‘Division has never helped women’—Women Against The Far Right mobilising for Together

Alison is involved in Women Against The Far Right in Manchester

Women Against The Far Right (WAFR) activists are mobilising for the Together alliance demonstration in London on 28 March.

Alison is involved in WAFR in Manchester, she told Socialist Worker that she’s supporting the alliance “because I know unity will lead to an improvement of women’s rights”.

“Division has never helped women.”

The far right claims it wants to protect women and girls to push the racist lie that Asian or refugee men pose a unique threat of violence. “But these arguments quickly fall apart,” Alison said.

“We know from the statistics that 80 percent of women killed are killed in their homes and 90 percent are killed by people they know.

“We know from the data, women are being killed by their loved ones, friends and ex-partners.”

Sexism, not race, cause violence against women and girls.

Alison pointed to Nigel Farage defending MP James McMurdock, who had previously been convicted for assaulting his then partner.

“That wasn’t enough to sack him as a Reform UK MP. It was only when allegations of financial corruption arose that Farage sacked him.”

“Anyone who has been on a counter-protest outside hotels housing asylum seekers knows that the far right supporters constantly attack women,” she added.

Recently, women’s charities and organisations recently wrote to the government saying the language around migrants being a threat to women and girls is harmful.

Alison argued that “what benefits women is unity and actual conversations about the actual facts”.

“Scapegoating migrants and refugees isn’t about caring about women, but about a racist agenda,” she said.

She thought that “when we come together we can make a change on the 28 March”. “Most things we have ever achieved have not come from the government or those in power but because we came together and fought for it,” she said.

 “Division in our community, such as racism or homophobia, that is a climate where hope and change does not endure. We are stronger together.

“If anyone is concerned about coming out, that is what they need to remember.”