Anti-racist mobilisation spreads
Stand Up to Racism organised another significant weekend of anti-racist activity, with unity demonstrations across England and Wales, a major organising summit in Manchester and a growing community response to the fascist Patriot Platform network.
Eight SUTR unity demonstrations on Saturday 17 October brought approximately 1,700 people onto the streets, according to the available activist and press reports. The largest were in Oxford and Cambridge, each attracting around 400 people. Other substantial mobilisations took place in Chelmsford, Lewisham, Canterbury, Carmarthen, Stevenage and Northampton.
The weekend also saw a separate SUTR protest in Darnall, Sheffield, following Patriot Platform’s masked mobilisation there on 11 October. This followed an emergency meeting on Monday 12 October that attracted more than 300 people. Meanwhile, 350 attended the Together Alliance’s northern organising summit in Manchester.
These developments came during a week in which ITV’s undercover investigation exposed further racism and extremism among Reform UK councillors, candidates and activists. Footage published on 14–15 October revealed racist and Islamophobic remarks, violent rhetoric and internal discussions about how Reform handled allegations against its members.
Unity demonstrations, Saturday 17 October
The eight main demonstrations brought together trade unionists, local community organisations, Palestine solidarity activists, Greens, Labour members and other anti-racists.
| Location | Reported attendance | Significant features |
|---|---|---|
| Oxford | 300–400+ | More than 23 supporting organisations; large student involvement |
| Cambridge | Around 400 | Trade unionists, community groups, academics and Greens |
| Chelmsford, Essex | Around 250 | County-wide unity mobilisation |
| Lewisham, south London | Around 200 | Community-based unity demonstration |
| Carmarthen, west Wales | Around 150 | Plaid Cymru MP, trade unions and Greens |
| Canterbury, Kent | Around 150 | County-wide anti-racist activity |
| Stevenage, Hertfordshire | Over 100 | SUTR and Herts Not Hate; response to Reform and Restore Britain |
| Northampton | Around 100 | Rally organised by Northamptonshire SUTR |
Oxford: More than 23 organisations join unity march
The Oxford demonstration was one of the largest and politically broadest mobilisations of the weekend.
Organised by Oxfordshire Stand Up to Racism, the march assembled at Manzil Way, travelled through the city centre and finished at Bonn Square. More than 23 organisations supported it, including Women Against the Far Right, Oxford Brookes UCU, Oxford Palestine Solidarity Campaign and the Oxford African and Caribbean Society.
The march attracted considerable student support. It coincided with Oxford University’s matriculation ceremonies, with some students cheering the march and joining in.
The Oxford Blue reported a lively demonstration, accompanied by a samba band, with supportive reactions from passers-by. Labour MP Anneliese Dodds and several local councillors had issued a statement supporting the demonstration.
The coalition also brought together campaigners against the reopening and proposed expansion of the Campsfield immigration detention centre.
The event illustrated the breadth of the united front being constructed locally. Participants had differing positions on Labour, immigration policy and Palestine, but came together against the far right.
Cambridge: Hundreds march against racism
Around 400 people joined the Cambridgeshire unity demonstration.
Organised by Cambridgeshire SUTR, the march assembled at Jesus Green before proceeding through Cambridge city centre.
Trade unionists, academics, Green Party members and community activists joined the mobilisation.
Local reporting ahead of the demonstration identified the Mayor of Cambridge, Councillor Maria Cleminson, among those expected to speak. Musical contributions were also scheduled from Lefty Men Sing and the Cambridge Climate Choir.
The organisers presented the event as a celebration of Cambridge’s multicultural communities and an opportunity to draw together organisations opposed to racism and the far right.
The demonstration was particularly significant because it brought together sections of the university community, local trade unions and wider community organisations.
Carmarthen: A new anti-racist network develops
Around 150 people marched through Carmarthen in west Wales.
The demonstration was organised by West Wales SUTR and Together Cymru, assembling in Carmarthen Park before marching to Nott Square.
It brought together supporters of Plaid Cymru, the Greens and trade unions including PCS, Unite, UNISON and the NEU. Palestine solidarity campaigners, Extinction Rebellion and Women Against the Far Right were also among the supporting organisations.
Plaid Cymru MP Ann Davies joined the demonstration.
The rally was followed by a community event at St Peter’s Hall. Organisers emphasised the defence of Wales as a Nation of Sanctuary against attacks on refugees and migrants.
It was the town’s first anti-racist demonstration since the Black Lives Matter movement in 2020.
Campaigners are now working to establish a local SUTR group, potentially turning the coalition assembled for the demonstration into a permanent organisation.
Stevenage: Challenging Reform and Restore Britain
Over 100 people joined the Stevenage unity march, organised by SUTR alongside Herts Not Hate.
The demonstration involved Green Party members, Labour members, LGBTQ groups, trade unionists, Palestine Solidarity Campaign activists, Extinction Rebellion, and other local anti-racists.
A local SUTR activist said that the mobilisation attracted approximately three times as many people as the previous year’s anti-racist march.
Stevenage has become a focus for campaigning against Reform UK and Restore Britain.
The activist reported that Restore Britain supporters have been conducting regular leafleting and speaking activities in the town.
The demonstration therefore represented an organised response to continuing far-right political activity rather than simply a symbolic expression of opposition.
Essex, Kent, Northampton and Lewisham
Around 250 people joined the Essex unity demonstration in Chelmsford.
Organised by a county-wide coalition involving SUTR groups and trade unionists, the march assembled at Oaklands Park and proceeded to a rally outside Shire Hall.
Local organisers explicitly identified both Reform UK and Restore Britain as reasons for building a wider anti-racist movement in Essex.
Around 150 participated in Canterbury’s Kent unity demonstration, while approximately 100 attended Northampton’s rally in All Saints Square.
The Northampton demonstration coincided with National Hate Crime Awareness Week. It was organised by Northamptonshire SUTR, with support from trade union activists and community organisations.
In south London, approximately 200 people joined the Lewisham unity demonstration, assembling at the Clock Tower.
The spread of demonstrations into smaller towns, rather than concentrating activity exclusively in major cities, was an important feature of the weekend.
Sheffield: Community mobilisation follows Patriot Platform intimidation
Sheffield provides one of the clearest examples of a direct community response to far-right intimidation.
On Sunday 11 October, members of Patriot Platform marched through Darnall, a Sheffield neighbourhood with a substantial Muslim population.
Participants, many dressed in black and wearing face coverings, targeted the premises of Linburg Coach Travel on Catley Road.
The organisation, established by Daniel Thomas, known as Danny Tommo, accused the company of transporting asylum seekers. More than 300 attend emergency meeting
Sheffield SUTR organised an emergency meeting on Monday 12 October.
More than 300 people attended, with reports describing standing room only.
Further protest in Darnall on 17 October
An additional development, not included in the original briefing, was a SUTR street protest in Darnall
Local newspaper The Star reported on 19 October that residents and anti-racist campaigners gathered behind a banner declaring Darnall’s opposition to racism.
They chanted against Patriot Platform’s presence in the community.
Local resident Ajaz Solja described the longstanding coexistence of different communities, pointing to a pub and mosque standing alongside one another.
He said local people did not want outsiders bringing division into the neighbourhood.
Solja also reported that the previous weekend’s masked mobilisation had frightened local children.
A further Sheffield unity march is scheduled for Saturday 24 October.
Manchester: 350 attend Organise Together summit
The Together Alliance held its northern organising summit in Manchester on Saturday 17 October.
Approximately 350 people attended the gathering at Kings House, King’s Church, Sidney Street.
The summit was designed to bring together trade unionists, community campaigners, political activists and other organisations involved in opposing the far right.
The advertised programme included plenary discussions and workshops on building practical organisation and resistance.
Speakers included Daniel Kebede of the National Education Union, PCS general secretary Fran Heathcote and Green Party representative Mothin Ali.
The Musicians’ Union also publicised its involvement, including discussions about the contribution of arts and culture to challenging the far right.
PCS actively encouraged members to attend and offered support with travel arrangements.
Merseyside SUTR and Women Against the Far Right organised coach transport from Liverpool
Nottingham
Afternoon and evening Unity Festival in Nottingham. Fantastic attendance 150+. Lots of families and young children involved in activities early on and stayed – see the example of the Banner they annotated! A number of them also spoke during the evening about Standing up to Racism.
A very much communities event from across a number of local BAME community groups. Definitely NOT the usual suspects!
In the evening some brilliant young bands – including from the local Nottingham Trent Uni and closing with the Loungers from next door Take 1 studios.
Unaminously agreed a great event to be built on!
Also a fantastic message from th Kanneh-Mason musical family currently on tour.
We, the Kanneh-Masons, are a family of musicians who are proud to be from Nottingham. We will always fight against those forces that incite division and hatred in our city, in our country and in the world. Racism seeks to silence and exclude, and is the enemy of self-expression. It is the enemy of communication with each other, and it cancels compassion. All of us suffer if we don’t stand up against those who deny our humanity. We fully support Stand Up to Racism. In Love, The Kanneh-Masons
Coming mobilisations: 24 October and beyond
SUTR has advertised another round of unity demonstrations for Saturday 24 October.
The organisation’s official events page confirms five demonstrations:
| Location | Time | Assembly point |
|---|---|---|
| Morecambe | 11 am | Opposite Town Hall, Marine Road |
| Newcastle | 11 am | Civic Centre |
| Chesterfield | 11.30 am | West Bars |
| Sheffield | 12 noon | Pinstone Street |
| Swansea | 12 noon | Castle Street |
An additional Cardiff unity march has been advertised for the same day. PCS Cymru confirms that it is sponsoring a SUTR demonstration assembling at Cardiff Central railway station at midday. This event does not currently appear on SUTR’s main national events listing, so the publicly identified programme extends beyond the five originally circulated.
Newcastle’s mobilisation has particularly broad support. Its organisers include SUTR North East, Women Against the Far Right, Newcastle Unites, Newcastle City UNISON, NEU branches and Newcastle University UCU.
The Newcastle march is planned to proceed from the Civic Centre to Grey’s Monument, with a rally, stalls and family activities.
London Organise Together summit
The second Together Alliance summit takes place on Saturday 24 October at 20 Bedford Way, London, from 10 am to 5 pm.
The initial organisers’ briefing reports more than 800 tickets sold.
The advertised speakers include Sharon Graham, Mawaan Rizwan, Jen Brister, Bell Ribeiro-Addy MP, Asad Rehman and Samira Ali.
PCS is supporting the event and encouraging trade union participation.
London summit information and registration
Further events
Other forthcoming anti-racist mobilisations include a planned Gosport Together event on 25 October, a Peacehaven unity demonstration on 31 October and a series of London unity demonstrations on 14 November.
SUTR is also promoting its national AGM on 12 December, asking local groups to register delegates. The meeting is intended to discuss developing SUTR as a mass membership organisation.
Sources: SUTR events
Monitoring Group report
The last fortnight has demonstrated the continuing capacity of anti-racists to mobilise substantial numbers in different political and geographical circumstances.
SUTR is extending its geographical reach. The demonstrations in Carmarthen, Stevenage, Canterbury and Northampton show that anti-racist campaigning is not confined to the established centres of activity. Small and medium-sized towns are increasingly part of the wider movement.
The best mobilisations are genuinely broad. Oxford and Carmarthen brought together political parties, trade unions, Palestine campaigners and community organisations. In Stevenage, joint work between SUTR and Herts Not Hate produced a significantly larger demonstration than the previous year. Such coalitions make it possible to involve new people.
The experience of Sheffield shows how a far-right provocation can generate a broader community response. Patriot Platform sought to intimidate a local business and neighbourhood. The response brought hundreds to a meeting and produced further activity on the streets. The continuing challenge is to turn that anger into durable organisation capable of responding to future provocations.
Reform, Restore Britain and Patriot Platform
The three organisations pose different kinds of threat.
Reform UK has an electoral base and a substantial presence in local government. The ITV revelations add to the evidence of racism and extremism among some of its representatives, while also raising questions about how the leadership has handled such cases.
Restore Britain is attempting to build a more explicitly reactionary political alternative, including through local political activity and attempts to influence broader anti-immigration campaigning. It includes many self confessed fascists.
Patriot Platform is attempting to organise a street-level far-right network, using masked mobilisations and provocative actions against businesses associated with asylum provision.
These are not three branches of a single organisation. But their activities can reinforce one another, with racist electoral rhetoric, more radical political campaigning and street-level intimidation contributing to the same wider climate.
The Sheffield mobilisation particularly illustrates the danger of small, organised groups using surprise actions to project an appearance of power far greater than their actual organisational strength.
The success of individual demonstrations needs to be measured by whether they leave behind stronger local organisation.
The membership drive and Together Alliance summits provide opportunities to turn these developments into a more permanent movement.
The central challenge is to convert mobilisation into continuing local strength: properly constituted SUTR groups, wider affiliations from trade unions and community organisations, active steering committees, and the capacity to bring people together rapidly when the far right attempts to mobilise.
The last fortnight has shown that there is a substantial audience for organised anti-racist politics, including in towns where the far right has been attempting to establish itself.
The next test will be whether that support can be consolidated into local organisations capable of confronting the far right repeatedly, rather than merely responding to one event at a time.