The BNP’s success in European elections will be disastrous for disabled people, activists have warned.
BNP leader Nick Griffin was elected to represent the North West region while Andrew Brons won the seat for Yorkshire and Humber in the June 4 elections to the European Parliament.
Activist and campaigner Richard Rieser branded the BNP a fascist party and said that its electoral success was a result of large numbers of disillusioned Labour supporters failing to vote.
He said that disabled people in areas represented by the BNP would be afraid because fascists wanted to kill disabled people.
“The fascist record on dealing with disabled people is to kill us. They’re Holocaust deniers but I haven’t noticed them denying that disabled people were killed en masse in Germany.”
Julie Newman, Acting Chair of the UK’s Disabled People’s Council, said she could only think that a party denying the Holocaust would deny disabled people the right to exist too.
She said: “I think there’s a eugenics agenda because they want to get rid of anybody who taints the bloodline. I think that anybody who’s different from the BNP’s purist agenda is going to have a difficult time.”
Alice Maynard, Chair of disability charity Scope, said that black and ethnic-minority disabled people already endured considerable discrimination which she doubted would improve with the election of BNP politicians.
“One feels that the BNP’s approach to race is the negative bit, but I don’t think that disability is ever far behind. There are serious issues around the genetic agenda.”
All three campaigners said that they hoped the success of the BNP would serve as a rallying call to disabled people to ally with anti-fascist and anti-racist organisations.
In May, the Observer newspaper reported that Jeffrey Marshall, senior organiser for the BNP’s London European election campaign, had posted a message on an internet forum in which he commented on the death of David Cameron’s disabled son Ivan.
According to the Observer, Mr Marshall said: “We live in a country today which is unhealthily dominated by an excess of sentimentality towards the weak and unproductive. No good will come of it.”
The Observer article said that later, in response to comments made by others on the site, Marshall is alleged to have written: “There is not a great deal of point in keeping these people alive after all.”
The Observer added that Mr Marshall said the comments were private and some had been paraphrased and taken out of context. The paper said that he had admitted making the former comment but said he could not recall making the latter one.
Source: Disability Now
Julie Newman’s comment in DN prompted me to do some research. Though in one sense I wish I hadn’t because what I found is very upsetting. I feel I can’t say much, as the article speaks for itself.
It’s tough reading but please take a look a this article entitled ‘Euthanasia Program‘ from the United States Holocaust Museum.
Further Reading from USHM: Murder Of “The Unfit”
Harry Thomas
What a load of BS, why would the bnp be bad for disabled people, just because you call them fascists. people need to look at what the bnp are about and not listen to these liberal fascists of the left who spout nazi and all the other rubbish. Its in the name British not German national party. Look at our government, its them who put barriers up against disabled people. Wake up people.
hey kenny, can I ask are you disabled? Also, you seem to be incinuating that fascism is a genetic trait shared by anybody German. I’m sure that the British, and every other country or ethic division under the sun have been and are equally as capable of fascism. And I’m also sure that your post would be incredibly offensive to anybody with an ounce of sense, and also anybody from Germany. Do I need to point out how much of a fascist you really are?
This is ridiculous. This site shouldn’t be allowing pro-bnp hate mongerers to post.
I am terrified of the possibilities of the BNP coming into greater power. I already have enough trouble getting any help for my mental health problems. I am terrified of the BNP.I would be the first in the group of the so called “weak and unproductive”. I’ve also been raped, so according to Nick Eriksen I’m inline with the traitors. Dear God. These people are wankers.
Lottie, I was so sorry to read about your experiences as I moderated your post. Please, if you feel it would help, email me: ht-writer@hotmail.co.uk
But I will answer your question, Why do we allow pro BNP posts? Simply because in allowing these people to speak they show themselves for what they are!
The problem with the BNP is that the have conned their way in to power in the EU by mis-information and deceit.
However we hope that by tackling these un-truths head on we can show just how nasty they are.
We need brave people, just like you, to help by leaving their thoughts and comments.
Well done you and thank you!