Two Muslim women have claimed they were refused a bus ride because one had her face covered by a veil.
The students, both 22 and from Slough, Berkshire, boarded a Metroline bus from Russell Square to Paddington, London.
But they said when they presented their tickets on Tuesday, the driver told them they were a "threat" to passengers and ordered them off the bus.
The firm has started an "urgent" investigation. The Muslim Council of Britain said it was "deeply concerned".
The pair, who have made a formal complaint to the bus company, have asked the BBC not to reveal their full names.
Yasmin was wearing a hijab and Atoofa was dressed in a niqab - which covers the face.
Yasmin said at first she boarded the bus by mistake when it was not in service to ask where it was going, but was told by the driver to get off.
"About 10 minutes later... the passengers started getting on. When I went forward to show my ticket he said, 'Get off the bus'. I presumed he was still angry because I got on the bus before.
"He said, 'I am not going to take you on the bus because you two are a threat.'
"I realised it wasn't due to me getting on the bus, this may be a racist attack."
She asked for his contact details but when he refused she began to film him and he covered his face.
"I said, 'It's OK for you to cover your face on my recording but it's not OK for my friend to cover her face out of choice?'
"There was no point arguing with him, we got off the bus and by then my anger turned into emotion."
BBC News
Friday, 23 July 2010
Russian neo-Nazi murder trial opens
A gang of 13 suspected neo-Nazis have gone on trial for mass murder in Russia.
The group, accused of killing 27 people, also face other charges including attempted terrorism and inciting ethnic hatred.
Authorities allege the defendants are members of the National-Socialist Society, established in 2004 with the aim of turning Russia into a Nazi state.
Operating mainly in the Moscow region, police say the skinheads targeted foreign nationals and ethnic minorities, with reports one anti-Nazi activist was stabbed 30 times by members of the gang as part of an initiation test.
Russia has seen a wave of racially motivated crimes since the collapse of the former Soviet Union. The ultra nationalist faction, banned two years ago, regularly organised combat training for members and published its own newspaper in a bid to spread its extreme ideology.
EuroNews
The group, accused of killing 27 people, also face other charges including attempted terrorism and inciting ethnic hatred.
Authorities allege the defendants are members of the National-Socialist Society, established in 2004 with the aim of turning Russia into a Nazi state.
Operating mainly in the Moscow region, police say the skinheads targeted foreign nationals and ethnic minorities, with reports one anti-Nazi activist was stabbed 30 times by members of the gang as part of an initiation test.
Russia has seen a wave of racially motivated crimes since the collapse of the former Soviet Union. The ultra nationalist faction, banned two years ago, regularly organised combat training for members and published its own newspaper in a bid to spread its extreme ideology.
EuroNews
Rage Against The Machine To Rock Against 'Racist' Arizona Immigration Bill
Los Angeles show will be the band's only concert in North America this year.So the band decided to do what it does best: bring the sound and fury.
In tandem with Sound Strike — an organization that calls on musicians to boycott the state until SB 1070 is repealed — Rage organized a benefit show set for Friday in the band's hometown of Los Angeles. Considering the heft of the situation (and the fact that the gig will be RATM's first L.A. appearance in 10 years), well, you can expect that it's going to be a pretty monumental evening.
"Sound Strike is artists united against Arizona's recently passed, racist immigration legislation," Morello told MTV News on Wednesday. "[And] Rage Against the Machine are playing our first show in 10 years in our hometown of Los Angeles to support activists within the state of Arizona who are against this legislation. We're playing with Conor Oberst and the Mystic Valley Band, and it's going to be a pretty fantastic time."
Morello said that all proceeds from the show, which is already sold out, will go to the Sound Strike Fund, which directly supports the Arizona-based organizations PUENTE Arizona and The Florence Project. And he promised that fans will be in for a fiery night. After all, the stakes are high, and the band's anger is even higher.
"Rage is playing just one show in North America this year, and the reason we're doing it is to stand up against legislation that just reminds me of the worst aspects of apartheid," Morello said. "It's a soft-core apartheid, so we're going to rock until that f---ing thing's kicked out."
MTV UK
BNP boss Nick Griffin to open office in Burnley (UK)
BNP leader Nick Griffin has set up a base in Burnley.
The highly-controversial politician officially opened his "Euro office" on Saturday in Yorke Street where he will spend time in his role as a Member of the European Parliament for the North-West.
Mr Griffin believes Burnley holds a "special place" in the party's history and it is thought he will hold surgeries at the address in the coming months.
Burnley MP Gordon Birtwistle said democracy meant Mr Griffin was entitled to set up stall in the town. "The office has been there for a number of years and it has done nothing in the past. I would suggest it won't be doing much in future either.
"Nick Griffin is one of our MEPs and a pretty insignificant one at the moment ashe doesn't seem to be doing a lot. However, if he wants to come and sort the problems any Burnley people are having with the European Parliament then so be it. I hope he does hold surgeries there and helps deliver what the people of Burnley want," he said.
"The office is important as it will bring local people closer to their MEP," said Mr Griffin, who was dramatically refused entry to the Queen's Garden Party at Buckingham Palace yesterday where Mayor of Burnley Coun. Tony Lambert and his wife, Brenda, were guests.
"Burnley has a special place in the history of the British National Party as it was here we made our political breakthrough when winning three seats on Burnley Council in 2002."
Mr Griffin was elected to Brussels last year even though the BNP polled fewer votes in the region than it had in 2004 – winning a seat through the system of proportional representation used in the European elections. He promised then he would be opening an office in Burnley in the near future.
The BNP has used an office within the Yorke Street building since 2002 but recently moved to two new offices within the same complex.
Leader of the Burnley BNP party Coun. Sharon Wilkinson said: "When Nick first got elected as MEP he said he was going to set up an office in Burnley and he's kept his word. It will be funded with Nick's European funding. We will be getting some of the Euro staff here as well which means we will be able to help more local people with their problems."
Burnley Express
The highly-controversial politician officially opened his "Euro office" on Saturday in Yorke Street where he will spend time in his role as a Member of the European Parliament for the North-West.
Mr Griffin believes Burnley holds a "special place" in the party's history and it is thought he will hold surgeries at the address in the coming months.
Burnley MP Gordon Birtwistle said democracy meant Mr Griffin was entitled to set up stall in the town. "The office has been there for a number of years and it has done nothing in the past. I would suggest it won't be doing much in future either.
"Nick Griffin is one of our MEPs and a pretty insignificant one at the moment ashe doesn't seem to be doing a lot. However, if he wants to come and sort the problems any Burnley people are having with the European Parliament then so be it. I hope he does hold surgeries there and helps deliver what the people of Burnley want," he said.
"The office is important as it will bring local people closer to their MEP," said Mr Griffin, who was dramatically refused entry to the Queen's Garden Party at Buckingham Palace yesterday where Mayor of Burnley Coun. Tony Lambert and his wife, Brenda, were guests.
"Burnley has a special place in the history of the British National Party as it was here we made our political breakthrough when winning three seats on Burnley Council in 2002."
Mr Griffin was elected to Brussels last year even though the BNP polled fewer votes in the region than it had in 2004 – winning a seat through the system of proportional representation used in the European elections. He promised then he would be opening an office in Burnley in the near future.
The BNP has used an office within the Yorke Street building since 2002 but recently moved to two new offices within the same complex.
Leader of the Burnley BNP party Coun. Sharon Wilkinson said: "When Nick first got elected as MEP he said he was going to set up an office in Burnley and he's kept his word. It will be funded with Nick's European funding. We will be getting some of the Euro staff here as well which means we will be able to help more local people with their problems."
Burnley Express
Peter Tatchell confronts BNP's Nick Griffin (UK)
Human rights campaigner Peter Tatchell has confronted BNP leader Nick Griffin, calling him a "gutless coward".
Mr. Griffin was emerging from BBC studios at Westminster when Mr. Tatchell approached him and asked him to apologise for what he called the BNP's long history of anti-semitism, homophobia and anti-islamic views.
Two of Mr. Griffin's entourage then grabbed and pushed Mr. Tatchell as the BNP leader left the building.
BBC News
Mr. Griffin was emerging from BBC studios at Westminster when Mr. Tatchell approached him and asked him to apologise for what he called the BNP's long history of anti-semitism, homophobia and anti-islamic views.
Two of Mr. Griffin's entourage then grabbed and pushed Mr. Tatchell as the BNP leader left the building.
BBC News
Right-wing group clashes with Muslims in Luton
Trouble flared after Kevin Carroll, 41, lost at appeal at Luton Crown Court to overturn a conviction for using threatening behaviour at an earlier demonstration.
Up to 80 officers had to keep a group of Carroll's supporters, chanting 'EDL', separate from opposition protesters.
During the violence objects including ashtrays and a knife were thrown.
Carroll had objected to Muslim demonstrators who had shouted abuse at British soldiers from the 2nd Battalion, The Royal Anglian Regiment, during a homecoming parade in the town in March last year.
They had shouted "British soldiers go to hell" and called them "butchers of Basra".
Carroll verbally retaliated, swearing at the protesters and singing "bin Laden's mother is a whore".
He was charged and subsequently convicted of using threatening words and behaviour likely to to cause fear harassment and alarm. He was given a conditional discharge.
Following his failed appeal, he told a crowd of supporters that people like him were being "treated like enemies of the state".
He said: "Thank you patriots and people of our great democracy for supporting me.
"God Bless our Troops, God save the Queen."
Telegraph
Up to 80 officers had to keep a group of Carroll's supporters, chanting 'EDL', separate from opposition protesters.
During the violence objects including ashtrays and a knife were thrown.
Carroll had objected to Muslim demonstrators who had shouted abuse at British soldiers from the 2nd Battalion, The Royal Anglian Regiment, during a homecoming parade in the town in March last year.
They had shouted "British soldiers go to hell" and called them "butchers of Basra".
Carroll verbally retaliated, swearing at the protesters and singing "bin Laden's mother is a whore".
He was charged and subsequently convicted of using threatening words and behaviour likely to to cause fear harassment and alarm. He was given a conditional discharge.
Following his failed appeal, he told a crowd of supporters that people like him were being "treated like enemies of the state".
He said: "Thank you patriots and people of our great democracy for supporting me.
"God Bless our Troops, God save the Queen."
Telegraph
Nick Griffin denounces decision to ban him from garden party
Nick Griffin, the leader of the British National Party, was barred from attending a garden party at Buckingham Palace yesterday after being accused of using the event for "overtly" political purposes.
The far-right leader, had been invited to the event hosted by the Queen, in his capacity as a Member of the European Parliament and had been expected to attend with his wife and children.
But in an eleventh hour decision, announced just hours before guests began arriving, Palace officials said his invitation had been revoked.
It was claimed Mr Griffin, who represents North West England in the European Parliament, had been using his attendance at the event to promote the BNP after giving a television interview and posting a message on his party’s website describing the invitation as “highly symbolic”.
Palace officials said his actions had raised security concerns and could cause discomfort for other attendees.
A Palace spokesman said: “Nick Griffin MEP will be denied entry to today's Garden Party at Buckingham Palace due to the fact he has overtly used his personal invitation for Party political purposes through the media
“This in turn has increased the security threat and the potential discomfort to the many other guests also attending.
“Mr Griffin's personal invitation was issued to him as an elected Member of the European Parliament. The decision to deny him entry is not intended to show any disrespect to the democratic process by which the invitation was issued.
“However, we would apply the same rules to anyone who tried to blatantly politicise their attendance in this way.”
Mr Griffin condemned the decision as an “outrage” and "anti-British" and accused the Government of orchestrating the move.
The BNP leader said: “This is quite amazing news. At no time was I informed that I wasn't allowed to talk to the media about this. Other people have talked about attending. Why a double standard here?
“To say that one person in the country cannot speak to the media is an outrage.”
He added: “The move has obviously been made under pressure from the ConDem regime who are desperate for any reason to bar the BNP. I am held to a different standard to everyone else in the country – that is thoroughly anti-British.”
But his inclusion on the 8,000 strong guest list had already caused controversy with many mainstream politicians condemning the invitation.
In the Commons Tory MP Julian Lewis said Mr Griffin should have never been invited to the Palace in the first place.
He said some people did not wish to "rub shoulders with neo-Nazis" at garden parties.
Andrew Brons, the BNP’s MEP for Yorkshire and the Humber, was allowed to attend the event after Palace officials said he had not sought to make political capital out of his invitation.
Last night the Palace’s handling of the affair was under the spotlight with some suggesting it had resulted in a publicity boost for the party.
As well as the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh, other members of the Royal Family attending included the Duke of York, The Duke and Duchess of Gloucester and the Duke of Kent.
Mr Griffin, who was eligible for a ticket as an elected MEP, was invited last year as a guest of party colleague Richard Barnbrook – a member of the London Assembly – but pulled out after a public outcry.
A Unite Against Fascism spokesman said they were delighted by the Palace's decision to bar Mr Griffin.
He added: "I think this is a fantastic decision that's been taken. the invitation in the first place was a blow for those who suffered in the Holocaust and more recently those who have suffered at the hands of racists and homophobes.
"The fact he was invited anyway is a little bit concerning. The Palace needs to understand and the establishment in general, who are giving these privileges, that the whole point of him being so excited about going is because it gives him the chance to legitimise himself."
The decision was taken by a handful of the most senior members of the Royal household, including Christopher Geidt, the Queen's private secretary, who took advice from the Metropolitan Police about the possibility of Mr Griffin's attendance causing public disorder outside the Palace.
One Royal source denied the decision - which gave Mr Griffin blanket coverage on TV news channels - had backfired, saying: "He got an awful lot of publicity before we said he wouldn't be allowed in, and we've got to look at the bigger picture. He was turning it into a party political statement.
"We had a lot of information about marches and people protesting outside the railings, and also we have to think about how it's going to affect the other people at the garden party.
"We couldn't make this decision any earlier because we had to wait and see how much mileage he was getting out of it. It wasn't a decision which was against the BNP, because we had Andrew Brons inside the garden, who didn't try to use it for publicity. If Nick Griffin had done the same he might have been enjoying tea with the family.
"A lot of people at the party said they were glad he wasn't there because they wanted their visit to be about them, not Mr Griffin."
The Telegraph
The far-right leader, had been invited to the event hosted by the Queen, in his capacity as a Member of the European Parliament and had been expected to attend with his wife and children.
But in an eleventh hour decision, announced just hours before guests began arriving, Palace officials said his invitation had been revoked.
It was claimed Mr Griffin, who represents North West England in the European Parliament, had been using his attendance at the event to promote the BNP after giving a television interview and posting a message on his party’s website describing the invitation as “highly symbolic”.
Palace officials said his actions had raised security concerns and could cause discomfort for other attendees.
A Palace spokesman said: “Nick Griffin MEP will be denied entry to today's Garden Party at Buckingham Palace due to the fact he has overtly used his personal invitation for Party political purposes through the media
“This in turn has increased the security threat and the potential discomfort to the many other guests also attending.
“Mr Griffin's personal invitation was issued to him as an elected Member of the European Parliament. The decision to deny him entry is not intended to show any disrespect to the democratic process by which the invitation was issued.
“However, we would apply the same rules to anyone who tried to blatantly politicise their attendance in this way.”
Mr Griffin condemned the decision as an “outrage” and "anti-British" and accused the Government of orchestrating the move.
The BNP leader said: “This is quite amazing news. At no time was I informed that I wasn't allowed to talk to the media about this. Other people have talked about attending. Why a double standard here?
“To say that one person in the country cannot speak to the media is an outrage.”
He added: “The move has obviously been made under pressure from the ConDem regime who are desperate for any reason to bar the BNP. I am held to a different standard to everyone else in the country – that is thoroughly anti-British.”
But his inclusion on the 8,000 strong guest list had already caused controversy with many mainstream politicians condemning the invitation.
In the Commons Tory MP Julian Lewis said Mr Griffin should have never been invited to the Palace in the first place.
He said some people did not wish to "rub shoulders with neo-Nazis" at garden parties.
Andrew Brons, the BNP’s MEP for Yorkshire and the Humber, was allowed to attend the event after Palace officials said he had not sought to make political capital out of his invitation.
Last night the Palace’s handling of the affair was under the spotlight with some suggesting it had resulted in a publicity boost for the party.
As well as the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh, other members of the Royal Family attending included the Duke of York, The Duke and Duchess of Gloucester and the Duke of Kent.
Mr Griffin, who was eligible for a ticket as an elected MEP, was invited last year as a guest of party colleague Richard Barnbrook – a member of the London Assembly – but pulled out after a public outcry.
A Unite Against Fascism spokesman said they were delighted by the Palace's decision to bar Mr Griffin.
He added: "I think this is a fantastic decision that's been taken. the invitation in the first place was a blow for those who suffered in the Holocaust and more recently those who have suffered at the hands of racists and homophobes.
"The fact he was invited anyway is a little bit concerning. The Palace needs to understand and the establishment in general, who are giving these privileges, that the whole point of him being so excited about going is because it gives him the chance to legitimise himself."
The decision was taken by a handful of the most senior members of the Royal household, including Christopher Geidt, the Queen's private secretary, who took advice from the Metropolitan Police about the possibility of Mr Griffin's attendance causing public disorder outside the Palace.
One Royal source denied the decision - which gave Mr Griffin blanket coverage on TV news channels - had backfired, saying: "He got an awful lot of publicity before we said he wouldn't be allowed in, and we've got to look at the bigger picture. He was turning it into a party political statement.
"We had a lot of information about marches and people protesting outside the railings, and also we have to think about how it's going to affect the other people at the garden party.
"We couldn't make this decision any earlier because we had to wait and see how much mileage he was getting out of it. It wasn't a decision which was against the BNP, because we had Andrew Brons inside the garden, who didn't try to use it for publicity. If Nick Griffin had done the same he might have been enjoying tea with the family.
"A lot of people at the party said they were glad he wasn't there because they wanted their visit to be about them, not Mr Griffin."
The Telegraph
Obama says sorry to Shirley Sherrod, wrongly accused of racism
SHIRLEY Sherrod has received the biggest "I'm sorry" of all from a contrite President Barack Obama, who personally appealed to the wrongly accused Agriculture Department worker to come back.
Ms Sherrod was forced to resign on Monday because of comments she made at a civil rights gathering.
Mr Obama has asked her to rejoin the federal government and transform "this misfortune" into a chance to use her life experiences to help people, said White House press secretary Robert Gibbs.
Mr Obama had stayed out of the public brouhaha that followed Ms Sherrod's ouster from the Agriculture Department after a conservative blogger posted a truncated clip of the black woman's comments and portrayed her as racist.
Once it became clear that the speech was advocating racial reconciliation, not racism, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack apologised to her and offered her a new job on Wednesday.
Mr Gibbs also apologised publicly "for the entire administration".
On Thursday morning, Mr Obama spoke by phone with Ms Sherrod and said he hoped she would accept Agriculture's offer of a new position, Mr Gibbs said. He added that Mr Obama thought Ms Sherrod was "very gracious".
Ms Sherrod said she had not decided whether to return, but she did accept the apologies.
In an excerpt of an ABC News interview broadcast on Thursday, Mr Obama said Mr Vilsack had been too quick to seek Ms Sherrod's dismissal.
"He jumped the gun, partly because we now live in this media culture where something goes up on YouTube or a blog and everybody scrambles," Mr Obama said.
The president said he had instructed "my team" to make sure "that we're focusing on doing the right thing instead of what looks to be politically necessary at that very moment. We have to take our time and think these issues through."
As top government officials begged for her forgiveness, Ms Sherrod did not shy away from telling her story on television. She hopped from network to network, even chatting with the ladies of ABC's The View and letting CNN film part of her call with Mr Obama as she travelled the streets of New York City in a car.
Even the president of the United States had a hard time getting to Ms Sherrod while she did interviews.
Mr Obama had tried to reach her twice Wednesday night but could not, said a White House official. She was on a plane travelling from Atlanta to New York, where she appeared on several morning shows.
Ms Sherrod was forced to resign as director of rural development in the southern state of Georgia after the clip appeared on a blog of her speech to a local meeting of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. She was talking of her initial reluctance 24 years ago to help a poor white farmer seeking government assistance. She worked for a non-government organisation at the time.
The full clip made clear that the vignette was setting the scene for her main point, that race must play no part in helping others.
The NAACP, which had at first condemned her remarks, then later apologised, posted the full 43-minute video showing the entire speech. The farmer in question also did interviews and said Ms Sherrod had helped him save his farm.
Conservative blogger Andrew Breitbart said he had posted a portion of Ms Sherrod's remarks to illustrate that racism exists in the NAACP, an argument he was using to counter allegations by the civil rights organisation of racism in a conservative movement called the tea parties.
"He was willing to destroy me ... in order to try to destroy the NAACP," Ms Sherrod said. She said she might consider suing Mr Breitbart for defamation.
Mr Vilsack, offering his remorse on Wednesday, told reporters: "This is a good woman. She's been through hell. ... I could have done and should have done a better job."
Herald Sun
Ms Sherrod was forced to resign on Monday because of comments she made at a civil rights gathering.
Mr Obama has asked her to rejoin the federal government and transform "this misfortune" into a chance to use her life experiences to help people, said White House press secretary Robert Gibbs.
Mr Obama had stayed out of the public brouhaha that followed Ms Sherrod's ouster from the Agriculture Department after a conservative blogger posted a truncated clip of the black woman's comments and portrayed her as racist.
Once it became clear that the speech was advocating racial reconciliation, not racism, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack apologised to her and offered her a new job on Wednesday.
Mr Gibbs also apologised publicly "for the entire administration".
On Thursday morning, Mr Obama spoke by phone with Ms Sherrod and said he hoped she would accept Agriculture's offer of a new position, Mr Gibbs said. He added that Mr Obama thought Ms Sherrod was "very gracious".
Ms Sherrod said she had not decided whether to return, but she did accept the apologies.
In an excerpt of an ABC News interview broadcast on Thursday, Mr Obama said Mr Vilsack had been too quick to seek Ms Sherrod's dismissal.
"He jumped the gun, partly because we now live in this media culture where something goes up on YouTube or a blog and everybody scrambles," Mr Obama said.
The president said he had instructed "my team" to make sure "that we're focusing on doing the right thing instead of what looks to be politically necessary at that very moment. We have to take our time and think these issues through."
As top government officials begged for her forgiveness, Ms Sherrod did not shy away from telling her story on television. She hopped from network to network, even chatting with the ladies of ABC's The View and letting CNN film part of her call with Mr Obama as she travelled the streets of New York City in a car.
Even the president of the United States had a hard time getting to Ms Sherrod while she did interviews.
Mr Obama had tried to reach her twice Wednesday night but could not, said a White House official. She was on a plane travelling from Atlanta to New York, where she appeared on several morning shows.
Ms Sherrod was forced to resign as director of rural development in the southern state of Georgia after the clip appeared on a blog of her speech to a local meeting of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. She was talking of her initial reluctance 24 years ago to help a poor white farmer seeking government assistance. She worked for a non-government organisation at the time.
The full clip made clear that the vignette was setting the scene for her main point, that race must play no part in helping others.
The NAACP, which had at first condemned her remarks, then later apologised, posted the full 43-minute video showing the entire speech. The farmer in question also did interviews and said Ms Sherrod had helped him save his farm.
Conservative blogger Andrew Breitbart said he had posted a portion of Ms Sherrod's remarks to illustrate that racism exists in the NAACP, an argument he was using to counter allegations by the civil rights organisation of racism in a conservative movement called the tea parties.
"He was willing to destroy me ... in order to try to destroy the NAACP," Ms Sherrod said. She said she might consider suing Mr Breitbart for defamation.
Mr Vilsack, offering his remorse on Wednesday, told reporters: "This is a good woman. She's been through hell. ... I could have done and should have done a better job."
Herald Sun
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