Anti-Fascists have eye on Barrett

national | miscellaneous | news report Friday May 16, 2003 17:40 by AFA Ireland - Anti Fascist Action afa at ireland dot com C/o PO Box 3355, Dublin 7, Ireland.

Press Release on Justin Barrett's latest self-promotion ploy about setting up a 'political movement'.

Press Release Friday 16th May

Anti-Fascists have eye on Barrett

Anti Fascist Action (AFA) today responded to a press report that far-right
political activist Justin Barrett is planning to launch an anti-immigrant
"political movement".

Jo Tobin, a spokesperson for AFA, said: "We have been monitoring the
activities of Justin Barrett for a number of years; it was AFA who first
released the information to the press, last October, about his links to
fascist parties in Germany and Italy. Mr Barrett will be aware of the
consequences these revelations had on his campaign. If he persists now
further action will be taken against him."

Press reports about Barrett's proposed "political movement" reveal
clearly his racist, reactionary and ignorant views. He openly reduces
the immigration debate to one about "blacks" or "coloureds" and "whites"
as well as claiming that the only people he defines as "Irish" are those
who are born on this island and are "Catholic and Gaelic". Barrett's
so-called "movement" appears to be one which would marry insular
right-wing nationalism to racism and views on sex and "family values"
which have been long rejected by the Irish people.

Ms Tobin continued: "It also has to be questioned to what extent there
is a "political movement", no other political figures or groups have
publicly backed up Barrett's plans. Mr Barrett's main talent is for
self-promotion. This statement comes at the same time as the re-launch
of his book and just a year before the local elections."

Anti Fascist Action has in the past taken political and physical action
against groups promoting racist and fascist views in Ireland, and this
policy still remains in force.

[ENDS]

More information from: E-mail: afa@ireland.com

****************************** Background information on Barrett and
Far-Right: http://www.geocities.com/irishafa/news.html