Thursday, September 19, 2024

 

UK

Fighting racism & the far-right – the agenda we need

Demonstrators hold placards reading Stop the Far Right - no islamophobia, no antisemitism.

“I urge you all to make the case for mobilising against the far right on the streets, because there are those that argue against mobilising. But this is crucial to beating them back. So please join us on 26th October” – Sabby Dhalu

We reproduce the Co-Convenor of Stand Up to Racism, Sabby Dhalu’s, speech to the Arise Festival TUC fringe, “A Labour Movement Agenda for the Labour Government”.

I’m delighted that the TUC General Council agreed a strong statement on uniting against racism and the far right, including urging unions to support Stand up to Racism.

I would also like to thank Unison, the NEU and the NASUWT for the “Challenging the politics of hate” composite motion, which amongst  other things condemns Reform UK and included a call to “mobilise for demonstrations and campaigns against the far right called by Stand Up to Racism and others.”

I want to deal with two points:

Firstly this summer’s far right riots illustrated the power of mobilising on the streets against the far right. Anti-racists mobilising in vast numbers turned the tide and stopped the far right riots in their tracks. So I’m pleased the composite motion states the importance of mobilising.

This is particularly important in light of Tommy Robinson announcing another demonstration on 26th October outside Downing St. We’ve got to unite the biggest possible mobilisation against this fascist demonstration. We’ve got to outnumber the fascists, we’ve got to send them message, like we did at the beginning of August, that our streets belong to anti-racists.

I urge you all to make the case for mobilising against the far right on the streets, because there are those that argue against mobilising. But this is crucial to beating them back. So please join us on 26th October. We’re only two months into a Labour government and we’re going to have to mobilise against fascist and racists again and again in the next 5 years.

Secondly I want to stress the importance of a Labour government challenging racism, not conceding to it – because it’s morally correct and also because it will benefit Labour electorally.

Reticence to call out the racism & Islamophobia of the riots but the racism & Islamophobia needs to be challenged head on & opposed. Following the riots Yvette Cooper announced the stepping up of deportations and detentions of asylum seekers.

I agree with Refugee Council CEO Enver Solomon who last week urged Labour to drop the Tory rhetoric, adopt the language of ‘compassion and humanity’ and focus on humane alternatives instead of costly deportations.

Labour received fewer votes in the 2024 general election, compared to 2019 and 2017. In order to win the next general election Labour needs more votes so it needs to mobilise anti-racist voters. That means mobilising those that took to the streets and stopped the riots. Labour must own and champion anti-racism.


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