Unity at the assembly in Tower Hamlets, east London
Over 300 anti-racists came together in Tower Hamlets, east London, on Thursday to organise against Ukip leader Nick Tenconi’s far right mobilisation on Saturday 25 October.
The organising assembly, called by Stand Up To Racism (SUTR), united anti-fascist activists, Palestine campaigners, Your Party and Green supporters.
SUTR national organiser Samira Ali said Tower Hamlets is “an area that has a very proud history of fighting back and defeating the far right whenever they’ve tried to come here”.
“We must make clear that when they try to march in Whitechapel, we will send them packing again,” she said.
The day before far right thugs had stopped an SUTR meeting going ahead on the Isle of Dogs in Tower Hamlets.
The far right has been protesting against refugees being housed and the Britannia International Hotel in the area and SUTR has mounted counter-protests.
Safia, who faced the far right, spoke at the organising assembly. “We need to realise that every single one of us has a role, a responsibility, a huge task—and that task is to make sure that we’re not passive,” she said.
“We’re more than them—they’re just more organised.”
She added, “They think that they’re going to show us on the 25th October that they can make us uncomfortable in an area that’s been historically through so much. We need to come in our numbers.
“It’s not just on Stand up to Racism. It’s upon all of us to actually go through our contact list and to make sure that we come in numbers.”
Ben Jamal, Palestine Solidarity Campaign director, said, “We need to unite our struggles. Challenging the far right here means challenging ideologies of racist supremacy everywhere.
“Keir Starmer’s coopting of Reform UK’s demonising language about those fleeing persecution is at pace with his refusal to acknowledge Israel’s system of apartheid and genocide.
“So let us get to the task of building that unifying movement. One which says no to Tommy Robinson, no to Nigel Farage, no to Donald Trump, no to Israeli apartheid and genocide.”
Zarah Sultana celebrated the history of anti-fascist resistance in Tower Hamlets “from the fight against Oswald Mosley’s black shirts to the struggles against the National Front”. “This community has shown time and time again that when the far right rises, we fight back,” the left wing MP from Your Party said.
“I can commit that Your Party will use every resource and lever to support you. It is really important that we organise, not just in Parliament, but in our unions, in our communities, in our classrooms, and in streets”.
She added, “We are anti-imperialists and we are proudly anti-Zionists. We do not give cover to racist ideology—whether in this country or abroad.”
After the speeches, there were break-out sessions where people discussed how to build support for the mobilisation against Tenconi.
Let’s fill Whitechapel on 25 October—and turn the tide against the far right in Britain.
Anti-racists took to the streets last week to opposed fascists and racists up and down the country. The counter‑protests were organised by Stand Up To Racism (SUTR).
Over 600 marched on the Brighton Against Racism Unity march. Some 300 campaigners were out in Wakefield, West Yorkshire, against around 200 far right.
Activists in north London leafleted for Women Against The Far Right campaign at the Tottenham v Birmingham women’s football match. The new campaign also launched in the Midlands, with around 90 people attending.
In Wolverhampton, around 60 far right protesters outnumbered 40 anti-racists.
In Carshalton, south London, 140 anti-racists outnumbered around 100 racists.
Some 70 anti-fascists opposed a smaller group of far right protesters in Newcastle for a 12th week in a row.
“Oxford showed its best side today when anti racists and trans rights activists united in protest to oppose transphobe and friend of fascists, Posie Parker,” said anti-racist activist Julie. “We outnumbered the far right with around 120 on our side and 50 on theirs.”
In Crewe, in the Midlands, around 50 SUTR supporters outnumbered 25 far right.
Some 150 anti-racists outnumbered 20 far right supporters in Rochester, Kent.
In Caerphilly, in Wales, there were 100 anti-racists against 10 racists. In Lincoln, it was 75 anti-racists against 30 far right protesters.
In Rhoose, near Cardiff, the far right were outnumbered six to one outside a hotel where Afghan families are being housed. Campaigners have been out against the far right every week since August.
In Southampton 120 SUTR supporters faced 40 on the far right side. In Bournemouth, 40 anti-fascists stood up to 35 racists.
In Portsmouth, anti-racists were double the numbers of the racists.
The whole working class movement has to respond to growing far right and stop them whenever they try to march.
For more details, go to standuptoracism.org.uk
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