Tonight, in Southampton fascist and far right organisers tried to weaponise the horrific killing of Henry Nowak to spread a message of hate.
Nigel Farage prior to the protests we saw tonight called for “pure cold rage”. Hundreds of far right protesters including fascist Tommy Robinson attended the demonstration. Tommy Robinson has had multiple convictions including being convicted of assaulting an off-duty police officer after the officer intervened to protect Robinson’s girlfriend from him. Also present was Danny ‘Tommo’ Thomas convicted of attempted kidnapping, Kev Carrol EX EDL and others.
The protest later descended into violence with projectiles thrown at the police and police lines coming under attack
We send our deepest condolences to the family of Henry Nowak. No family should have to experience the loss of their son. The bodycam footage and the failures of the police are shocking and tragic. Far right organisers descending on Southampton today to spread hate, racism and far right ideas shows they are using this tragic murder for their own ends and to attempt to divide our communities.
We say don’t let the far right divide us.
SUTR earlier released this statement.
We send our deepest condolences to the family of Henry Nowak. No family should have to experience the loss of a son. The bodycam footage and the failures of the police are shocking and tragic.
But we are alarmed that known fascists and far right activists are trying to seize on this horrific killing and weaponise it to spread their message of hate. In Southampton, neo Nazi sect White Vanguard called a protest purporting to be remembering Henry Nowak. Britain’s leading fascist Tommy Robinson has said he will be attending future protests and Elon Musk is using X to spread misinformation.
Nigel Farage has called for “pure cold rage” in response. Farage is cynically using a tragic death to fuel his divisive agenda and win votes.
None of these far right figures offer anything to the family of Henry Nowak, nor are they interested in justice. They are using a tragic murder for their own ends – to divide our communities and to spread their racism, hate and far right ideas.
Don’t let the far right divide us.
STAND UP TO RACISM
Weekly Round up.
Crowborough
Although a substantial far right march did take place in Crowborough on Sunday the resistance to them is growing.
Crowborough Unity was a huge success! The venue was at capacity, with a few hundred people in attendance, making it a fantastic day for everyone involved. For the first time in a long time, the true community spirit of Crowborough shone through, making it absolutely clear what our town really wants and feels.
The event was held in support of SAMAS, our local community organisation dedicated to supporting refugees. Their team attends the camp every single day, running a vital range of classes and distributing essential donations.
We were also privileged to be joined by Rachel Millward, Leader of Wealden Council and Deputy Leader of the Green Party, who shared these inspiring words:
“SAMAS, and all the volunteers—please know your work is having an incredible impact, not just on asylum seekers and volunteers, but on all of us in the wider community across Crowborough, Wealden, and far beyond. I talk about you wherever I go. You give us ALL hope.
As Rebecca Solnit wrote when Trump was elected: ‘It takes a certain kind of darkness before you can see the stars.’ You all shine so, so brightly. You remind us who we are and how to be human. You bring us out of challenging systems and keep us from simply reacting to fear that can sometimes be overwhelming. You reconnect us to the simple truth of what we have always known: We have so much more in common. We all belong together. And this is just the beginning…”
A massive thank you everyone involved and making this possible, a special thanks to all the Stand Up to Racism branches who travelled in for the day to stand with us, show their support, and ensure that everyone could enjoy the event safely.
Makerfield.
As you can see end of another week in Makerfield. It’s positive people are taking leaflets doing their own areas . One person goes out every day In Hindly. He said he feels he has to be part of pushing the far right back . Everyone in Ashton is talking politics.
As you can see from above post been out Saturday Sunday big group smaller ones in week . SUR lobbied the council on Wednesday Reform councillors hated being called racist. We met Thursday showed a film about migrants . The club in Ashton thanked stand up to racism as it’s the oldest Irish club in UK set up by migrants.
There does feel a polarization . We get people on door step really pleased almost relieved to see us . On the other hand reform supporters getting more angry and confident confrontational this is different to local elections . Although a one off one person came out of house threatening me went back in came out again holding up a pole threatening again. I’ve never accounted such hostility in this campaign. Others more open about immigration. This election is giving an echo chamber to racists who would normally be in the shadows .
What we do is so important that we give confidence to the many anti racists and today so many pleased to see us and wanted to chat .
Local SUR members feel so uplifted by stand up to racism . I think we have about 60 on watts app SUR group makerfield and over 100 in Wigan more are becoming active. We can defeat reform here but are and need to be working flat out it’s not in my view forgone conclusion.
Ashton
Over 60 people turned up today in Ashton in Makerfield to leaflet *Don’t Vote Reform UK*
It was a fantastic group ranging from local people to students and trade unionists.
After seeing coverage of our campaign on instagram, a 16yr old came out to join the local SUTR group and is leafleting the houses on his school route this week!
A local activist commented, “huge thank you to everyone who turned out for the Makerfield leafleting. As someone who lives here, it meant the world to see so many people from across Greater Manchester and beyond standing with us. Events like this matter. They give people hope and the encouragement to get their vote out and stop Reform and Restore here”
Salford City UNISON
A big thank you to the 50 Activists who lobbied Salford City Council today in support of Ameen Hadi and Salford City UNISON. A number of Labour councillors stopped to pledge their support.
This followed a fantastic online public meeting with over 190 activists in attendance.
Speakers included MPs Kim Johnson and John McDonnell, Sarah Woolley the General Secretary of the Bakers Union and Tom Barker the UNISON victimised trade union rep.
All speakers were clear we cannot allow our activists to be targeted by the far right, or by employers.
The campaign is determined to keep the pressure on the Labour run Council to rescind the outcome of their safeguarding panel and allow Ameen to return to work.
We will not be deterred in our focus on building a bigger anti racist and anti fascist movement.
Banners from Salford City UNISON, Manchester Met UNISON, AQA UNISON, GMMH UNISON, Manchester UNISON Women’s Group, RAPAR, Salford Green Party, GM Stand Up to Racism, Women against the Far Right.
Croydon Town Hall
We had a small but very effective protest outside Croydon Town Hall tonight against racist Reform. There was a mayoral ceremony at which every elected councillor was expected to attend. We wanted to make the 2 Reform councillors know that we will challenge them whenever and wherever they appear. Our group was made up of NEU, GMB (black workers’ officer), UCU, Croydon Climate Action members, Croydon College workers and Labour Party members.
4 black & Asian Labour Party councillors came out to support our picket, thanked us sincerely for being there, and joined our SUTR whatsapp group. They were also supportive of our proposed public meeting in Addington, South Croydon, where the 2 Reform councillors were elected.
Two passing buses tooted support. One teacher passing by joined our WhatsApp. They’d been meaning to reach out to Croydon SUTR after just moving here, having been involved in Hackney SUTR before. It was a really productive rally!
Zack Polanski, Jo Grady general secretary of UCU and Sabby Dhalu of SUTR say join the counter protest to the far right on 13 June in Brighton!
UCU
Zac Polanski addressing a packed UCU StUR fringe meeting where 20 college and university branches launched a University and College workers against the far right campaign. image omitted
Bournemouth
Lansdowne in Bournemouth this evening, less than 15 FR over 20 of us. No sign of Hampshire Resistance, maybe because 2 of them are under arrest, hate speech I think. Their march to the beach fizzled out.
Oxford
Around 50 on the No platform for Robinson protest outside the Oxford Union this evening with great music from Oxford LMHR. No show from Oxon Patriots. The debate has been postponed until 17 June. Oxford Union members are due to vote this evening on whether to cancel the invitation to fascist Robinson.
Watton
Big success in Watton, we gave out 1000 leaflets for a counter protest. The far right have called off their protest, they say because the asylum seekers have been moved, but I’m sure we had more than a little to do with it. We are having a celebration rally on Sunday
Shrewsbury
Shrewsbury SUTR held a Unity Rally of about 150 people in the town Square in opposition to the Raise the Flags march of about 100
Blackpool
UKIP did manage to march along Blackpool today. They were not unopposed. We outnumbered them at the start. Our side got split up so we were outnumbered when they marched down the prom. But we went alongside saying refugees are welcome here. They were not confident. Heavy police presence including 6 horses, 5/6 vans and maybe at least 50 cops.
There were problems on our side as we don’t have a SUTR in Blackpool and the BF&W TUC didn’t agree to mobilise against them. We had people from Blackpool, Preston, Lancaster, Liverpool and a few from Manchester. We did ok with what we had.
Southampton
About 70 of us about 40 White Vanguard.
Maybe 20 in the black tracksuit and balaclava outfit, 2 National Rebirth in their pathetic 1940s fascist cosplay and a few others, then maybe 20 locals in normal clothes including at least 1 family with children.
There are calls from far right groups to have further protests around this. Notably UKIP on 20 June. This could be a key flashpoint.
Braintree
A substantial far right march took place. This follows the split in the local far right group and a set of people better connected to far right organisations coming forward.
Dorchester
🖕🏾Fabulous night in Dorchester tonight – venue packed for LMHR gig with local bands, organised by sixth-formers from four local schools. Unity in music – inspiring ✊🏽🎶✊
Monitoring Group Overview
A week of anti-racist activity across Britain showed both the challenge we face and the potential we have to meet it.
The far right are trying to build on the back of Reform UK’s electoral gains, and in some places that is giving confidence to people who would normally keep their racist views to themselves. Activists in Makerfield reported more open hostility on the doorstep than they have seen in previous campaigns. But while the right is growing bolder, so too are the forces determined to resist it.
Crowborough was a good example of the contradictory picture. While a substantial far-right mobilisation took place, hundreds packed the Crowborough Unity event in support of refugees and the local organisation SAMAS. The hall was full, the mood positive and determined. It showed that there is a real audience for solidarity and anti-racism—but it would be a mistake to ignore the fact that the far right were able to mobilise significant numbers in the same town on the same day.
In Makerfield, anti-racists have been putting in the hard graft. Leafleting sessions, council lobbying and public meetings have become a regular feature of the campaign. Activists speak of people being pleased, even relieved, to see anti-racists on their doorstep. Yet they also report Reform supporters becoming more vocal and more confrontational. One campaigner was threatened while canvassing. As one local activist put it, defeating Reform is possible, but it is far from a foregone conclusion.
That mixture of hope and danger ran through many of the reports. More than 60 people joined a leafleting session in Ashton. Croydon activists challenged Reform councillors at the town hall and recruited new supporters. In Salford, campaigners linked the fight against racism with the defence of victimised trade unionist Ameen Hadi. University and college workers launched a new network against the far right.
On the streets, the results were uneven. In Bournemouth, a small far-right turnout was comfortably outnumbered. In Watton, a planned far-right protest was called off after weeks of anti-racist organising. Blackpool showed that even where anti-racists are not yet strong enough to dominate events, the far right need not be allowed a free run.
But there are warning signs too. In Southampton, around 40 supporters of White Vanguard turned out. White Vanguard are not simply another anti-migrant protest group. They openly promote Nazi politics and are attempting to build a cadre organisation around explicitly fascist ideas. Their ability to mobilise publicly, alongside other sections of the far right, underlines the seriousness of the threat.
The campaign around the death of Henry Nowak is becoming a key rallying point for the far right. UKIP has already called a further vigil for 30 June in Southampton, and anti-racists will need to keep a close eye on developments. The far right are trying to use the case as a recruiting tool, presenting themselves as the only people prepared to speak out.
At the same time, there are genuine questions about the police response that cannot simply be ignored. Evidence presented during court proceedings showed officers initially handcuffed Nowak after arriving at the scene before the full extent of his injuries became apparent. Hampshire Police later apologised and referred the matter for independent investigation. Anger over apparent police failures is understandable. But the far right’s attempt to channel that anger towards migrants and refugees offers no answers. Working-class people have experienced police incompetence, negligence and injustice for generations. The answer is accountability and justice, not racism and scapegoating.
There are concerns elsewhere too. In Braintree, a large far-right mobilisation reportedly took place with little organised opposition. When the far right are able to march unchallenged, they gain confidence and create the impression that they speak for local communities. That makes building an organised anti-racist presence all the more urgent.
Neither complacency nor despair are warranted. They are drawing confidence from Reform’s electoral breakthrough, from Labour’s increasingly hostile rhetoric on migration, and from a wider sense of political alienation and crisis.
The encouraging reports from Crowborough, Makerfield and elsewhere show what can be achieved when anti-racists organise seriously and consistently. But Southampton, Braintree and the continued attempts to build around the Henry Nowak case are reminders that the battle is still very much in the balance. The far right can grow if they are left unchallenged.
Forthcoming Events
Unite The Clans
Perth
Queens Hotel
6 June 11.00 am
Unite The Right
Newcastle Civic Centre
13 June 12.00pm
Kent Nationalist Movement
Maidstone
King St
13 June
Portsmouth Stonehouse
PLi 3SJ
13 June 12.00pm
British Patriots
Sheffield
Peace Gardens
13 June 12.00pm
PAG UK
Hull
Queen Victoria Sq HU1 3RL
20 June 12.00
Britain First
Birmingham
City Centre
20 June
Southampton
Henry Nowak
20 June
Katie Hopkins
Leics
Athena Theatre 6.30
25 June
Footsteps For Freedom
Parliament Sq
27 June 12.00 pm
Katie Hopkins
Wimborne Tivoli
2nd July
📣 Educators against the far right…
🔥 ‘Creating antiracist schools’
📣 Saturday 13 June, 11-4pm
A day conference for educators backed by over 60 NEU branches & Stand Up To Racism to come together, debate & organise against the far right. Don’t miss it!
🔥 SOAS, 10 Thornhaugh StreetRussell SquareLondon WC1H 0XG
📣 With NEU General Secretary Daniel Kebede
🔥 Workshops themed around…
• Training 🔥
• Organising 🔥
• Curriculum 🔥
• The NEU’s Anti – Racist Framework
• Challenging the myths: having those “difficult conversations”.
• Working as Educators in Reform lead councils – how do we challenge and organise?
• Building solidarity with refugees
• Developing a culturally responsive pedagogy: making the national curriculum more inclusive & relevant to pupils’ lives & identities.