Bishop target of 'filthy, evil' hate

THE Bishop of Sheffield has been targeted by racist bigots for speaking out against the far right British National Party.

The Rt Reverend Jack Nicholls revealed last night that he had received shocking abuse from BNP supporters for urging voters to reject the BNP at a public rally.

But it didn't stop him from standing alongside some of Sheffield's leading lights last night - including world champion boxer Johnny Nelson and his coach Brendan Ingle - to tell the BNP: 'You're not welcome here'.

Speaking at the Sheffield Unite Against Facism conference, Bishop Jack said: "I have received some of the most vitriolic correspondence as a result of speaking out at a meeting that I have ever had.

"You would not believe - and it is not too strong a word to use - the evil that is brought to the surface by issues such as this."

After his speech he told The Star most of the abuse had been sent by e-mail or post.

He said: "The language they used was simply filthy, accusing me of interfering in things that did not concern me and telling me I should understand that these immigrants are scum."

World cruiserweight champ Johnny Nelson was more explicit, telling the Victoria Hall crowd of his run in with a racist who tried to start a fight with him by repeatedly using the term 'nigger' in front of him.

"He wanted me to kick off, so he could then either get the two other blokes who were in the room to duff me up or phone the police and say: 'there we are I told you what these black people are like,'" he said.

Nelson has joined forces with the Bishop, trade union leaders and councillors to call on

Sheffielders to keep the BNP out in this year's local and European elections.

The party has said it intends to stand a record number of candidates in Yorkshire.

It is feared the BNP may need less than 10 per cent of the electorate to support them to return a MEP if turnout in the local elections is poor.

Nelson added: "For me, it doesn't matter who you vote for, as long as you do vote. Because if you don't then that's a vote for the BNP."

Ends

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Thursday, 29 April 2004 | Source: www.sheffieldtoday.net