UK: Thousands join anti-racism rallies, far right stays away
Rallies were held in several UK cities, including outside the London office of Nigel Farage's Reform UK party. Britain has been rocked by several days of anti-immigration riots, fueled by misinformation.
Several hundred people rallied outside the London office of the populist Reform UK party
Tayfun Salci/ZUMA Press Wire/IMAGO
Anti-racism protests held across the United Kingdom on Saturday drew thousands of people, aimed at countering a wave of riots in several cities blamed on the far-right.
Several nights of violent disorder erupted nearly two weeks ago due to misinformation online that the suspect in a knife attack that killed three young girls in northwest England was a Muslim asylum seeker.
What happened on Saturday?
Large crowds of anti-racism protesters gathered in London, Glasgow, Belfast, Manchester and numerous other UK towns and cities for the second time in a week. By the late afternoon, however, feared violent confrontations with anti-immigration agitators had failed to materialize.
In London, hundreds massed outside the office of Brexit architect Nigel Farage's Reform UK party before marching to parliament. Farage and other far-right figures have been blamed for helping to fuel the riots through anti-immigrant rhetoric.
In the northeastern English city of Newcastle, shop owners boarded up their stores ahead of a possible far-right protest on Saturday afternoon.
A small group of anti-immigration protests gathered in the city's famed Bigg Market. Police said social media posts boasting of a large crowd were false.
A much larger anti-racism demonstration was held nearby, but both rallies were cleared by police following the granting of a dispersal order. Fourteen arrests were made.
The far-right riots have been met with scores of anti-racism protests in several UK cities
Alberto Pezzali/AP/dpa/picture alliance
Antiracism rallies held in Scotland, Northern Ireland
Hundreds of anti-racism protesters gathered at rallies outside the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh and in Glasgow's George Square.
In Belfast, Northern Ireland, as many as 15,000 people took part in the United Against Racism rally, with many people holding placards with pro-migrant messages.
A petrol bomb was thrown at a mosque in a town east of Belfast in the early hours of Saturday, but it failed to ignite. Police said they were treating the incident as racially motivated.
No spillover to football matches
The new season of the English Football League — below the high-profile Premier League — kicked off on Saturday, including in cities that have seen disorder.
UK authorities are concerned that some far-right groups have links to England's decades-old football hooligan scene. Police said forces nationwide were collaborating to ensure that "all relevant intelligence" was shared ahead of the matches.
At some grounds, crowds of supporters chanted the name of anti-Muslim agitator Tommy Robinson, who has been accused of helping to fuel the unrest through constant social media posts.
More than 80,000 fans watched Manchester City beat Manchester United on penalties in the FA Community Shield at Wembley Stadium, which passed off without disorder.
Also Saturday, several more people were arrested over their roles in earlier riots. Many others appeared in court, facing possible jail time.
Hundreds of anti-racism protesters gathered at rallies outside the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh and in Glasgow's George Square.
In Belfast, Northern Ireland, as many as 15,000 people took part in the United Against Racism rally, with many people holding placards with pro-migrant messages.
A petrol bomb was thrown at a mosque in a town east of Belfast in the early hours of Saturday, but it failed to ignite. Police said they were treating the incident as racially motivated.
No spillover to football matches
The new season of the English Football League — below the high-profile Premier League — kicked off on Saturday, including in cities that have seen disorder.
UK authorities are concerned that some far-right groups have links to England's decades-old football hooligan scene. Police said forces nationwide were collaborating to ensure that "all relevant intelligence" was shared ahead of the matches.
At some grounds, crowds of supporters chanted the name of anti-Muslim agitator Tommy Robinson, who has been accused of helping to fuel the unrest through constant social media posts.
More than 80,000 fans watched Manchester City beat Manchester United on penalties in the FA Community Shield at Wembley Stadium, which passed off without disorder.
Also Saturday, several more people were arrested over their roles in earlier riots. Many others appeared in court, facing possible jail time.
A hotel housing asylum seekers in Rotherham, northern England, was set alight during the riots
Image: Hollie Adams/REUTERS
How the UK riots unfolded
The violence erupted after the murder of three young girls and the wounding of several others in a mass stabbing in the northwestern city of Southport on July 29.
Far-right commentators spread false information that the 17-year-old male suspect held over the knife attack was a Muslim asylum seeker. He was born in Wales.
More than a dozen places across England as well as Belfast were hit by riots over several days. Groups of thugs targeted mosques and hotels linked to immigration, as well as police, vehicles and other sites.
More than 700 people have been arrested and numerous people have been quickly jailed — some for several years — to deter further violence.
mm/rmt (AFP, AP, dpa, Reuters)
Thousands of anti-racism protesters demonstrate outside Reform UK headquarters
A Stand up to Racism protest in central London (Jacob Freedland/PA)
Thousands of anti-racism protesters have gathered outside Reform UK’s headquarters with some accusing party leader Nigel Farage of spreading “dangerous rhetoric”.
Demonstrators joined Stand up to Racism’s gathering which met outside the party’s headquarters in Victoria, central London, chanting in support of refugees before marching through Whitehall and towards Trafalgar Square to listen to speeches from activists.
Organisers said the turnout of about 5,000 people showed the depth of support for refugees and other minority groups targeted in recent disorder, amid fears of further violence this weekend.
Samira Ali, who made the closing speech, told the PA news agency: “We feel like we have turned the tide. It’s a testament to our mobilisation that they failed to come out.
“They would not have been stopped if it was not for our mobilisation.”
Another speaker, Gary McFarlan, 63, told the crowd: “A few days ago, the atmosphere was very different. Lots of people were very scared, worried about coming out on to the streets, thinking, ‘Will I get a half-brick in my head? Will I get kicked in the face by a Nazi?’. We turned it around this week.”
Mr McFarlan, a journalist from Haringey, north London, made historical comparisons to emphasise the significance of Saturday’s march.
Referring to the Battle of Cable Street, he said: “We smashed them in 1936. We gave our strength in the East End of London. We smashed them in the 1970s with anti-Nazi leagues.
“We’ve had our battles since then, against the British National Party, the English Defence League – the back of which was broken 12 years ago.”
Ms Ali said organisers had chosen Reform UK’s headquarters as the starting point for the demonstration because of Mr Farage’s stance on immigration.
She said: “We were protesting outside of Reform UK, against the likes of Nigel Farage and his dangerous rhetoric.Learn
“The constant rhetoric about ‘stop the boats’, about immigration being a problem, about refugees and Muslims being to blame in society. This is all rhetoric that’s been replicated on the far-right riots. That’s created the toxic atmosphere in which the far right have been able to build.
“That’s why we brought the protest to his doorstep today, because we believe he has questions to answer for.”
Ms Ali dismissed the suggestion that Saturday’s demonstration would mark the end of the counter-protest movement after rioting.
She said: “We want this movement to reach into every area, every workplace, every community. The far right is on the back foot now, but we’re going to keep pushing.”
As protesters marched down Whitehall, a GB News reporter said his broadcast had been interrupted after a demonstrator “attacked” one of the crew.
Charlie Peters, who said he had been reporting on the “mostly peaceful” protest since it started, told PA: “As we approached Downing Street one of the protesters recognised us as GB News and people started chanting ‘GB News off our streets’.
“One man got close and started gesticulating towards the camera while we were filming and tried to stop us broadcasting. In doing so, he then attacked one of my colleagues.
“It’s a shame that journalists have to have security arrangements while broadcasting in central London.”
10 Aug: anti-racist organisation from below has turned the tide
Now let's keep up the pressure and confront all forms of racism
3,000 in Glasgow, the biggest of today’s anti-racist demonstrations
SOCIALIST WORKER
Saturday 10 August 2024This is a developing story and will be updated
The tide has now turned sharply and unmistakably against the recent far right surge of murderous attacks.
It’s mobilisation by massive numbers of people on the streets that achieved this, not the cops and the courts.
Wednesday was the key day when tens of thousands came out even thought there was a real possibility they might be met by baying mobs of fascists determined to torch migrant centres and welfare organisations.
But Saturday’s day of unity, organised by Stand Up To Racism (SUTR), was bigger in many places. It was a sea of anti-racist unity across Britain and saw powerful turnouts in some places where before the response had been small.
There was also a very important demonstration of around 2,000 outside the headquarters of Reform UK in London, underlining Nigel Farage’s role in enabling and encouraging far right violence.
SUTR co-convenor Weyman Bennett told the crowd, “We have to build a movement of millions to throw back the fascists and the far right.”
After the rally, the crowd marched off to parliament. By the time it reached Trafalgar Square, other anti-racist demos in the capital had joined and the anti-racist crowd had swelled to 5,000.
In Hull, some 400 anti-racists defied the racist violence of the previous week and rallied in the town centre.
“It was fantastic, I can’t believe it” reports Eleanor.
“There was no sign of the far right—we filled the square with music and chanting. We chanted, ‘When immigrant rights are under attack, what do we do, unite, push back’.”
SUTR activists organised today’s protest despite being forced to run away from fascists just seven days previously.
Then hundreds of racists and fascists targeted a hotel used to house asylum seekers, throwing concrete blocks and smashing windows.
“We were overwhelmed last week and had to run. They had broken through police lines, and one police officer said to me, ‘You better go or they’ll kill you’,” said Eleanor.
But today was a different story—and was a result of dedicated organising in the face of the far right threat.
“Ahead of today, we had a planning meeting with a few other groups. So everybody was there and united. There was a rep from Hull Trades Council, who spoke about the importance of the trade unions in fighting racism.”
Hull shows it is possible to transform the scenes of racist thuggery into ones of united resistance.
Around 3,000 people joined an anti-racist rally in Glasgow, reports Raymie. It was the first mobilisation in the city since the start of the far right’s offensive in Glasgow.
Two fascists turned up but were chased away by a huge crowd and the police had to rescue them.
Refugee organisations were among the speakers, and there were banners from the Unison, PCS, EIS, Unite and other unions.
The next major event is on 7 September when the far right, backed by Tommy Robinson, have stated they will march.
Over 2,000 anti-racists turned out at the Edinburgh Parliament to show the far right they are not welcome here, reports Alan. “Speeches from, SUTR and EIS, PCS unions, Green Party, Scottish National Party and Labour among other campaigns.
“Speakers talked about defending our community if there are any threats from the far right. They spoke of how racism from the top of society is used to divide the working class.
“It was a jubilant atmosphere with chants of ‘Nazi-scum off our streets’ and ‘Refugees welcome here’.”
There were also 450 in Dundee where a few known Nazis scuttled off.
In Norwich, 500 anti-racists totally outnumbered 15 fascists. Around 300 anti-racists came out in Cambridge and 100 in Southend.
Fascists were planning to turn up to the Cedar Court Hotel in Wakefield near Leeds to attack refugees and migrants living there.
Around 400 anti-racists came out in Hull where the week before fascists had driven off anti-racists
Instead, some 300 anti-racists rallied outside the hotel, and not a single member of the far right was to be seen.
“There were brilliant speakers including Sarah Woolley, bakers’ union general secretary, local NEU reps, local churches and lots of people from Love Music Hate Racism,” Andy reports.
He said it was an “amazing” atmosphere outside the hotel—and a stark contrast to last weekend when a racist mob of 300 gathered.
“We managed to get a big turnout because of the level of anger this time. People were fearful—that’s turned into anger and it motivated them.”
In the town, the Labour Party had visited mosques hoping to convince Muslim activists not to go on the streets. But despite the heavy-handed techniques by the council, the crowd outside Cedar Court was “very diverse,” said Andy.
“We haven’t had this kind of moment in West Yorkshire. It wasn’t really until Wednesday that the mood changed—but there wasn’t a fascist presence planned then. Today we got to test it out.”
Dave reports that in Shrewsbury, Saturday’s result was “SUTR 500, fascists 20. They left after about an hour and a half.”
Leicester saw 350 anti-fascists take on three Nazis, who spent most of their time talking to police. Shockat Adam MP was among the speakers at the anti-racist rally. There were more than 300 anti-racists in Oxford.
Aroundd 500 joined a SUTR unity demo in Portsmouth. Jon reports, “It took over the Guildhall Square. Last Saturday there had been over 200 far right thugs in the square and only 50 on the counter-protest.
“This week the racists managed two people.
“There was a real determination to make sure we have a good turnout for next Saturday when the far right has said it will return. Today was a big step forward for the anti-racist movement in the city.”
Over 400 anti-racists flooded the centre of Hastings to say, “Refugees are welcome here.”
It follows the 600-strong protest against the far right threat on Wednesday and a mobilisation to defend a mosque four days previously.
5,000 anti-racists in Trafalgar Square after the march from the Reform UK headquarters
“This rally bounced off the fantastic success of Wednesday night,” Simon said.
“We had speakers talking about the importance of opposing Islamophobia and defending refugees. They attacked the politicians at the top—the likes of Nigel Farage and Suella Braverman.”
Anti-racists are right to keep arguing for the biggest possible numbers on the streets to combat the far right threat.
Julia Hilton, the Green Party leader of the council, spoke at Saturday’s rally, despite arguing publicly that Wednesday’s protest shouldn’t go ahead.
SUTR activists are busy preparing for an organising meeting on Monday—and have already had to change to a bigger venue.
Over 200 people joined a rally at Chesterfield town hall jointly called by Chesterfield TUC , SUTR and Derbyshire County Unison branch.
James reports, “Powerful speeches came from a range of people including the chair of Chesterfield Muslim Association, the Chesterfield African Caribbean Community Association, Derbyshire Green Party, local Labour councillors and Derbyshire NEU union.
“Barbara from the local refugee support group spoke about how on Wednesday when rumours were circulating of a potential threat, volunteers put together a programme of practical support for people who felt unable to return to the hotel, including overnight accommodation and a meal donated by the local Asian Association.
The crisis of far right violence and fascism in Britain
Read More
“The rally brought together experienced campaigners amd lots of new people enthusiastic to get involved in building SUTR.”
There were huge turnouts in Manchester—up to 3,000—and 1,000 at a solidarity gathering at Finsbury Park mosque in north London. Over 350 gathered in Coventry and around 1,000 in Liverpool.
Over 2,000 anti-racists were on the streets in Newcastle. Rob reports, “The far right managed to turn out around 40-50 miserable-looking bigots. There was a large contingent of Newcastle United football fans, trade unionists and campaigning activists.”
There was a crowd of between 100 and 150 anti-racists at the Harlow, Essex, SUTR Rally—and one fascist.
In Nottingham, reports Martin, “At least 300 attended with speakers from various organisations including the refugee forum, trades council, Muslim action group, PCS union and others.
“There were no fascists in sight except a couple who were trying to get a video.
“Today we came together and showed the power of unity against fascism and racism.”
About 400 joined a rally in Birmingham, where anti-racists are preparing for next Saturday when the far right says it is coming.
There were 150 anti-racists out in Abergavenny in South Wales and 100 in Tenby, West Wales.
Around 300 anti-racists rallied in Hackney, east London. One speaker was from Hackney Migrant Centre, where anti-racists gathered on Wednesday in solidarity.
She said, “Migrants don’t feel safe. But that’s not just because of fascists—that’s because of the policies of the state.”
At least 300 people gathered in York. The open mic rally included a speech from Labour MP Rachael Maskell.
Over 600 rallied in Windrush Square in Brixton, south London, before marching on to the protest outside Reform UK.
The successes this week need to be driven home. The fascists will lick their wounds and hope to come out snarling again. Only the utmost anti-racist vigilance will keep them caged.
That’s because the bitterness in society, the squeeze on ordinary people and the racism of mainstream politics constantly give opportunities for the far right to exploit
This week must be the basis for a mass attack on state racism and Islamophobia, as well as fascist Tommy Robinson and his admirers.
Let’s use the momentum from this week to crush Nigel Farage and Reform UK.
Let’s now unite against the anti-migrant laws that mean refugees drown in the Channel, and campaign to force the Labour government to stop deportations.
Never again should a Labour MP be allowed to condemn the asylum seekers who try to come to Britain, or to demand they are driven out of the hotels where they are housed.
We need to confront the police who harass and sometimes kill black and Asian people.
And crucially, there has to be a wider class approach. The racists feed off the crisis and decomposition of politics and the anger at the rotten system that wrecks so many lives.
The anger against that system can go to the left or the right. We have to direct it leftwards.
The puny methods of the trade union leaders and Labour MPs won’t cut it in the face of a society of mass hardship and poverty, the sense of no future, war, environmental collapse and oppression.A huge anti-racist demonstration swept through Belfast on Saturday. People Before Profit assembly member Gerry Carroll said, “15,000 people flooding the streets of Belfast for the United Against Racism demo today. Belfast overwhelmingly shows we are anti-racist and anti-fascist. Solidarity to our migrant, refugee, asylum seeker, and minority communities.”
Keep up the activityTrade unionists’, MPs’ and campaigners’ unity statement against the far right. Use the statement in your workplace and your local area. Add names and see the full list of supporters here
Campaign launch on Saturday 17 August with Jeremy Corbyn, Daniel Kebede, Bimini and many others. For details go here
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