In the wake of May’s elections & the latest ‘Unite the Kingdoms’ outing for fascist Tommy Robinson the antiracist movement has massive challenges, but some real opportunities.
As we saw on 16 May & on an even biggest scale on the Together demo in March there really is an antiracist majority in Britain.
Our job is to mobilise it.
We need the kind of unity on th streets we saw on 16 May & 28 March in London in every part of Britain.
The crucial thing now is to build antiracist organisation in every town & city & activity from the upcoming event in Crowborough (30 May) to the counter demos from Brighton to Birmingham in June to the ‘Educatiors against the far right’ event on Saturday 13 June.
The far right can be stopped. We can break their momentum at the ballot box & on the streets, but we have to get organised to do that.
Makerfield By Election
Cracking start to the Stand up to Racism Makerfield By Election Campaign- Use your Vote to Stop Reform UK.
A crowd of 65 people attended the Launch and went out leafleting in the constituency to give the message that there is no place for racism on our patch.
Over the next 4 weeks we will be having a vibrant campaign, including mass leafleting sessions every Sunday.
All anti racists should join us in saying refugees and migrants are not to blame for public services decimation after 15 years of austerity.
Together we can not only stop Reform UK winning, but offer unity, hope and love.
Banners from Wigan NEU, Wigan Metro Unison, Manchester Metro University UCU, Salford City Unison, NW Unison Black Members Committee, Wigan SUTR, GM Manchester SUTR, Women against the Far Right, Defend Ameen Hadi.
Bournemouth
On Saturday Posey Parker was spreading her Islamophobic & Transphobic hate at Horseshoe Common in Bournemouth.
She drafted in a couple of dozen of her entourage (& a large speaker system) but still only managed less than 40. WAFR BCP organised a counter with 60 attending, drowning out the hate speech with chants of solidarity & welcome for refugees.
The bigot was challenged by a Trans member of staff in a local cafe after the demo. Posy Parker and her mates were thrown out by the manager ( who supported the staff) and the police.
Not a good week for the far right on the coast!
Wakefield
he protest outside the first Wakefield Reform council meeting was a real success.
The protest was called to show opposition to Reform councillors and to support the few remaining opposition councillors.
Initially there were around 50 SUTR protesters and 10 Far right from local Migrant Watch group.
They spent the day shouting abuse at trans and disabled people and chanting “you can stick Palestine up your arse” . At lunch time our numbers were swelled by local college students and at points there were 120 plus on our side.
SUTR placards were everywhere and we ran out of stickers . Lots of new young people signed up to SUTR and we made some important new contacts in the students union.
The SUTR was a great mix of local Trade Unionists, anti racism activists , Greens, Labour and college students.
Speakers at the end from the Greens, SUTR and Sarah Woolley Gen sec of the bakers union celebrated our success and committed to continue to organise against racism, discrimination and attacks on council services.
A huge thank you to everyone who supported the protest today.
Although there side is hateful we had a great atmosphere, and thanks especially to the young folk who joined it and ended up leading a lot of the chants! It was brilliant.
We reckon across the protest we had around 120 anti-racists giving notice that we’re not going to let a Reform council get away with attacking our communities and vulnerable people across the district.
Manchester
Fantastic solidarity for Ameen and the campaign, at the AQA UNISON picket line and strike rally in Manchester today
Nottingham
Market Sq again, on their 3rd fortnightly visit, had the ‘patriots’ – largely from Derbyshire – 15 of them and similar number of auditors opposed by up to 65 antifascists.
While numbers of both sides shouted at each other Stand Up to Racism and Women Against the Far Right leafleted the public passing through the Sq with considerable support and especially from young people and women. Also £10 from a Bournmouth supporter up for the Forest/ Bournmouth match!
East Sussex
We had a great protest today outside county hall for the first meeting of East Sussex county council.
We were joined at different points by the whole Green group and some of the lib dem groups.
Unfortunately though, we have already heard that with the votes of the Tories and the independent cllr Shing, Reform have won the chair of of the council, giving them lots of power and the casting vote!
PCS conference
Monitoring Group Report
Anti-racists across Britain are beginning to push back against the confidence of the far right after the gains made by Reform UK in the May elections. Reports from around the country show that where organised resistance is built, the far right can be beaten back.
In Makerfield, the launch of the Stand Up To Racism by-election campaign drew 65 activists onto the streets to leaflet against Reform UK. Trade union banners and anti-racist organisations united around the argument that migrants and refugees are not responsible for the destruction of public services after years of austerity. Over the next month activists aim to build a visible, confident campaign capable of stopping Reform gaining a foothold.
Wakefield saw around 120 anti-racists protest outside the first Reform-controlled council meeting. Activists stressed the importance of confronting Reform before it can entrench attacks on migrants and vulnerable people. Young activists played a leading role throughout the protest, showing the potential to draw a new generation into anti-racist struggle.
In Kent, the reality of Reform in office is already becoming clear. Alongside empty nationalist posturing around flags and the national anthem, there are attacks on workers and public services. Specialist SEND teachers have taken strike action after damaging reorganisations imposed under the new administration. The report also notes that several Reform councillors previously attended a fascist demonstration in Maidstone alongside associates of the neo-Nazi British Movement. So much for the claim that Reform has nothing to do with the wider far right.
The picture emerging is contradictory. Reform has benefited from anger at the political establishment and disillusionment with Labour and the Tories. But these reports also show the far right is not an unstoppable force. In many places their mobilisations remain small, dependent on activists travelling across regions to pad out numbers.
That means there is an opening for the anti-racist movement. Where the far right is confronted politically and physically—through demonstrations, workplace solidarity and mass campaigning—they can be pushed back. The key thing is no to give the racists an easy ride.
Forthcoming Events
Crowborough Unity
United Church, Croft Road, Crowborough TNG61HA, 12 -4pm Free Entry
Educators Against The Far Right
📣 Educators against the far right…
🔥 ‘Creating antiracist schools’
📣 Saturday 13 June, 11-4pm
A day conference for educators backed by over 60 NEU branches & Stand Up To Racism to come together, debate & organise against the far right. Don’t miss it!
🔥 SOAS, 10 Thornhaugh StreetRussell SquareLondon WC1H 0XG
📣 With NEU General Secretary Daniel Kebede
🔥 Workshops themed around…
• Training 🔥
• Organising 🔥
• Curriculum 🔥
• The NEU’s Anti – Racist Framework
• Challenging the myths: having those “difficult conversations”.
• Working as Educators in Reform lead councils – how do we challenge and organise?
• Building solidarity with refugees
• Developing a culturally responsive pedagogy: making the national curriculum more inclusive & relevant to pupils’ lives & identities.
Register your place here 👉🏿 bit.ly/educatorsagainst
Counter Protests
Birmingham
Unite to Stop Britain First
Saturday 20 June City Centre
Brighton
13 June Far right are assembling at the railway staion at 12:00