The Football Lads Alliance and the Democratic Football Lads Alliance mobilised at most 4,000 people between them in Birmingham on Saturday.
This is less than a quarter of the number they hoped to put on the streets.
Following its very small mobilisation in Scotland in November, this represents a considerable setback for the FLA compared to its march in London last October.
But nobody should be complacent. The marches today were avowedly racist and Islamophobic. The sharp trajectory rightwards that Stand Up to Racism has repeatedly warned of was clearly visible.
Regrettably the FLA is starting from a bigger base than previous far right formations like the English Defence League (EDL) This was a political march around racist and sometimes far right themes.
On the FLA march the main speaker was Anne Marie Waters, formerly of Ukip and now leader of the far right For Britain party. Her speech had a message for Muslims – “millions of decent British people are offended by this religion.”
Marchers jeered at the mention of Islam.
Former English Defence League leader, Tommy Robinson, was cheered on the march as a hero.
Several well-known fascists were present. Every speaker at the rally attacked Islam and refugees, as well as feminists and the #MeToo movement.
Disgracefully Ukip leader Gerard Batten and Ukip MEP Bill Etheridge spoke at the Democratic FLA gathering in Victoria Square. There was singing of “We want our country back.”
Today saw UKIP – whose electoral fortunes are in sharp decline – make an open pitch to connect with the street movement, just as other populist Islamophobic and racist forces have done in Europe.
Across Europe, Islamophobic and far right forces have grown on the basis of a hatred of migrants and refugees. The FLA is trying to do the same.
It was extremely important that Stand Up to Racism Birmingham mobilised hundreds of people to protest against the marches.
Can you imagine how anti-racists across Britain would have felt if the FLA had marched through Britain’s second city unopposed?
Stand Up to Racism is determined to build larger protests when the FLA mobilises in the future. We call on everyone who opposes racism and Islamophobia to join us in that crucial effort
