A PROTEST rally is due to take place this weekend against the BNP councillor elected in Broxbourne.

Councillors and residents from Waltham Cross and the rest of the borough spoke out against 70-year-old Ramon Johns when he was voted in to Rosedale ward in the local elections last month.

A demonstration took place at the first council meeting after the election, and a further march and rally in Cheshunt is planned for Saturday.

The Broxbourne Against Racism (BAR) group was set up this month, and has already attracted the support of local MP Marion Roe and MEP Richard Howitt.

Mr Howitt said: "I abhor racism and will do everything I can to combat it. The growth of far-right parties and racist crime on our doorstep in Europe threatens the co-operation we are building to root out racism wherever it is found."

BAR co-ordinator Ian Dust said: "We are delighted by the tremendous response to our plans following our launch. We welcome the support we are receiving from people in our borough and neighbouring areas like Enfield, where individuals of all cultures live together peacefully.

"People in our borough were duped by the BNP, which based its election campaign on the myth of floods of asylum seekers even though Broxbourne doesn't house a single one.

"If the BNP have lied about that, what else will they lie about? We will expose them for the racists they are."

The rally is also being supported by the Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers (Usdaw) and the Anti Nazi League (ANL).

The rally is due to start at 1pm on Saturday, starting at Grundy Park in Cheshunt. Demonstrators will then march to the playing fields at Goffs Lane where a number of speakers will address a rally.

For more information on the rally, or BAR, call 07951 634628 or visit the website at www.broxar.org.uk