On Thursday 17 July, the far right instigated a racist riot attacking the Bell Hotel housing refugees in Epping. They also attacked a demonstration called by Stand Up to Racism of around 50 antiracists who stood against the far right. The far right mob chanted “ssend them back” and “refugee scum off our streets” as they tried to break into the hotel.
Known Nazis were in attendance as well as a local Reform UK councillor who was interviewed saying “they’re trying to dilute [the Englishness] out of us”.
The far right are given confidence by politicians whipping up of racism and division. Farage and Reform’s racist rhetoric and Starmer’s “island of strangers” speech are creating a tinderbox racist atmosphere in Britain. Coming up to one year since the outbreak of the far right riots last summer, we must stand united against racism and confront the far right wherever they appear.
It is important that the far right faced opposition on Thursday and the refugees in Epping knew they were not alone. But we need to be much bigger next time. We need to build a movement to take on the racists and push back the far right.
Epping Stand Up to Racism statement – sign here
Fascists and far-right groups are seizing on horrific cases of sexual assault to violently target refugees at a hotel in Epping, Essex.
We stand with all victims and survivors of sexual assault—and against the far right attempts to exploit such cases. We reject the idea that all refugees should be held accountable for the heinous acts of an individual.
The far right pushes the racist lie that refugees and migrants pose a particular threat to women.
Yet, around 84 percent of female victims of sexual assault know their perpetrator, who is most likely to be either an intimate partner or acquaintance.
Targeting minorities and vulnerable people fleeing war and persecution does not protect women and girls.
The anti-refugee protests have been attended by known fascists and far-right agitators from outside of Epping. They include a far-right councillor who’s said Epping should “ideally” be a whites-only area and admires Holocaust deniers.
Racist abuse has also been directed at a black security guard outside the Bell Hotel and a bloodied Asian man was filmed being escorted into the hotel while a hostile crowd shouted “That’s what you get for being an illegal!”
The far right are given confidence by politicians’ whipping up of racism and division which is creating a tinderbox racist atmosphere in Britain.
The far right and fascists are posing as the protectors of women and girls to spread racist division.
They want a return to the racist riots we saw last summer that unleashed murderous violence across Britain. Coming up to one year since the outbreak of the far right riots last summer, we must unite in solidarity with refugees and build a movement against division.
We, the undersigned, say no to the far right attempting to build in our communities. We ask others to join us.