a day ago
Call to remove 'racist' banners from Clydebank bandstand
Jim Bollan of West Dunbartonshire Community Party will present a motion at the full council meeting next week, asking the local authority to take down all banners, posters, flags, flyers and photos at the bandstand.
'You pay, migrants stay' and 'Migrants adored, pensioners ignored' feature on the banners which appear most Wednesdays at the space next to the Clyde Shopping Centre.
Call to remove 'racist' banners from Clydebank bandstand. (Image: YouTube) In a video posted on YouTube, a logo for Patriotic Alternative, a far-right group, is seen before photos of the banners at the bandstand are shown.
Cllr Bollan is asking the council to agree to remove any of these items from the authority-owned landmark that don't have prior written consent.
He has claimed the group congregating there are "spreading far-right, neo-nazi and white nationalist" agenda in the town.
Police Scotland has previously stated that they have visited the area on numerous occasions; however, no criminality has been established.
Videos posted to Youtube show officers approaching the bandstand. (Image: YouTube)
Cllr Bollan said: "Patriotic Alternative (PA) is a racist organisation who are not welcome in West Dunbartonshire. They were at the forefront of harassing and intimidating asylum seekers being housed in the hotel in Erskine by the government recently.
"People fleeing violence and possible death in their own country were being bullied and attacked by racist members of the PA because they were non white.
"They are now trying to spread their far right, neo nazi, white nationalist agenda in Clydebank and it needs to be confronted by the local council, organisations and the wider community. PA also oppose LGBT rights, which is also divisive and abhorrent.
"We have a diverse community in West Dunbartonshire and we need to ensure that no individual or ethnic group are singled out because of the colour of their skin.
"The Trade Unions have been at the forefront of exposing the racists locally, and we all need to build on their action to drive the racist PA out of West Dunbartonshire".
A statement previously supplied by West Dunbartonshire Council says, without special permission, "notices, posters or flags are not permitted to be affixed to the bandstand and therefore the Council can and will remove these."
