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.
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Respect leader George Galloway sayd he will address
Croydon's Muslim population daily in the run-up to the by-election
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.
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