Anti-racism

An older hardcore of Nazi Tommy Robinson’s supporters turned out in an try to focus on the Palestine motion

Nazi Tommy Robinson tried to relaunch himself—but once more—in central London on Saturday with one of many largest far proper marches lately.

A motley crew of as much as 5,000 far proper and racist thugs gathered in Victoria and marched to Parliament Sq.. The lead banner learn, “That is London—not Londonistan.”

It’s a warning that politicians pushing state racism towards refugees and Muslims might permit the fascists and much proper to regroup and develop in Britain.

Rising from the Beer Home pub in Victoria, the crowds began shouting, “Oh Tommy Robinson.” St George’s flags and Union Jacks dominated the gang with Scottish, Israeli and Welsh flags dotted in-between. 

Some sported Make America Nice Once more hats. Others brandished Donald Trump election flags chanting, “Make Britain nice once more.” It was accompanied by, “I’m England until I die, I’m England until I die, I do know I’m I’m certain I’m I’m England until I die.”

Because the march bought transferring, crowds chanted, “Oh Britanna, Britannia guidelines the waves” and Islamophobic slogans.

One marcher advised a passer by, “It’s to do with the crowds of individuals invading our nation.”

The march ended at Westminster Gardens.

Robinson launched speeches asking, “Is that this not what this metropolis ought to appear like?”

Laurence Fox, previously of the Reclaim Occasion, adopted Robinson. He needed “freedom to talk our minds”—in different phrases, the liberty for proper wingers to spew bigotry.

He started by lamenting the beginning of Pleasure Month, which started on Saturday, and the way it supported the “indoctrination” of youngsters. “We’re not second class residents in our personal nation,” he mentioned.

Crowds proceeded to chant, “We would like our nation again.”

As much as 300 anti-fascists have been on Whitehall to face towards Robinson’s supporters. The counter-protest was organised by Stand Up To Racism (SUTR).

They chanted, “Refugees are welcome right here,” “Nazis aren’t welcome right here” and, “Whose streets? Our streets.”

Protester Celine advised Socialist Employee, “It’s essential to have a presence towards fascism. 

“There’s numerous completely different protests occurring as we speak. However we got here right here as a result of its scary that that is occurring in our metropolis.

“The fascists have a lot visceral hate. If we weren’t right here, it might simply be the police defending and facilitating their march.”

Hannah added, “We are able to’t allow them to march unopposed. And particularly after the previous few years when our protests rights have been underneath menace.

“This feels actually pressing. I used to be a part of the anti-fascist protests in south London final yr defending the Honor Oak pub’s Drag Queen Story Time.

“That was actually encouraging and we drove them away. But it surely’s essential we nonetheless flip up as we speak.”

Sol, who got here to her first anti-fascist protest, mentioned, “It’s essential we flip as much as combat towards all struggles.

“The far proper is rising in Europe. I’m French, and we’ve seen how the fascists maintain coming again.

“We noticed how Marine Le Pen went from being a monster to respectable. We are able to’t be complacent.”

Audio system from the NEU, RMT, Unison, CWU and PCS unions addressed the gang, in addition to activists from the Jewish Socialist Group, Muslim Affiliation of Britain and Love Music Hate Racism and LGBT+ teams. The FBU union additionally supported the counter-protest.

Julie Sherry from SUTR mentioned, “We all know from historical past we are able to’t permit fascists to unfold their hate. It’s so harmful to have them within the streets however it’s testomony to the hate spewing from out over the past 14 years of the Tories.

“Racism has been on the centre of every Tory authorities. Anti-racists have stood outdoors accommodations defending refugees whereas the far proper tries to intimidate them as a result of they really feel supported by the federal government.

“Fascists stand to make positive aspects throughout Europe based mostly on these politics too. The hazard is permitting these folks to march unopposed. If we have now to do that once more, we’ll.”

The march by Robinson’s supporters reveals the risks of state racism fueling the far proper.

But it surely was nonetheless smaller than demonstrations over Palestine—and never simply the nationwide ones in London. These have been led overwhelmingly by younger Muslim folks and plenty of others who need to hit again towards Islamophobia in addition to in help of Palestine.

It reveals the necessity to maintain mobilising towards the Tories’ state racism and to combat a Starmer authorities’s anti-migrant agenda from day one.

Robinson will probably be buoyed by the turnout, however it doesn’t signify the kind of breakthrough he achieved in 2017-2019.

We now have to maintain it that manner and construct the anti-racist motion.