Around 3,000 people in Finchley, north London, confronted a handful of the far right
The far right had threatened to assault dozens of immigration and asylum services on Wednesday, but instead of pogroms, there was an explosion of anti-racist opposition to fascism and solidarity with migrants and Muslims.
In most places on the far right’s hit list, there was no racist presence at all. At others, a handful of bigots turned up to find hundreds or even thousands of anti-racists determined to repulse them.
Tens of thousands of anti-racists organised by Stand Up To Racism (SUTR) defied calls from politicians and cops to stay off the streets. Instead, they did the right thing and took command of their local areas. Nobody could be sure whether there would be just a few Nazis on the streets or a baying and murderous mob. But the strength of numbers on the anti-racist side spread confidence everywhere.
At least for tonight, fear changed sides. The fascists were a terrified few and anti-racists, Muslims and socialists were supremely confident. There was also a bigger organised working class presence than at previous events.
In Bristol some 7,000 anti-fascists filled the streets and roared, “Refugees are welcome here,” and “Free Palestine”.
There was a substantial trade union presence. Salena Williams reports, “It’s fantastic—it’s absolutely massive. There are flags from Unison, NEU, CWU and PCS unions.
“The fascists are supposed to turn up in an hour but if they do, they won’t be able to get down the street.”
Another massive turnout was in Walthamstow, east London, where at least 7,000 anti-racists came out.
A young and diverse crowd easily overcame police obstacles to take over the main streets. The determined but joyful crowd stayed for hours and chanted slogans in defence of refugees and against the far right.
Corneil was with a delegation of firefighters from the FBU union. He told Socialist Worker that it is “massively important” that unions take up the anti-racist fight.
“We are trying to get our members to every area that the fascists have threatened,” he said. “And I urge members of all other trade unions to do the same.”
Fhoaib was among a group of gas fitters that had come to protest and stood a watchful guard at its edges.
“It makes me angry when I hear these racists saying Muslims don’t belong in Britain. My family have been here for 35 years and we help create this community.
“We are working class people, and we should have the same rights as everyone else”.
Rail worker Jane came to the protest with a group from her RMT union. She said they had been at a conference to discuss pay and that everyone there resolved to go to a protest that evening.
Like many others on the protest, Maya and Eloise, from neighbouring Newham, could easily see connections between far right violence and the struggle for Palestine.
“Anti-Muslim racism has really grown alongside the war on Palestine,” said Eloise.
Walthamstow famously humiliated Tommy Robinson’s fascist English Defence League in 2012. The numbers of anti-racists on the streets on Wednesday saw his thugs thrown back again—as none were brave enough to show their face.
And up to 3,000 anti-racists came together in Finchley, north London, where just a handful of the far right cowered away from them.
Over 1,500 anti-racists were out in Liverpool, reports, Saira. “That included trade unionists from UCU, Unison, FBU, Unite, RMT and PCS who came to defend the Asylum Link Centre in L7.
“Huge cheers greeted local young people joining the protest amidst a buoyant and confident atmosphere while a group of far right people failed to leave the local park where they gathered.
“Anti-racists in smaller groups have gone to local mosques to ensure they are also protected. This now needs to be replicated and built ahead of Saturday’s SUTR protest at Pier Head.”
Tristan adds, “What seems to have set this counter-protest apart was the large turnout by the young Arab community, many of whom said it was their first protest.
“They fortified the front line and seemed to realise their political power and the power of community-led mobilisation in smashing the far right.”
A massive turnout in Walthamstow
From Oxford, Julie reports, “More than 500 on the anti-racist side—150 close to the central mosque, 300 at the Asylum Welcome offices and 50 at the refugee hotel. Local Muslim taxi drivers are ferrying protesters up for free. Only a few suspicious individuals were around.”
Rob reports, “Around 3,000 anti-racists filled the streets of Newcastle. It’s massive, it’s very black and white. It’s a fantastic event and really confident. There are no fascist.”
Tom reports, “There were 1,500 anti-racists in Sheffield including a delegation from the mosque who finished prayers early to join the rally. Not a fascist in sight. Our slogans are completely hegemonic—and now all out for Saturday.”
Around 1,000 anti-racists were on the streets in Birmingham.
In Rotherham, South Yorkshire, where on Sunday fascists torched a hotel where migrants were housed, a good number of anti-racists came out—and there were none of the far right.
In Brighton, around 2,000 anti-fascists surrounded just five Nazis. One protester had scaled a lamppost over them and chanted down over their heads.
“It’s such a good mood here,” said Christian. “We’re chanting. ‘go home when there’s five of you’, it feels like a great atmosphere.”
Anti-fascists had brought homemade placards that read, “Far right not welcome here” and “Room for more immigrants, not hate”.
Around 500 anti-racists came out in Nottingham and a similar number in Hastings. Simon reports, “The vibrant Hastings demonstration chanted and sang for almost two hours, interspersed with speeches. If any far right thugs turned up they didn’t hang about. The magnificent turnout was despite the new Labour MP and the Green Party council leader advising everyone to stay away. They were wrong—we were right.”
Aldershot, Hampshire saw 50 fascists outnumbered by a broad and confident anti-racist turnout of 150 or more. “We not only stood up to the racist thugs but also went against those who have argued against any counter protests as being too dangerous,” said a protester.
There were 70 anti-racists in Bolton against no Nazis. And in Norwich at very short notice 100 anti-racists confronted 12 or so from the far right.
Sue in Derby says, “More than 500 on the anti-racist side, no fascists and a really mixed crowd. Whose streets? Definitely ours. People are aware of the fascist threat but there is a relieved and celebratory feeling because of the size of our side’s turnout.”
Some 500 anti-racists turned out in Hackney, east London following a fascist threat to the local mosque. It was an extraordinary turnout at ten hours’ notice.
But the fascist never appeared. If they had, they would have faced a determined, diverse and energetic demonstration. Some local Muslims came to defend their community.
Demonstrator Aisling said, “We need to show a united front on the left, we have to have unity.
“Today was really promising, but we need to continue this and grow even stronger.”
In Lewisham, south London, an anti-racist protester reports, “At least 500 anti-racists came out. Other than a handful of grumpy-looking whites, no fascists could be spotted.
There were banners from Lewisham Trades Union Council, Bexley Trades Union Council, Lewisham Muslim Voice, and South East London SUTR. There was a spirit of resistance and solidarity in the air.
“Harold Wilson from South East London SUTR said, ‘I remember 1977 and the terrifying rise of the Nazis in south east London, and in the aftermath of that we rolled the Nazis back. This needs to be the start of the fightback against the far right today.’
“Other speakers included the imam of the local mosque, who spoke out against the poisonous lies being told about Muslims by the far right and then the rotten role of their spokespeople in parliament such as Nigel Farage.”
“Ben from the RMT union brought a message of solidarity. ‘Every member of our union has been told to come out on to the streets and go to mosques in solidarity. We need to see off these racist thug bastards.’
“He also spoke out against the British state’s complicity in ‘genocide in Gaza’.
“Local Labour councillors were, disgracefully, absent and sent no messages to be read out.
“Francesca Manning from south east London SUTR said, “We need to take this message of love and solidarity back to our workplaces and communities and build this movement’.”
There were 500 in Cheadle, Greater Manchester, and no Nazis. David James reports, “Chanting ‘The people united will never be defeated’, hundreds of anti-fascists marched through an anonymous industrial estate in Cheadle near Stockport. The fascists didn’t dare show their faces at the immigration law firm they had threatened.
“The crowd applauded speeches from trade unionists and a former refugee. Cheadle Stand Up to Racism activist, Sairah, who called the protest read Michael Rosen’s poem about fascism “I sometimes worry”, while another speaker finished his speech with the last lines of Percy Shelley’s poem about Manchester’s Peterloo Manchester—’Ye are many, they are few!’
“Police seized one antifascist who they accused of “scouting” but were forced to release him after demonstrators blocked the roads around their van chanting ‘Who protects the fascists'”
Dave reported at 8.30pm, “Massive turnout in Bedford—more than 500 and no far right have appeared so far.”
In Brentford, west London, anti-fascists outnumbered the far right 100-to-one. The 400-strong crowd chanted, “There are many, many more of us than you” at the dejected-looking group.
Anti-racist activist Jonathan told Socialist Worker, “This feels vibrant. People have brought their own placards saying, ‘Nazis off our streets’ and ‘Safe space, not hate space’.”
“It feels like the community has come out.”
Balwinder Rana, founder of the Sikhs Against the EDL group, said, “We are setting an example, because these fascists have just started. This is not the end of it.
“We have to keep doing this until we beat them. We will defend our Muslim brothers and sisters to the end, and asylum seekers, or anyone who is under attack by the fascists.
“We beat the National Front in the 70s. We beat the BNP in the 90s and we beat the EDL. We will beat the fascists now.”
Sarah in west London, reported, “There’s no sign of any fascists tonight.” Up to 400 people assembled at the North Harrow library.
“The mood is that we’ve all got to unite. I think there’s still a memory of when we defended the mosque in 2009—we got 3,000 people on the streets then.
“At the core of tonight’s demo are people active in Palestine solidarity locally. Last time the fascists tried they managed to turn out just 11 people—Harrow is a stupid place to target if you’re a fascist.”
Mark in Chatham, Kent was one of around 50 anti-fascists outside the offices of immigration lawyers targeted by the far right.
“There are good numbers here, but there are also twice as many of the far right. We’re here to say no to division and hatred. And we’re saying yes to real unity and solidarity.”
Tim reports, “Up to 500 people turned out to defend an immigration solicitor in Westcliff-on-Sea, the most multicultural area in Southend. The streets round the office were occupied by the anti-racists. Around 35 fascists turned up but got nowhere near their target. No-one knew what to expect but our protest was mixed, lively, loud and very confident about defending the area. People were really proud that we’d been able to see off the far right.”
Wednesday 7 August should be remembered as the day of a brilliant riposte to the far right. But everyone knows the threat remains and that this success has to be a launchpad to a stronger and better-rooted Stand Up To Racism movement which can drive the fascists from the streets and begin to tackle the roots of racism.
The far right will hope the opposition will fade away and they can retake the streets. That hope has to be crushed by anti-racists.
Saturday’s day of action is another chance to hurl back the fascists.
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