Remembering Altab Ali and All Victims of Racism – Apsana Begum MP
By Apsana Begum MP
Forty-seven years ago, on May 4th, 25-year-old Altab Ali, a Bangladeshi garment worker, was murdered on his walk home in East London.
This brutal act occurred in a time when racist attacks were horrifyingly commonplace for our community.
My Bangladeshi parents recounted a 1970s East End where bricks regularly shattered windows, filth was smeared on doorsteps, and hate was shoved through letterboxes.
The presence of far-right skinheads and violent thugs created a climate of fear, especially after the National Front established its base nearby in September 1978.
For Asian and Black residents, daily life was fraught with danger; simply walking alone was perilous, and families often lived almost in a state of siege within their own homes.
Altab Ali’s murder became a catalyst. Ten days later, a powerful statement of resistance saw 7,000 people march, demanding action against this tide of hate.
This tragedy ignited a vital grassroots movement, amplifying the voices of the marginalised and providing crucial support to those targeted by racial violence.
Their defiant slogans – “Enough is Enough,” “Here to Stay – Here to Fight,” “Come What May, We are Here to Stay” – resonated with a community determined to stand its ground.
Disturbingly, this history echoes loudly today. Racism and scapegoating are on the rise, cynically employed to divert attention from political failures. The surge in far-right extremism is undeniably linked to governments slashing vital services and attacking working-class communities.
Too many politicians and media outlets continue to peddle the dangerous lie that migrants are the source of our problems, deliberately stoking anxiety and fear.
For decades, a toxic political game has been played, with parties competing on who can be tougher on immigration – a game that has yielded horrific consequences.
The truth is crystal clear: targeting migrants does nothing to improve the living standards of the wider population. It doesn’t build hospitals, schools, or create opportunities. In fact, it often achieves the opposite, fostering division and resentment.
The East End boasts a proud history of anti-racism and anti-fascism. I am immensely proud to represent a diverse constituency that consistently stands united against injustice, just as we stand against the horrors unfolding in Gaza.
As the first hijab-wearing MP, I am deeply aware of the legacy of struggle I inherit. I honour the courage and hope of those who paved the way. I honour their courage, their resilience, and their unwavering belief in justice.
In remembering Altab Ali and all victims of racism, our message to those who traffic in division is unwavering: not here, not anywhere.
Because the only genuine way to defeat the rising tide of the right is to utterly reject the toxicity and futility of their hateful ideology.
But we must go further.
We must offer an inspirational alternative – demonstrating what truly standing up for our communities entails and what genuine bravery and honesty look like.
People are desperate for real change.
They see a wealthy nation, the sixth-largest economy globally, where poverty and homelessness are spiralling out of control.
They don’t believe they are here to serve the economy; they demand an economy that serves the people. They understand that hope, not fear, is the only path to overcoming despair.
- Apsana Begum MP has tabled a Parliamentary Motion on the 47th anniversary of the murder of Altab Ali.
- Apsana Begum is the MP for Poplar and Limehouse and a regular contributor to Labour Outlook. You can follow Apsana on Facebook, Twitter/X, Instagram and Tik Tok.
- If you support Labour Outlook’s work amplifying the voices of left movements and struggles here and internationally, please consider becoming a supporter on Patreon.
By Apsana Begum MP
Forty-seven years ago, on May 4th, 25-year-old Altab Ali, a Bangladeshi garment worker, was murdered on his walk home in East London.
This brutal act occurred in a time when racist attacks were horrifyingly commonplace for our community.
My Bangladeshi parents recounted a 1970s East End where bricks regularly shattered windows, filth was smeared on doorsteps, and hate was shoved through letterboxes.
The presence of far-right skinheads and violent thugs created a climate of fear, especially after the National Front established its base nearby in September 1978.
For Asian and Black residents, daily life was fraught with danger; simply walking alone was perilous, and families often lived almost in a state of siege within their own homes.
Altab Ali’s murder became a catalyst. Ten days later, a powerful statement of resistance saw 7,000 people march, demanding action against this tide of hate.
This tragedy ignited a vital grassroots movement, amplifying the voices of the marginalised and providing crucial support to those targeted by racial violence.
Their defiant slogans – “Enough is Enough,” “Here to Stay – Here to Fight,” “Come What May, We are Here to Stay” – resonated with a community determined to stand its ground.
Disturbingly, this history echoes loudly today. Racism and scapegoating are on the rise, cynically employed to divert attention from political failures. The surge in far-right extremism is undeniably linked to governments slashing vital services and attacking working-class communities.
Too many politicians and media outlets continue to peddle the dangerous lie that migrants are the source of our problems, deliberately stoking anxiety and fear.
For decades, a toxic political game has been played, with parties competing on who can be tougher on immigration – a game that has yielded horrific consequences.
The truth is crystal clear: targeting migrants does nothing to improve the living standards of the wider population. It doesn’t build hospitals, schools, or create opportunities. In fact, it often achieves the opposite, fostering division and resentment.
The East End boasts a proud history of anti-racism and anti-fascism. I am immensely proud to represent a diverse constituency that consistently stands united against injustice, just as we stand against the horrors unfolding in Gaza.
As the first hijab-wearing MP, I am deeply aware of the legacy of struggle I inherit. I honour the courage and hope of those who paved the way. I honour their courage, their resilience, and their unwavering belief in justice.
In remembering Altab Ali and all victims of racism, our message to those who traffic in division is unwavering: not here, not anywhere.
Because the only genuine way to defeat the rising tide of the right is to utterly reject the toxicity and futility of their hateful ideology.
But we must go further.
We must offer an inspirational alternative – demonstrating what truly standing up for our communities entails and what genuine bravery and honesty look like.
People are desperate for real change.
They see a wealthy nation, the sixth-largest economy globally, where poverty and homelessness are spiralling out of control.
They don’t believe they are here to serve the economy; they demand an economy that serves the people. They understand that hope, not fear, is the only path to overcoming despair.
- Apsana Begum MP has tabled a Parliamentary Motion on the 47th anniversary of the murder of Altab Ali.
- Apsana Begum is the MP for Poplar and Limehouse and a regular contributor to Labour Outlook. You can follow Apsana on Facebook, Twitter/X, Instagram and Tik Tok.
- If you support Labour Outlook’s work amplifying the voices of left movements and struggles here and internationally, please consider becoming a supporter on Patreon.
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