GEORGE Galloway has been accused of trying to ignite racial
tension after declaring his Respect party would "target" black and
Muslim voters during the Croydon North by-election.
The controversial MP picked out both groups as he announced black activist Lee Jasper, former policy adviser to Ken Livingstone, as the party's candidate.
During a video posted online, which begins with Martin
Luther King's famous "I have a dream" speech, Mr Galloway claimed a
Respect victory in Croydon North would surpass his shock victory in
Bradford West in March.
Respect won that by-election, overturning a similarly strong Labour majority, by capitalising on racial tensions among highly segregated communities.
He claimed Respect could repeat that victory because Croydon North is "exactly the kind of constituency we have to compete in".
"We are going to be targeting black voters, victims of discrimination and unfair and unjust treatment by the Met," he said.
"Twenty-four per cent of the constituents are black. Black people disproportionately support us because they have been let down by the main parties.
"We will be targeting the 10,000 Muslim voters on the issues which matter greatly to them, most important of which is the ceaseless bombardment from the ruling class and the media to try and poison the British public against Muslims and Islam."
While admitting it would be "catastrophic" for the party to focus on just two communities, Mr Jasper told the Advertiser that Respect would focus on "institutional racism" against black and ethnic minority groups in Croydon.
Race campaigners and community leaders condemned Mr Galloway's comments as divisive. Pastor Clement Okusi, of Potters House Church in Thornton Heath, said: "I watched the video and to be honest I struggled to the end as I found it quite painful. Galloway appears to be reading a very badly written script and Jasper does himself no favours with his confrontational rhetoric.
"With regards to him targeting blacks and Muslims, he immediately alienates others and sets himself up as a divisive figure. I don't think they will have much success."
In the video, entitled the Coming Battle For Croydon and posted on YouTube on Sunday, Mr Galloway said: "I don't think anyone watching this needs any lessons in how I have the ability to address a Muslim audience, do you?
"Trust me, I will be daily addressing the Muslim voters in Croydon and I will be asking them for their support. Our candidate will be particularly effective among black voters, although he has quite a reach among white voters too."
Mr Jasper said: "I think racism is a big issue in London and Croydon doesn't escape from that.
"There is racism in employment in terms of the opportunities which aren't afforded to young black and Asian boys.
"The local authority has slashed funding to voluntary groups used predominantly by ethnic minorities and I can sense discrimination in the way these decisions were made.
"But our campaign will not be divisive. It will unify the community and point out what they have in common rather than their differences."
Thornton Heath councillor Louisa Woodley, one of five names on Labour's shortlist for the by-election, said: "Galloway talking about getting the Muslim vote and helping Lee Jasper to get the black vote gives the impression this isn't a cohesive community, that it's in sections. That's not the reality."
Faz Hakim, another shortlisted candidate and once named one of the most influential Muslim women in the UK, said: "Croydon North is not the same as Bradford West. Bradford was open to prejudice and being taken advantage of.
"I have known Lee Jasper for 20 years. The world has changed in that time but he hasn't.
"It's completely irresponsible to be encouraging division at a time when we should be joining together."
The Croydon North by-election, called after the death of Malcolm Wicks in September, is on November 29.
link
The controversial MP picked out both groups as he announced black activist Lee Jasper, former policy adviser to Ken Livingstone, as the party's candidate.
-
Respect leader George Galloway sayd he will address Croydon's Muslim population daily in the run-up to the by-election
Respect won that by-election, overturning a similarly strong Labour majority, by capitalising on racial tensions among highly segregated communities.
He claimed Respect could repeat that victory because Croydon North is "exactly the kind of constituency we have to compete in".
"We are going to be targeting black voters, victims of discrimination and unfair and unjust treatment by the Met," he said.
"Twenty-four per cent of the constituents are black. Black people disproportionately support us because they have been let down by the main parties.
"We will be targeting the 10,000 Muslim voters on the issues which matter greatly to them, most important of which is the ceaseless bombardment from the ruling class and the media to try and poison the British public against Muslims and Islam."
While admitting it would be "catastrophic" for the party to focus on just two communities, Mr Jasper told the Advertiser that Respect would focus on "institutional racism" against black and ethnic minority groups in Croydon.
Race campaigners and community leaders condemned Mr Galloway's comments as divisive. Pastor Clement Okusi, of Potters House Church in Thornton Heath, said: "I watched the video and to be honest I struggled to the end as I found it quite painful. Galloway appears to be reading a very badly written script and Jasper does himself no favours with his confrontational rhetoric.
"With regards to him targeting blacks and Muslims, he immediately alienates others and sets himself up as a divisive figure. I don't think they will have much success."
In the video, entitled the Coming Battle For Croydon and posted on YouTube on Sunday, Mr Galloway said: "I don't think anyone watching this needs any lessons in how I have the ability to address a Muslim audience, do you?
"Trust me, I will be daily addressing the Muslim voters in Croydon and I will be asking them for their support. Our candidate will be particularly effective among black voters, although he has quite a reach among white voters too."
Mr Jasper said: "I think racism is a big issue in London and Croydon doesn't escape from that.
"There is racism in employment in terms of the opportunities which aren't afforded to young black and Asian boys.
"The local authority has slashed funding to voluntary groups used predominantly by ethnic minorities and I can sense discrimination in the way these decisions were made.
"But our campaign will not be divisive. It will unify the community and point out what they have in common rather than their differences."
Thornton Heath councillor Louisa Woodley, one of five names on Labour's shortlist for the by-election, said: "Galloway talking about getting the Muslim vote and helping Lee Jasper to get the black vote gives the impression this isn't a cohesive community, that it's in sections. That's not the reality."
Faz Hakim, another shortlisted candidate and once named one of the most influential Muslim women in the UK, said: "Croydon North is not the same as Bradford West. Bradford was open to prejudice and being taken advantage of.
"I have known Lee Jasper for 20 years. The world has changed in that time but he hasn't.
"It's completely irresponsible to be encouraging division at a time when we should be joining together."
The Croydon North by-election, called after the death of Malcolm Wicks in September, is on November 29.
link
No comments:
Post a Comment