in the case said. Detectives used a riot police unit when arresting him.

Such concern about Dembinski may be based not only on his debt collection methods, but also on his more recent past. When detectives began unraveling the shooting case, they determined Dembinski was operating a restaurant in Ostrava. It then came to light that he had allegedly acquired it through violence, forcing the original owner at gunpoint to transfer the business to him, which he then began to run. The victimized restaurant owner was not in court today and the investigation of that case is not yet completed.

Romea

Forty six arrests after EDL protest in Telford (UK)

Police arrested 46 people in the aftermath of a protest rally held by the English Defence League in Wellington.

Following a four-hour protest by the English Defence League in Wellington on Saturday, and a counter “unity” demonstration in the town, 10 people were charged with public order offences and three people were given cautions.

Other people arrested have been bailed pending further inquiries. Two people were due to appear at Telford Magistrates Court today.

Police confirmed there were “pockets of disorder” as up to 350 EDL members and 250 opposition protesters gathered in Wellington.

Shropshirestar.com

City faces demands to block right-wing extremist march (UK)

The city council is facing demands to block a march in Edinburgh by right-wing extremists, following the riots in England.

The Scottish Defence League (SDL) has been in talks with police chiefs about making a return to the city, 18 months after a similar event down the Royal Mile saw five men arrested as tensions rose between opposition groups.

It has applied to the council to march on September 10 - the day before the tenth anniversary of the terror attack on New York's World Trade Centre.

The move has sparked anger among anti-fascist organisations, and following the recent trouble in London, Manchester, Liverpool and Birmingham it has been flagged up as a potential flashpoint for unrest.

Last week, the Government banned a march by the English Defence League in Telford.

 This item continues at Edinburgh News

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Fascist fans fuel fears for Ukraine’s Euro 2012 hosting

Neo-Nazism, which is deeply-rooted in Ukrainian football fan culture thanks to high-level support from the Orange Revolution leaders from 2004, has become yet another real headache for the country’s current government ahead of Euro 2012.

The “beautiful game” turned ugly in the second half of Dynamo Kiev’s game against Karpaty Lvov in the Ukrainian Premier League, as several dozen fans brutally attacked a steward. He was trying to take down banners supporting WWII insurgent army leaders Stepan Bandera and Roman Shukhevich.

The victim of football fans’ attack, Andrey Solomatov, says he was simply trying to enforce the law.

“I saw the banners and asked the fans to remove them; this violated the law that no political agitation can be used at a football game. They refused and I tried to take them down myself. The next thing I remember is someone hitting me on the head and dozens of feet kicking me on the ground,” he said.

Bandera’s and Shukhevich’s status has been one of the main talking points in Ukraine over the past five years. Some in Ukraine see them as freedom-fighters and heroes, others – the majority of the population – call them Nazi collaborators.

In the 1940s, they fought alongside the German invaders, killing civilians – Russians, Poles and Jews – without mercy. More than 60 years later, Andrey the steward was nearly killed as well, but he is not sorry about his actions.

“Bandera and Shukhevich were murderers and criminals. A football match is no place for Nazism. These banners are being hung by the same people who attacked Red Army veterans in Lvov on May 9 this year,” Solomatov said.

Ukrainian football is no stranger to off-pitch violence and Nazi slogans. The same football fans that clash with the police are often seen in nationalist marches, at times carrying symbols forbidden by football organizations in Europe. Some experts blame the trend on the ideology of the previous administration.

”Ultra-nationalism has radicalized in Ukraine. That’s because for five years it had been strongly supported by the ruling elite. Now ultra-right and neo-Nazi movements are infiltrating football supporters. And nobody does anything about it – neither the authorities, nor the football clubs,” Vladimir Kornilov, political analyst for the CIS Countries Institute, said.

The Dynamo Kiev club says it carries no direct responsibility for the incident with Andrey Solomatov.

“It’s not forbidden by law to chant slogans like ‘Glory to Ukraine. Glory to heroes. Death to enemies.’ These slogans unite fans in Ukraine. But we will do everything to avoid incidents like this one. Those people are provocateurs and we will oust them from football grounds,” Nikolay Nesenyuk from Dynamo Kiev’s PR department, explained.

But such an excuse will not stand-up next year, when Ukraine and Poland co-host the European Football Championship. With the eyes of Europe focused on Kiev, banners commemorating the likes of Bandera and Shukhevich, if still a feature in 2012, could seriously harm the country’s reputation.

RT.Com