From: Paul Kneisel <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
__________________________________________________________________________
The Internet Anti-Fascist: Tuesday, 24 July 2001
Vol. 5, Number 57 (#579)
__________________________________________________________________________
Latest Readings Updated:
Action Alerts:
Stowarzyszenie 'Nigdy Wiecej'/'Never Again' Association, "Polish FA
President Declares War On Anti-Racist Organization," 16 Jul 01
Web Sites of Interest:
Text of judgement in David Irving's appeal, via Nizkor
Fascism In the News:
J.M. Lawrence (Boston Herald), "Suspect in Hub bomb plot to argue for
release on bail," 23 Jul 01
News On the Irving Libel Appeal
AP, "Historian Irving Denied Appeal," 20 Jul 01
BBC, "'Holocaust denier' vows to fight on," 21 Jul 01
AJC, "American Jewish Committee Applauds British Appellate Court Ruling
Against Holocaust Denier," 20 Jul 01
Rightwing Quote of the Week:
anonymous posting, "News for the Hebrews!!!"
What's Worth Checking: 10 stories
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
LATEST READINGS UPDATED:
The "latest anti-fascist readings" has been updated, via:
<http://www.anti-fascism.org/>
Evil Austria, Jun 01
independent Austrian anti-fascist journal
ACLU Newsfeed, 17 Jul 01
News from the American Civil Liberties Union
Euro Right, Jul 01,
independent newsletter on Europe's far right
RightWingWatch Online, 19 Jul 01,
People For the American Way tracks rightwing organizing
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
ACTION ALERTS:
Polish FA President Declares War On Anti-Racist Organization
Stowarzyszenie 'Nigdy Wiecej'/'Never Again' Association
16 Jul 01
The Extraordinary Congress of the International Football Federation (FIFA)
held in Buenos Aires on 6-7 July called upon national football associations
to join the struggle against racism and to work with non-governemental
organisations. The president of the Polish FA returned from the Congress
and started fighting: not against racism but against an anti-racist
organisation.
FIFA had invited members of independent anti-racist groups working together
under the aegis of Football Against Racism in Europe (FARE) to share their
experiences of campaigning against xenophobia in sports. Among others,
Jolanta Skubiszewska, a representative of the Polish 'Never Again'
Association, described the situation in Poland. Anti-Semitic slogans and
neo-fascist symbols at stadiums as well as occurences of racial abuse
against Black players were noted. Ms Skubiszewska described anti-racist
campaigns initiated by Polish football fans and supported by "Never Again".
She said she hoped the Polish sports authorities would increase their
efforts to combat racism.
The Polish NGO presentation was well received by the audience but it met
with a furious reaction of the Polish FA delegation who denied the problem
of racism ever existed in Polish football. "How dare you say such things
about Poland abroad" - said one member of the delegation to the
representative of "Never Again".
On his return to Poland, Michal Listkiewicz, the president of the Polish FA
called a press conference and subsequently gave a number of interviews to
the biggest radio stations and the tabloid press (eg. the 0.5m circulation
"Superexpres") in which he referred to the participation of "Never Again"
in the FIFA Congress as a "scandal". Listkiewicz said the NGO presentation
was "embarassing" and "nobody took it seriously". He called Ms Skubiszewska
"a silly girl". He further explained "her only motivation was to show she
spoke good English".
According to Listkiewicz the representative of "Never Again" had stated
"Poland is a racist and anti-Semitic country" and "half of the Poles are
anti-Semites and the other half are racists". In fact no such phrases
appeared in the speech. [The full text of the presentation made at the FIFA
Congress is available form the "Never Again" Association.] Speaking about
racist attacks Listkiewicz dismissed them as "not worth any attention".
Listkiewicz repeatedly stated that "nobody has ever heard of any
organisation under the name Never Again".
The "Never Again" Association has been active since the early 1990s and it
has been featured in numerous tv and radio programmes and press articles.
Since 1994 the "Never Again" magazine has been published as a source of
information on racism and the extreme right. The activities of "Never
Again" have been valued highly by, among others, Simon Wiesenthal.
The anti-racist sport campaign run by "Never Again" is supported by fan
groups, sport journalists, and players. "Never Again" is a founding-member
of Football Against Racism in Europe and it has been involved in the Ad Hoc
Working Group on Racism in Sport of the Council of Europe.
"It is a pity Mr Listkiewicz is spending his time and energy on fighting
our organisation. I believe he'd better spend his time fighting racism in
football" - said Marcin Kornak, the chairman of the "Never Again"
Association.
If you would like to express your disapproval of the slander campaign of
the Polish FA and solidarity with the "Never Again" Association you can
write to:
Mr Michal Listkiewicz
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
fax +48 22 827 0704, 827 1674
with a copy to the "Never Again" Association <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
For more information contact Rafal Pankowski [EMAIL PROTECTED], phone +48
603 647228.
Web sites of interest:
<www.nigdywiecej1.px.pl>
<www.farenet.org>
<www.fifa.com>
-- Rafal Pankowski
Stowarzyszenie 'Nigdy Wiecej'/'Never Again' Association
PO Box 6
03-700 Warszawa 4
Poland
<http://www.nigdywiecej1.px.pl>
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
WEB SITES OF INTEREST:
Judgment Approved by the court for handing down (subject to editorial
corrections) David Irving - v - Penguin Books Ltd and Professor Deborah
Lipstadt
<http://www.nizkor.org/> and then
<ftp.cgi/people/i/irving.david/libel.suit/irving-appeal-judgment>
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
FASCISM IN THE NEWS:
Suspect in Hub bomb plot to argue for release on bail
J.M. Lawrence (Boston Herald)
23 Jul 01
A 21-year-old woman charged along with her white supremacist boyfriend of
plotting to bomb Jewish and African-American landmarks in Boston will ask a
federal magistrate to release her on bail this week.
Jailed at MCI-Framingham while awaiting a federal trial, Erica S. Chase
spends almost 24 hours locked in her cell daily for her own safety, sources
told the Herald.
Her body is covered with racist tattoos, including a tribute to Hitler on
her back, and she has declared herself a member of the racist World Church
of the Creator based in Illinois.
A bail hearing before U.S. Magistrate Marianne B. Bowler is set for Friday.
The U.S. Attorney's Office declined comment on whether the government will
oppose her request.
Her attorney, assistant federal defender Timothy Watkins, could not be
reached for comment.
Chase has been jailed since April when police arrested her and her
boyfriend, Leo V. Felton, a 30-year-old biracial bigot and ex-con, for
allegedly trying to pass a bogus $20 bill at an East Boston Dunkin' Donuts.
Among the sites Chase and Felton were allegedly plotting to blow up was the
New England Holocaust Memorial at Faneuil Hall.
Leo Felton, who is now being held without bail, attempted suicide in
Plymouth County Correctional Facility by slashing his neck and arms with a
disposable razor prior to pleading innocent to the bombing conspiracy
charges.
A spokesman for the Department of Corrections declined to discuss Chase's
prison conditions.
She faces charges of conspiring to build bombs with Felton, who she met
through his cellmate while he was imprisoned in New Jersey.
A former housemate who lived with her in Nashua, N.H., Ian Rittweger,
described Chase as someone caught up in a latent adolescent rebellion.
He said she dated hard-drinking "white trash losers" who were "nightmares"
in the house.
He claimed Chase herself stuck him with a lost security deposit after she
and friends trashed the home's interior with spray paint and kicked holes
in walls.
But Rittweger said he does not believe she ever intended to hurt people
with explosives in Boston.
"She's obviously in it just to be in a club, be in the scene," said
Rittweger, 29. "She's by no means the mastermind."
Chase also is charged with obstructing justice by convincing a friend to
hide ammonium nitrate and other bomb-making materials. The friend is now
cooperating with federal investigators.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
NEWS ON THE IRVING LIBEL APPEAL
Historian Irving Denied Appeal
AP
20 Jul 01
LONDON -- Historian David Irving, who questioned the extent of the
Holocaust, on Friday lost his bid to challenge an earlier ruling that
branded him an anti-Semitic racist and an apologist for Hitler.
Irving now faces bankruptcy if he does not quickly pay the first
installment in a legal bill estimated at close to $3 million.
Three judges at the Court of Appeal ruled that High Court judge Charles
Gray was justified in labeling Irving a Holocaust denier 15 months ago.
One of the appeal judges, Malcom Pill, said it was fair to describe Irving
as "one of the most dangerous spokespersons for Holocaust denial."
"Where we have been invited to consider evidence in detail, it does not in
our judgment diminish the soundness of the judge's conclusions," Pill
added.
Irving was not in court for the decision. His lawyer said he was away from
London, promoting his new book on Winston Churchill.
Irving, the author of books including "Hitler's War," launched appeal
proceedings last month against a High Court ruling that said he played down
the horrors of the Holocaust.
The 63-year-old author had sued American academic Deborah Lipstadt and
publisher Penguin over her 1994 book, "Denying the Holocaust: The Growing
Assault on Truth and Memory." Irving said the book destroyed his livelihood
and fueled considerable hatred against him.
Rejecting Irving's suit last year, Gray ruled that Irving had indeed
"misrepresented and distorted" historical evidence and that he was "anti-
Semitic and racist and that he associates with right-wing extremists who
promote neo-Nazism."
Gray said Irving had, for his own ideological reasons, deliberately
misrepresented historical evidence and portrayed Hitler in a favorable
light.
Irving's lawyers argued last week that the historian had never said the
killing of Jews was "in any way excusable."
Lawyer Adrian Davies, acting for Irving, told the judges that Gray's
findings went contrary to the weight of evidence and that his judgment was
wrong and unjust.
Irving, the author of nearly 30 books, insists he does not deny that Jews
were killed by the Nazis, but challenges the number and manner of Jewish
concentration camp deaths.
He claimed that after publication of Lipstadt's book, his academic work was
increasingly shunned by publishers and agents. Irving has also been banned
from Germany, Canada and Australia.
The High Court ordered Irving to pay Lipstadt's and Penguin's legal costs -
estimated at $2.78 million. Irving has funded the appeal with the help of
contributions from supporters, including some in the United States.
The appeal court ordered Irving to pay $210,000 of the costs immediately.
If he does not pay within 21 days, he may face bankruptcy proceedings.
- - - - -
'Holocaust denier' vows to fight on
BBC
21 Jul 01
Controversial historian David Irving has vowed to continue his legal battle
to restore his reputation. On Friday the 63-year-old was refused
permission to appeal against a High Court libel ruling which branded him a
"Holocaust denier".
Irving faces a �2m legal bill after last year losing his libel case against
historian Deborah Lipstadt and Penguin Books over her book, Denying the
Holocaust.
But he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme on Saturday that he would
continue with a separate libel case against Guardian Newspapers and writer
Gitta Sereny, biographer of Hitler's architect Albert Speer.
Following Friday's ruling Mr Irving has 21 days to pay the first �150,000
of legal costs.
He refused to discuss on the Today programme whether this decision would
mean his bankruptcy, but told the BBC that he was already "�250,000 out of
pocket".
"Fortunately I have a worldwide circle of many thousands of supporters,
mostly in the USA, who have given me five and ten dollar bills to fight
this action."
Letter sent
He said that he had already written to the lawyers for Guardian Newspapers
and Gitta Sereny 10 days ago warning them that he would continue with his
action regardless of the outcome of the Court of Appeal.
Mr Irving said: "Even if I were to be bankrupted, I would be in an
extremely strong position to proceed.
"I fought the first action by myself - one man against a courtroom filled
with 40 lawyers and historians and their assistants.
"I have never given in and I don't intend to capitulate now."
'Hitler partisan'
Ms Lipstadt had described Mr Irving as a "Hitler partisan" who had
distorted history and as "one of the most dangerous spokespersons for
Holocaust denial."
Mr Justice Gray ruled in a trial in April that Mr Irving was anti-Semitic,
a racist and an "active" Holocaust denier.
Mr Irving had expressed doubts about whether there had been mass gassing at
the Auschwitz concentration camp.
The judge also refused Mr Irving leave to appeal - and on Friday the Court
of Appeal said he could not try to overturn this ruling.
- - - - -
American Jewish Committee Applauds British Appellate Court Ruling Against
Holocaust Denier
AJC
20 Jul 01
NEW YORK -- The American Jewish Committee is applauding today's ruling of
the Court of Appeal in London, which refused Holocaust denier David
Irving's application to appeal the verdict against him last year, when he
sued American professor Deborah Lipstadt for libel.
The Court of Appeal ruling upheld Judge Charles Gray's lower court judgment
that Irving had distorted and manipulated history in order to promote his
anti-Semitic, racist, and far-right politics, and that Irving is a pro-Nazi
polemicist. Judge Gray held that Dr. Lipstadt was justified in calling Mr.
Irving a Holocaust denier in her book "Denying the Holocaust: The Growing
Assault on Truth and Memory."
As the Court of Appeal noted today, Irving didn't even challenge any of
Judge Gray's findings about his anti-Semitism, racism, and far-right
extremist associations.
"While the ruling today will not end Holocaust denial, it is a significant
victory for truth," said the American Jewish Committee. "Professor Lipstadt
should be commended for her courage in exposing the lies and agenda of
Holocaust deniers."
The American Jewish Committee played a significant role in establishing the
web site Holocaustdenialontrial.org, now affiliated with Emory University.
The site houses the expert reports and trial submissions that proved the
case against Irving, and showed his close connections with many American
extremists, including the neo-Nazi group National Alliance, and the white
supremacist and former Klansman David Duke.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
RIGHTWING QUOTE OF THE WEEK:
For those who believe that fascism is only a thing of the past
Subject: News for the Hebrews!!!
From: "Public Anonymous_Account " <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Date: 7/21/01 10:34 PM E. Australia Standard Time
Message-id: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
This is a warning. The only reason we permitted the existence of Israel is
so we wouldn't have to take our focus off of you. We Invented Israel to
give you the idea that you would be in one common area. Israel allows us to
keep you easily in our cross hairs. You have as much power as you did in
1901. We just know how to find you easier and YOU THINK that you have a
nation.
I thought that you had a problem about being concentrated in one place,
made to believe that you ruled, then taken care of?
A nation? No, you are where we want you to be! Now! Work harder and pretend
that you are a nation!!!!!
That's just what Der F�hrer!! Das werden Sie ausgebildet, um an den guten
alten Tagen anzubeten!!! would have wished out of you. Obedience is value!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
WHAT'S WORTH CHECKING
stories via <ftp://ftp.nyct.net/pub/users/tallpaul/publish/story8/>
Ian Urbina (In These Times), "You've Got Hate Mail: Extremist Web site
targets Jews for criticizing Israel," 9 Jul 01, "Hate mail and death
threats can be par for the course for public figures with dissenting
opinions, especially on Israel and the occupied territories. But Rabbi
Michael Lerner, editor of liberal Zionist Tikkun magazine, was shocked when
the intimidation took a new turn. In May, an extremist pro-Israel Web site
called 'Masada 2000' listed Lerner as one of 'the five most dangerous
Jewish enemies of the Jewish people,' and posted detailed driving
directions to his home address. Draped in guillotines, nooses and racist
language, the site repeatedly stated: 'If you're ever in the San Francisco
area, drop in on him at his home'." <2336.txt>
Diana Jew Schemo (New York Times), "U.S. Schools Turn More Segregated, a
Study Finds," 20 Jul 01, "As President Bush and Congress wrestle with how
to toughen federal law to weed out failing public schools, a Harvard
University study has found that classrooms grew more segregated in the
1990's. The trend, reversing desegregation gains from the civil rights era,
is undermining the educational prospects of black and Hispanic children,
the study says. The report, "Schools More Separate: Consequences of a
Decade of Resegregation," by the university's Civil Rights Project,
confirms a return toward segregation in the K-to- 12 grades despite a
growing diversity of the general population and support for integration in
public opinion surveys." <2337.txt>
Stephen Graham (AP), "Germany Remembers Nazi Resistance," 20 Jul 01, "The
head of Germany's Jewish community marked the 57th anniversary of a failed
attempt to assassinate Hitler Friday by urging the country's armed forces
to remember the courage of soldiers who defied the Nazis - while reminding
them of the military's dark past. Paul Spiegel, head of Germany's Central
Council of Jews, was addressing an enlistment ceremony near where the
leaders of the 1944 coup attempt were executed. He told 530 recruits to
draw inspiration from the plotters, and not forget how regular troops
contributed to the Holocaust." <2338.txt>
Mary Pemberton (AP), "Paintball Suspect Reaches Agreement," 19 Jul 01, "One
of three young men charged with making paintball attacks on Alaska Natives
has reached a plea agreement in which he will admit videotaping the
incidents, prosecutors said Thursday." <2339.txt>
Reuters, "Human Rights Group Urges Reparations for Slavery," 19 Jul 01,
"The international watchdog group Human Rights Watch on Thursday called for
governments in countries that had practiced slavery and segregation to pay
reparations to victimized groups." <2340.txt>
WCVB -- Newscenter 5 Boston, "Firefighters Allege Sexual, Racial
Discrimination," 20 Jul 01, "Gay, women and minority firefighters say that
their lives are in danger and Mayor Menino is ignoring longstanding
problems of harassment by their colleagues. NewsCenter 5's Janet Wu reports
that the mayor says that there's only so much he can do until the
firefighters agree to a new contract. Jim Murphy, a firefighter for 22
years, came out 15 years ago because he was tired of hearing unending
homophobic comments. He still does. Karen Miller, on the job for 16 years,
cut herself when she found broken glass and pins inside her firefighter
boots. The two said that they consider themselves lucky because, they
claim, another woman firefighter almost died in a Hyde Park fire not long
ago." <2341.txt>
Anti-Defamation League, "ADL Disappointed With House Passage Of Flawed
`Charitable Choice' Legislation, Calls On Senate To Reject The Measure,"
19 Jul 01, "The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) today expressed deep
disappointment with the House of Representatives for passing a flawed
'charitable choice' bill and urged members of the U.S. Senate to reject the
'constitutionally objectionable' legislation." <2342.txt>
Geir Moulson (AP), "Berlin Leaders OK Provocative Poster," 19 Jul 01,
"Berlin's mayor and the city's Jewish leader are endorsing a provocative
fund-raising poster emblazoned with the slogan 'The Holocaust never
happened,'' saying it will draw attention and help build a memorial to
Jewish victims of the Nazis. 'It would be fatal to have a poster that no
one notices,' Mayor Klaus Wowereit said Thursday as backers of the monument
unveiled a 100-foot-by-50-foot poster on the wall of a bank next to the
monument's site, close to Berlin's landmark Brandenburg Gate. 'It will be
provocative for victims, who are particularly sensitive, especially older
people,' said Alexander Brenner, the head of Berlin's Jewish community -
Germany's largest. 'But all agree that the purpose justifies this
wording'." <2343.txt>
AP, "UK Jews Condemn Swastika Use in Italian Fashion," 18 Jul 01, "British
Jews condemned Italian designer Francesco Barbaro on Wednesday for using
the swastika as the theme for his Rome fashion collection. The Board of
Deputies of British Jews said it understood that some designers may use
shock tactics to gain media attention for their collections. But it said
the swastika would always be linked to the Holocaust." <2344.txt>
Alfonso Charfy and Elisabeth Donovan (Miami Herald), "Scores accused of
atrocities live in S. Florida," 22 Jul 01, "Though more than 100 foreign
nationals accused of human rights atrocities have recently been arrested or
investigated in the United States, at least 100 others are still quietly
living in this country, many with the tacit approval of the U.S.
government, The Herald has found. Some arrived legally. Some were covertly
assisted by U.S. intelligence officials. Others carried tourist visas
issued by unwitting American consuls. Eventually, most of these alleged
torturers and murderers received political asylum, temporary or permanent
residence, even U.S. citizenship, which has allowed them to stay in this
country despite the allegations against them." <2345.txt>
* * * * *
In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. section 107, this material is
distributed without profit or payment to those who have expressed a prior
interest in receiving this information for non-profit research and
educational purposes only.
__________________________________________________________________________
FASCISM:
We have no ethical right to forgive, no historical right to forget.
(No permission required for noncommercial reproduction)
- - - - -
_________________________________________________
KOMINFORM
P.O. Box 66
00841 Helsinki
Phone +358-40-7177941
Fax +358-9-7591081
http://www.kominf.pp.fi
General class struggle news:
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
subscribe mails to: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Geopolitical news:
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
subscribe: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
__________________________________________________
