What are the next steps for Stand Up To Racism?

Stand Up To Racism demonstration in Chesterfield

The fight against the racist threat is far from over—and there are actions anti-racists must take to build on the growing resistance. The Stop The Far Right rally in east London this Saturday can give the anti-racist movement a boost.

It features Jeremy Corbyn MP, Stand Up to Racism (SUTR) co-conveners Weyman Bennett and Sabby Dhalu, NEU education union general secretary Daniel Kebede and drag queen Bimini. And anti-fascists have to be ready to mobilise in huge numbers when fascist Tommy Robinson organises his next national hate march.

National SUTR organiser Samira Ali told Socialist Worker, “We need everyone to get involved with building the anti-racism movement, both in their areas and in their workplaces. We want to see Love Music Hate Racism gigs everywhere and big anti-racist rallies and meetings to show that we won’t be scared off the streets.

“We stand with the migrants, refugees and Muslims who are under attack.” Samira said, “The rally this Saturday is an important time to come together to discuss where next for our movement.

“The far right is on the backfoot now. We have to continue to push fascists off our streets and take on the racism that fuels them.

“We can’t rely on the state or the government—we will win with mass unity.” Samira added that despite the victories of the last week “we can’t be complacent”.

“The growing mobilisations need to be deepened,” she said. “The danger is far from over with fascism on the rise in Europe, Reform UK leader Nigel Farage in parliament here and Donald Trump re-emerging in the United States.”

SUTR co-convenor Weyman Bennett told Socialist Worker, “We want local and regional rallies that reflect what the demos looked like last week. We need to mobilise a huge movement to counter racism and Islamophobia that is being generated by the far right and Reform UK, as well as crises in society.

“We cannot forget the lessons of Southport and elsewhere—we need local groups to stop the far right targeting local areas and building in them. And Robinson is talking about putting thousands on the streets again.

“We need to counter whatever he does, as we always have done.” Weyman explained that there also has to be a campaign against Reform UK in the places where it has MPs.

“They cannot get their way with pushing racism,” he said. “Anti-racists have to challenge them and say they don’t speak in our name. This weekend was magnificent with so many local groups and demonstrations from Hull to Bathgate and Paisley in Scotland.”

Fighting on the streets, and challenging racists in parliament, has to be the priority for everyone who stands against hatred towards migrants, Muslims and the racists’ targets.

Want to join the fightback? Here’s what you can do

• Build the Stop The Far Right event in Hackney, east London, on Saturday 17 August. Details at tinyurl.com/SUTR17August
• Over 10,000 people have signed a unity statement. Ask people to sign the statement in your workplace and local area. Add names and see the full list of supporters at bit.ly/unitystatement2024
• Utilise SUTR’s 100,000s of stickers, badges and leaflets against the far right
• Call unity rallies and assemblies in towns and cities across Britain. Get in touch with the Stand Up To Racism team to help at standuptoracism.org.uk/ volunteer
• Organise Love Music Hate Racism gigs. You can contact the SUTR team for help
• Almost £60,000 has been raised on the fundraiser. Donate at tinyurl.com/SUTRFund
• Join counter-protests, including a national one when Tommy Robinson next mobilises