| Press Release – for immediate release 27 June 2024 Stand Up To Racism campaigners in Clacton will milkshake mock Farage and send him to Rwanda in a dingy this Saturday   This Saturday, 29 June, Clacton will see a flurry of activity attempting to stop Nigel Farage and Reform UK gaining a seat in election, and to kick racism out of the election. Stand Up to Racism activists in Clacton will be out in force on Saturday with a party bus, a cardboard life size cut out of Nigel Farage, milkshakes and a rubber dinghy to send Farage off into the English Channel, to Rwanda. At 12.30pm on Saturday Stand Up to Racism activists will be in a party bus with a cardboard Farage, taking it to Clacton Pride and around Clacton town centre for people to write notes to Farage and throw the odd milkshake. At 2.30pm a milkshaked Farage will be placed in a dinghy and sent off in a small boat. Farage is a millionaire stockbroker who pledges to privatise the NHS and cut corporation tax. He has blamed refugees arriving via dangerous journeys across the Channel in small boats for the problems facing the people of Clacton and in Britain. Anti racists are speaking out to kick racism out of the general election campaign, and to say refugees are welcome. Anti racists were as appalled as they were vindicated on the revelations from Channel 4’s expose of the shocking levels of racism at the heart of Farage and Reform UK’s campaign on the ground in Clacton. Stand Up To Racism’s campaign lead in Clacton Samira Ali said: “Disillusionment in mainstream politics has allowed Farage to pose as an alternative, but it is clear he offers nothing different than right wing populism and empty promises. “The only thing Farage delivers is a dose of racism in blaming traumatised refugees – who have made the most incredible and perilous journeys in search of safety – for problems caused by politicians ruling Britain and those they represent who have got richer during a cost of living crisis for the majority. Weyman Bennett, Stand Up To Racism co convenor said: “Farage claims he is not racist and that to talk about immigration is not racist. “However, Farage doesn’t just talk about immigration, he blames it. Just like his right wing counterparts in Europe, he wants to make everything about immigration. “Unfortunately, it is reported that Labour have instructed their candidate to stop campaigning and to go to the West Midlands instead. To leave the ground open to Farage in this way, is a capitulation to a racist scapegoating and many Black and ethnic minority candidates in Labour will fear that the party is not taking racism seriously.” Samira Ali added, “Many in Clacton feel that he is using them as the next stepping stone in his career. They fear that the diversity Clacton has developed over the last decade will be taken backwards. “It’s no coincidence that so many Reform candidates have been deselected or suspended following racist and misogynistic comments. “Farage claims that this all happened prior to him taking over the party. He echoes Trumpian style denial when it comes to any mistakes his party makes. “However, Farage has put himself at the forefront of the populist and racist right in Britain and has support from the likes of fascist Tommy Robinson (Stephen Yaxley-Lennon). “Can we be surprised that, just like UKIP, Reform is full of closet BNP members, racists and misogynists? This is no mistake. Farage courts the far right in Europe and has organised with fascists in the European Parliament.” Sabby Dhalu, Stand up to Racism co-convenor said: “From Nazi sympathisers, links to fascists and explicit racist, Islamophobic and homophobic statements – it’s clear to all decent people why we must mount a big campaign to mobilise the vote against Nigel Farage and Reform. “Sadly it seems Labour is conceding to racism if reports are true that it’s shut down the campaign for its black candidate Jovan Owusu-Nepaul. This is criminal given that some polls show Labour could win if Liberal Democrat and Green voters tactically vote Labour.” For further information & interviews please contact: info@standuptoracism.org.uk DETAILS OF STAND UP TO RACISM’S ANTI RACIST & ANTI FASCIST CAMPAIGNING DURING THE ELECTION: https://standuptoracism.org.uk/campaign-materials-for-the-general-election-stop-farage-in-clacton-stop-reform-uk-kick-racism-out-of-the-election-dont-vote-nazi/ |
