Hundreds march against racist scapegoating in Cardiff

Shavana Taj, general secretary of the Wales TUC union federation, welcomes anti-racists on the steps of the Welsh parliament

Over 700 anti-racists took to the streets of Cardiff on Sunday in a protest organised by Stand Up To Racism (SUTR). 

Richard, an anti-racist activist on the march, told Socialist Worker, “The trade unions broadly supported the demonstration. It was diverse and quite young. Protesters travelled by coach from across Wales.”  

The Unison, Unite, NEU, CWU, Aslef, NUJ, and Usdaw unions supported the demonstration. Groups such as Black Lives Matter Wales and Race Alliance Wales also backed the protest. 

Shavanah Taj, the general secretary of the Wales TUC union federation, also addressed the marchers. She said, “Wales must always be a nation of sanctuary that offers a welcome and hope to those who need it. 

“We must sideline the racists who seek to create division. We are the many, and they are the few.” 

Former Welsh footballer Neville Southall and Unison union president Libby Nolan also spoke at the demonstration. 

Marchers chanted, “Say it loud, say it clear. Refugees are welcome here,” as they marched from the Welsh parliament, The Senedd, to Grange Gardens to hear the speeches. 

“Importantly there were marchers who had travelled from Llanelli, near Swansea, where the far right mobilised against a refugee hotel,” Richard added. 

“One of the leading activists in the fascist Voice for Wales group is planning to run as a candidate for Ukip in the next general election. So it was important we stood up to all the fascists who want to make electoral gains. 

“We learnt a lesson from Llanelli that we need much bigger united mobilisations against the far right and the racists. The Tories fueled the hate in Llanelli, so it was important we came out to oppose them as well. 

“Those on the demonstration were also angry with the treatment of Diane Abbott and what’s going on in Palestine. 

“We finished our day of anti-racist action with a gig featuring the band Afro Cluster. The energy was still really high, and everyone danced together.”