Around 1,000 anti-racists marched in Epping on Sunday at a Stand Up To Racism initiated protest, to oppose racism and violence towards refugees at The Bell Hotel.
Meanwhile a much smaller gathering of 300 were assembled at the far right demonstration.
The march was called in response to fascist ‘Tommy Robinsons’s call to join ‘thousands of patriots’ in Epping on Sunday. Robinson was a no show on the day – as were the thousands of Far Right supporters who he claimed he would join.
The anti-racist rally before the march showed the breadth of support, hearing from leading trade unionists, feminists and campaigners.
Anti-racists across Britain are concerned about a repeat of last year’s riots, which saw arson and violent attacks on refugees in hotels, Mosques, Muslims, African, Asian, Caribbean and others up and down the country.
The far right mobilisations are again feeding off of the racism and hatred against refugees being spread by Farage and Reform, Kemi Badenoch’s Tories and Starmer’s government with his ‘island of strangers’ speech.
Last week Stand Up to Racism revealed Neo-Nazi group Homeland has been leading the protests against refugees in Epping.
Despite heavy policing and attempts by the far right to disrupt the protest Sunday was a big victory for anti-racists. It was right to show the strength of opposition that exists to the far right on the streets of Epping.
It showed that Epping is not a ‘no go area’ for antiracists, a point underlined by the local residents who came out to clap the march and wave antiracist placards and flags.
Now attention shifts in London to the Thistle City Barbican hotel in Central London – rumoured to be housing asylum seekers from the Bell at Epping – where anti-racist have called for a major counter demonstration against a far right protest next Saturday 13 September at 12.00pm.
• See coverage in the Guardian and BBC
Photo gallery credit: Cameron Merritt
