comment 21 said by Pete, National Front. on Tuesday, 7 August 2007, 3:56pm

I did not shout anything, I know one of our lot did, but it wasn't me. I was on the left side of our banner, the one you were all calling a fat c*nt. I stood silently, even when the bottle of drink hit the side of my head breaking my glasses in the process. Someone did punch the guy holding the other side of the banner, and when he thumped him back the police threatened to arrest him.

I was one of two local people on that demo, neither of us are members of the NF, we are BPP members who came to help and support our comrades.

I will agree therefore with one thing, the woman should not have brought her kids. Especially as she was the one who did most of the shouting.

Nonetheless, the police failed to do their duty, they put us in a very dangerous position, even though they had been informed well in advance that we were coming. Had we been given the same protection as the God Squad, we would have had our peaceful demo, and I'm sure it would have been incident free.

comment 22 said by Adrian on Tuesday, 7 August 2007, 5:01pm

So Pete - what were you actually "protesting" about? What have Gay, Lesbian and Transgender people ever done for you to want to come down and wave flags and banners?

What is your Beef?

comment 23 said by Mark on Tuesday, 7 August 2007, 11:07pm

Adrian - Pete was there to protest as part of the BPP drive to bring back Section 28, at least I hope that's all!

What troubles me is the write-up he gave on the BPP site. It reads like a military debrief.

Pete reports...

--------- START COPY -------------
http://www.bpp.org.uk/clause28.html

National Front Demo' results in a set up by Brighton Police so we are attacked by poofters!

Earlier today myself and BPP Comrade Buster met with about ten NF Comrades and embarked upon the planned NF demo' in Brighton. Bring Back Clause 28 was the theme, as around a half a million homosexuals descended upon the city. Brighton Police had known for a long time that we were going to demonstrate, yet they were not at our RV point when we arrived, and when they did turn up, they designated us an area on the corner of Baker Street and London Road. This was hardly a suitable area for us to demonstrate under any circumstances, but it got worse. With no barrier, and only two very disinterested coppers, we were told to start our demo there and then. As soon as we put our first banner up we were attacked. We fought back, and considering our group was made up of two old age pensioners, a woman, four young children and just six fighting fit men, we stood our ground until it had got so out of hand that the police ordered us to leave. Hit by a plastic bottle of soft drink that had not been opened, I was sporting a black eye and broken glasses. Others received cuts and bruises, but we are not the surrendering types.

Considering the homosexuals believe they have been victims of discrimination, and that their freedoms have been denied for so long, one would have expected them to understand our right to a peaceful protest. Not so, the evil venomous bastards bombarded us with missiles even though half our contingent were young or elderly. We will not forget this treatment, by the police or the reds, or the homosexuals. And if they think we won't be back next year, they'd best think again.

Only next year, the National Front will be demanding that more members turn up. And we in the BPP will be expecting the same: Turn up and support our nationalist Comrades...

AND DON'T LEAVE US IN THIS SHIT EVER AGAIN!

Always For Race & Nation

Pete Williamson, BPP National Organiser
--------- END COPY -------------

comment 24 said by Pete, National Front. on Tuesday, 7 August 2007, 11:36pm

We were protesting about the removal of Clause 28 from the statute book. And although you lot don't want it bringing back, we do. The demo was nothing to do with stopping the parade or banning homosexuality. Like I said, I'm not an NF member, but I know that that group have a lot of stigma attached, but imo, its all from the past.

What I can tell you is that you will not catch NF or BPP goose stepping around the room, we don't heil the former German leader, and Ve do not haff vays off making you speak!

comment 25 said by guido on Tuesday, 7 August 2007, 11:45pm

You can’t help thinking that the NF still haven't got over the fact that the peak of their popularity in the 70's was when they were led by the... erm… openly gay Martin Webster.

comment 26 said by john on Wednesday, 8 August 2007, 1:04am

If you are so small minded as to be unable to tolerate homosexuality, it is probably advisable for you to stay indoors during pride events.

If you do not want to have bottles hurled at you, then in future don't stand and insult 150,000 people's lives. Not a lifestyle choice, or a belief system such as a religion, but what people are - their genetic make up - an aspect of a person like eye colour, height, personality type...

You are not born religious, or homophobic, you learn it. But you are born gay.

comment 27 said by Pete, National Front on Wednesday, 8 August 2007, 1:04pm

John, I can only presume you wrote your message before mine hit the board.

The Christian demo was all about their perception of homosexuals, and trying to get them banned or punished or whatever. IMO I didn't stop to look at them as Brighton Police had insisted we walk from Preston Park Shell Garage to Baker Street.

The NF demo was because we simply don't want our children taught about homosexuality at school. It should be our choice as parents what our children are taught, not a bunch of sniveling politicians or worse pc mad liberal left wing social workers.

I guess we could have joined Christian Voice behind their lovely barrier and police line. But our message was totally different to theirs on the day.

comment 28 said by Jon PB on Wednesday, 8 August 2007, 5:01pm

For several years I was a member of 2 evangelical churches in Brighton & Hove. It wasn't long before I was shown that homosexual activity is wrong in the eyes of the bible and church. Because I had strong faith I wanted to do what was right by God so I sought long and hard to be "delivered" from homosexuality ensuing years of counselling, prayer, reading literature, visiting ex-gay organisations and literally begging God to take it from me.

This eventually led me into a spiral of depression and guilt that I never want to experience again. I never did "get free" of my sexuality so I decided to stop living a double life even if it now means most of my church friends are in disagreement with me and I can no longer go to church.

I have also had a negative response from certain people on the scene because I was open about my beliefs and the struggle they caused. I had been labelled "religious with issues".

I think it is sad that people with a Christian label or any one who does not understand this struggle can hold banners up to say we must stop being something that I have found impossible to stop. It is also disappointing that some gay people can be as equally condemning of someone who holds Christian beliefs and is trying to work out how to reconcile them with their sexuality.

I agree that there are certain aspects of gay lifestyle that are not healthy - promiscuity and unfaithfulness for instance. However, that is not everyone and these things can equally apply to the heterosexual community.

If anyone wants to preach then perhaps preach being committed to your partner and treating each other well whoever it is you love; and respect each other's different opinions whether gay, straight, Christian or whatever.

comment 29 said on Wednesday, 8 August 2007, 5:09pm

Why would you not want your kids to grow up with an understanding of homosexuality? What exactly is it that you were protesting about? I simply don't understand what the problem is.

comment 30 said by apok on Wednesday, 8 August 2007, 5:28pm

"I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it."

Voltaire, (Attributed); originated in "The Friends of Voltaire", 1906, by S.G.Tallentyre (Evelyn Beatrice Hall) - French author, humanist, rationalist, & satirist (1694 - 1778)