In the wake of yesterday’s mass protests against Donald Trump’s UK visit, thousands again took to the streets to show unity against a far right ‘free Tommy Robinson’ protest in Whitehall, Central London.
Speakers at the rally in Whitehall included David Lammy MP, Jean Lambert MEP, London Assembly Member Unmesh Desai and many senior trade unionists including NEU Joint General Secretary Kevin Courtney, NEU Vice President Nita Sanghera, CWU Vice President Jane Loftus and RMT Deputy General Secretary Steve Hedley. Leading representatives of Muslim and Jewish groups also spoke, along with Reverend Steven Saxby.
The event was organised by Unite Against Fascism and Stand Up To Racism, one of the organisers of the massive Together against Trump March the previous day. Stand Up To Trump’s Shabbir Lakha spoke at the event along with Lindsey German from Stop the War, another key organiser of yesterday’s march.
A
statement backing the counter-demo was signed by over 100 MPs, MEPs, councillors and NGO representatives including Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell, Shadow Home Secretary Diane Abbott and leaders of Britain’s main trade unions.
The following quotes are from the anti-racist rally in Whitehall
David Lammy MP said:
“For a second day, we are coming out to make it clear: We do not want fascists in this country.” He thanked protestors for “Standing up against the growing tide of Islamophobia that is becoming acceptable in all walks of life”
Jean Lambert MEP said:
“This movement of hate is organised and they amplify each others voices. We have to work cross-border to defend the values of freedom and diversity and stand up to Tommy Robinson’s message of division and violence.”
Weyman Bennett, Stand Up To Racism Co-Convenor said
“We defeated the National Front, BNP, EDL and Britain First. Together we will turn back and defeat this new formation on the far-right.”
At the “Free Tommy Robinson” rally, speakers included UKIP leader Gerrard Batten who railed against the “cult of Mohammed” and urged those present to “organise politically against Traitors in Parliament.”
Kevin Carroll, Robinson’s cousin and co-ofunder of the EDL led a chorus of “we love Turmp” and slammed Sadiq Khan for “disrepecting” Trump. In a clear Islamophobic slur, Inflatable effigies of Sadiq Khan engaged in a sexual act with a pig were present at the rally.
Other speakers included a representative National Rally – new name of Front National in France, Filip Dewinter, an MP in Belgium representing the fascist Vlaams Belang (formerly the Vlaams Blok) and Raheem Kassan formerly of Breitbart. Dutch far-right MP Geert WIlders sent a video message
One of the biggest cheers were for the entrance of Generation Identity supporters – an extreme right Islamophobic street movement which holds training camps. EDL flags, a white pendragon were present, along with references to far-right groups in Poland, Hungary and the Czech Republic.
Speaking at yesterday’s Together Against Trump March, Sabby Dhalu Co-Convenor of Stand Up To Racism said:
“We can now see how the Trump visit is directly inspiring the growth of the racist right in Britain, with Trump’s supporters getting behind the campaign to free former English Defence League leader Tommy Robinson. Some of the most vicious political forces in society are now being normalised by the most powerful politician in the world. It is time for all those who value our diversity to stand together and say this is not acceptable”
Notes to editors:
1. Further Quotes, photos and videos of the march can be found on the
Stand Up To Racism twitter feed. Photos can be used free of charge with credit to Stand Up To Racism Day
