Anti-fascist campaigner verdict is 'travesty of justice'

8 Sep 2010 10:44 AM

Responding to yesterday's guilty verdict in the case against Martin Smith, of Unite Against Fascism and Love Music Hate Racism, PCS general secretary Mark Serwotka said:

"I am shocked at the verdict delivered in a magistrates' court today, in the absence of any evidence, that Martin Smith, national co-ordinator of Love Music Hate Racism, was guilty of assault on a police officer at the demonstration outside the BBC against Nick Griffin's appearance on Question Time.

"Martin was present at a perfectly legitimate protest against the BBC for giving airspace to a fascist and racist organisation and their repugnant views.

"The sentence of 80 hours community service that has been handed to Martin is a travesty of justice.

"There is a danger that verdicts such as these provide encouragement for the abhorrent views of racist and fascist organisations and therefore it is crucial that across the labour movement we stand united in our condemnation of it.

"At PCS we will re-double our efforts to campaign against the far right, including organisations such as the BNP and EDL, and we will continue to support Martin and other anti-fascist campaigners when they are treated in such an unjust, outrageous way.

"PCS will work with Unite Against Fascism and LMHR to fight the far right wherever we can and also to highlight the unequal way in which anti-fascist campaigners and activists are treated in comparison with racist and fascist thugs."