Hope Not Hate
Hope Not Hate is Searchlight's campaign to counter racism and fascism in elections and beyond. Over the past few years the British National Party has seriously contested council elections all over the country but still only has 57 councillors. The two BNP MEPs elected in June 2009 have brought the party financial benefit in the form of their salaries and staffing and expenses allowances, as well as an opportunity for Nick Griffin, the BNP leader, further to develop his links with other European fascist parties and strut around on an international stage. However without the HOPE not hate campaign, the BNP would undoubtedly have had more MEPs and many more local councillors elected. Now the BNP is threatening to gain a majority on Barking and Dagenham council, in east London, and Griffin is trying to become MP for Barking. The party is also faced with defending 30 of its council seats in 2010, which gives anti-fascists an opportunity to oust them. At Searchlight we want to make sure that people know the full story about who the BNP are and what they really stand for.
The HOPE not hate website aims to do just that, serving the anti-fascist movement and providing up to date news, good practice and analysis.