STOP PRESS: Blackburn Mosque Cancels Condi's Invite. *UPDATED*
There has been plenty of spin in the press, that Condi is welcome in Blackburn, and Jack was spotted on local TV tonight crowing that all his opponents in the General election this year were anti war, and he still won.
He predicted the Muslim community in Blackburn would welcome Condi with open arms.
It would appear he is wrong.
We hear from Blackburn that the Masjid Al Hidayah mosque have withdrawn their invitation to to Condoleeza Rice, and she will not be making her scheduled visit.
It looks like the people of Blackburn are more engaged than Jack or the local press give them credit for!
Here's the Press Release [pdf], please pass it on.
PRESS RELEASE
DATED 29 MARCH 2006, 2330 hrs
An historic decision has been made today. The committee at Masjid Al Hidayah Mosque on Millham Street, Blackburn and the surrounding community, in conjunction with Muslim scholars from Blackburn and Preston, have taken the decision to withdraw their invitation to Condoleezza Rice to visit their mosque as part of her forthcoming tour of the region on Saturday 1st April.
It has been presented that local people would be in support of Jack Straw's invitation to the US Secretary of State. This decision is evidence that the bulk of the community, Muslim and otherwise, are strongly against the visit. Blackburn with Darwen Stop the War salute the committee of the mosque and extend our thanks to the community and scholars involved for their united efforts in arriving at this decision.
Equally, we salute the parents whose children attend Pleckgate High School, who have been meeting with the school authorities during the course of this week to try and convince them to follow Millham Street mosque's lead, and withdraw the invitation to Condoleezza Rice, due to visit Friday morning. In solidarity with these actions, Blackburn with Darwen Stop the War have worked with the community to arrange a demonstration outside Pleckgate High School to coincide with Rice's visit on Friday morning.
Subsequently, we will be organising a march, with the support of the community, from Bangor Street Community Centre (assembling 9am), which will make its way to the National Rally outside the Town Hall at 10.30am. This rally, and the support that it is now attracting, rising by the hour, will demonstrate to Condoleezza Rice and Jack Straw that there is no acceptance for the policies of the British and US governments in relation to the war against Iraq, and support of torture and other human rights abuses at Guantanamo Bay and throughout the world.
We are calling on all those who oppose the kind of politics associated with Rice and Straw to join the rally on Saturday morning.
CONTACT DETAILS:
Alex Martindale: 07989 675284
Jamilah Shah: 07974 569423
e-Mail: press@condiwatch.co.uk
Web: www.condiwatch.co.uk
Update
The press have picked it up.
Maybe Condi needs Steve
Maybe Condi needs Steve Earle to serenade her, he's got a song about her
Condi, Condi
Oh Condi Condi begging on my knees
Open up your heart and let me in wontcha please
Got no money but everybody knows
I love you Condi and I'll never let you go
Sweet and dandy pretty as can be
You be the flower and I'll be the bumble bee
Oh she loves me oops she loves me not
People say you?re cold but I think you?re hot
Oh, Condi, Condi
Oh, Condi, Condi
Oh Condi, Condi I?m talkin to you girl
What's it gonna hurt come on give me a whirl
Shake your body now let me see you go
One time for me Oh Condi I love you so
Skank for me Condi show me what you got
They say you're too uptight I say you're not
Dance around me spinnin? like a top
Oh Condi Condi Condi don't ever stop
Oh Condi Condi Can't you hear me call
I?m standin in the street outside your garden wall
Pocketful of money belly full of wine
Condi in my heart and romance on my mind
Listen to me Condi don't be afraid
I come here tonight to chase your blues away
I?ll never hurt you I'll treat you right
Oh Condaleeza won't you come out tonight
Pretty little Condi precious as can be
Bet you never had another lover like me
If the Pleckgate High School
If the Pleckgate High School don't heed the request to cancel Rice's visit, why don't the parents all keep their children from school that day?
... unless their child
... unless their child promises to misbehave.