 PRESS RELEASE – for immediate release5 September 2024  Nine trade unions, politicians, cultural figures and leading campaigners stand up to racism in Glasgow: Saturday 7 September, 12noonGeorge Sq, Glasgow Irish rap trio Kneecap and singer-songwriter Lisa O’Neill, comedian Janey Godley, the Scottish Trade Union Congress (STUC), alongside 9 national unions, faith organisations, football fans and many others are among the supporters of a major counter demonstration in Glasgow’s George Square this Saturday, 7 September, to unite against racism and fascism and to say that refugees are welcome in Glasgow. An anti immigration rally is due to take place in the square. Its organisers deny the rally is far-right or racist. However, Stand Up to Racism (SUTR) has revealed the organisers’ links and collaboration with individuals and organisations with a history of Islamophobia, antisemitism and activism in fascist groups. Stand Up To Racism asserts that such views can have no place in society and the demonstration will reject them in unity and through mass numbers. The SUTR rally, which has official permission from the council, will hear from a range of speakers from 12 noon onwards and is intended to show that a majority of us in society reject the far right violence and the hateful racist myths that scapegoat migrants, refugees and Muslims, and propagate Islamophobic and antisemitic ideologies. Talat Ahmed, SUTR Scotland convenor said “Our rally is about celebrating and defending multiculturalism and diversity and saying loud and clear that refugees are welcome here and aren’t to blame for the problems in society. And that the far right, with their toxic politics of hate and division, are not welcome in Scotland. “After Reform UK, a far-right party, achieved 7 percent of the vote in Scotland in the general election, and the chilling news this week that the AfD, a party with a neo-Nazi wing, had a breakthrough in German state elections, we urge all to unite against the far-right, racism, Islamophobia and antisemitism.” Commenting on the forthcoming rally Linda Somerville, STUC Deputy General Secretary, said “We have long warned that the far right poses a dangerous threat in the UK, spreading racist hate amongst communities that are often marginalised and under-resourced. “The cruel impacts of austerity, compounded by the drip feed of anti-migrant rhetoric from parts of the media and some politicians has created these conditions. Trade unions have a long history of defending our communities against fascists and racists and will proudly join the rally in Glasgow to show racists that they have no place here.” Sabir Zazai. Scottish Refugee Council CEO, said “As a refugee charity, we are no strangers to messages of hate from the far-right. But these are always overwhelmingly out-numbered by a huge amount of support from across Scotland. We’ll be in George Square on Saturday to make it clear that refugees are welcome here” Weyman Bennett, Stand Up To Racism national co convenor, added “Glasgow on Saturday will see another in a line of vile protests that were announced by far right forces across Britain in a cynical attempt to spread racist hate in the wake of the racist riots this summer. And it will see many more anti racists and anti fascists to counter them. “Over the past month, the anti racist movement has truly kicked the arses of the far right movement up and down Britain, and in Belfast in Ireland. Thousands upon thousands joined Stand Up To Racism protests in Britain, turning out in defiance to claim the streets instead for the anti racist majority and break the attempt by fascists and the far right to take our communities for their hateful narrative of division and their violence towards refugees, migrants and Muslims. “Less than a month since racists and fascists set fire to a hotel housing refugees with human beings – our neighbours – in the building, we had the horrific news of more needless and avoidable deaths in the Channel. “Government politicians over recent years have driven scapegoating racist rhetoric and policies demonising and dehumanising refugees. “So it is no wonder in this manufactured climate that we have seen first the breakthrough of the racist Reform UK party, and then the largest mobilisation of fascist Tommy Robinson and his far right racist thugs since we stopped his movement on the terraces and on the streets in 2018/19. And in the wake of some 15,000 joining a mobilisation called by Nazi Robinson, we saw outright racist lies by fascists and the far right go viral in the wake of the Southport murders. “This all led directly to violent racist riots and the burning of refugee accomodation across Britain. “Stand Up To Racism with the support of trade unions, a spread of politicians, faith organisations, artists and cultural figures, and campaigners moved quickly to turn the tide, calling anti racist counter demonstrations that turned out tens of thousands to make clear that racists and the far right will not be allowed to claim our streets and terrorise refugees and Muslims. “In this climate, our hearts break to hear of the deaths in the Channel – when as human beings we should be welcoming with open arms all those with the courage and resolve to embark on these unnecessarily treacherous journeys for a better life. They are heros – not demons. “So our resolve hardens too – we demand safe passage now, and we demand refugees are welcome here. “We are continuing to build the mass movement that will turn out every time the far right, racists and fascists seek to exploit and divide our communities. That’s what we are doing in Glasgow this Saturday and we call on all who can to join us, and stand up together in our loudest voices to be heard.” NOTES TO EDITORS: 1 The rally in Glasgow on 7th September at 12 noon was called by Stand Up to Racism Scotland as a counter-protest to threats by the far-right to gather in Glasgow. The rally is supported by the Scottish Trade Union Congress and its Black Workers’ Committee, nine trade unions at a Scotland national level (Unison, Unite, PCS, RMT, FBU, CWU, EIS, NASUWT and UCU), the Scottish Refugee Council, Positive Action in Housing, Community InfoSource, Glasgow Campaign to Welcome Refugees, Interfaith Scotland and Interfaith Glasgow, Romano Lav, Afghan Human Rights Foundation, Stop the War Coalition Scotland, Palestine Democratic Forum, All Under One Banner and Scotland Football Fans Supporting Foodbanks, as well as representative of political parties, union branches, trades councils and football fans groups. The latest graphic for it is attached with supporters listed. 2 We have exposed Stef Shaw aka the Glasgow Cabbie’s links to the far-right and fascists here and here. Stef Shaw is the main organiser of the anti-immigration rally we will be opposing. 3 SUTR is the national campaign organisation that organised mass demonstrations across Britain in response to the far-right mobilisations in August For further info contact: info@standuptoracism.org.uk Stand up to Racism Scotland Email: sutrscot@gmail.com Twitter: @sutrscotland Facebook: Stand up to Racism – Scotland Stand up to Racism national office Email: info@standuptoracism.org.uk Twitter: @AntiRacismDay Insta: standuptoracismuk Facebook: Stand Up To Racism Website: standuptoracism.org.uk |
