Fascists and far-right groups are seizing on horrific cases of sexual assault to violently target refugees at a hotel in Epping, Essex.
We stand with all victims and survivors of sexual assault—and against the far right attempts to exploit such cases. We reject the idea that all refugees should be held accountable for the heinous acts of an individual.
The far right pushes the racist lie that refugees and migrants pose a particular threat to women.
Yet, around 84 percent of female victims of sexual assault know their perpetrator, who is most likely to be either an intimate partner or acquaintance.
Targeting minorities and vulnerable people fleeing war and persecution does not protect women and girls.
The anti-refugee protests have been attended by known fascists and far-right agitators from outside of Epping. They include a far-right councillor who’s said Epping should “ideally” be a whites-only area and admires Holocaust deniers.
Racist abuse has also been directed at a black security guard outside the Bell Hotel and a bloodied Asian man was filmed being escorted into the hotel while a hostile crowd shouted “That’s what you get for being an illegal!”
The far right are given confidence by politicians’ whipping up of racism and division which is creating a tinderbox racist atmosphere in Britain.
The far right and fascists are posing as the protectors of women and girls to spread racist division.
They want a return to the racist riots we saw last summer that unleashed murderous violence across Britain. Coming up to one year since the outbreak of the far right riots last summer, we must unite in solidarity with refugees and build a movement against division.
We, the undersigned, say no to the far right attempting to build in our communities. We ask others to join us and support the protest on Sun 27 July.
- Yvonne Field OBE
- Lanie Shears, deputy leader of Labour group of Harlow Council
- Jeremy Corbyn MP
- Diane Abbott MP
- Daniel Kebede, NEU general secretary
- Sarah Woolley, BFAWU Gen Sec
- Waltham Forest Council of Mosques
- Councillor Tom Gibson, Castle Point borough council
- Jamie Newell, Fire Brigade Union Executive Council Member for Eastern Region
- Claire Clegg, Epping United Reformed Church
- Leanne Mohammad, British Palestinian human rights activist and 2024 Ilford North parliamentary candidate
- Marwan Elfallah, chair of Redbridge Community Action Group
- Yasmine Gregory, Leader of Harlow Green Party
- Murray Sackwild, West Essex NEU District Secretary and Essex NEU Branch Secretary
- David Murray, President Basildon and Thurrock TUC
- Malcolm Wallace, President Chelmsford TUC
- Caz Crowe, The Farm Community Kitchen CIC
- Siobhan Hawthorne and Carina Jose, co-chairs Waltham Forest Stand Up to Racism
- Pablo Phillips, joint district secretary Waltham Forest NEU
- Sasha Das Gupta, Momentum co-chair
- Julia Bard, Jewish Socialist Group
- Radiyah Ali, Colchester Action for Palestine
https://forms.gle/F6WisTVnvyqsw4p18
If the Google Docs Form button/link doesn’t work for you, use the form below to sign the statement: