Over 800 anti-facists joined a counter demonstration today in Regent Street, Central London, against a “Free Tommy Robinson” demonstration of 3-400 people supported by various far-right organisations, a tiny fraction of the numbers at the “Free Tommy” demonstration last year in Whitehall.
Scuffles broke out with the police at various points of the day as fascist groups attempted to break through police lines to attack the anti-racist demonstrators,
Pictures and videos from the @antiracismday twitter account can be used with credit to Stand Up To Racism
Stand Up to Racism mobilised hundreds of anti-fascists to oppose Robinson including students, trade unionists, migrant groups, faith groups and others.
Robinson remains in Belmarsh prison, his latest prison sentence being for contempt of court. He had live streamed during a highly sensitive, sexual exploitation trial. The former English Defence league leader failed recently in the European elections to become an MEP in the North West, due to a large, broad based campaign by anti racists, of which Stand Up To Racism was central.
Though the movement around Robinson was riding high at this time last year, last November saw around 8000 anti fascists outnumber a pro Robinson march in London.
Buoyed by Trump and the election of the new, racist Prime Minister in the UK, the far right are currently seeking to regroup.
Sabby Dhalu, Stand Up To Racism Co-Convenor said: “Today showed that all the work done by anti-fascists to challenge and expose Tommy Robinson, from counter demos to election campaigns has a major effect. As Boris Johnson positions himself at the head of a Trump-like movement in Britain, it’s vital we continue to unite against fascist groups and the bigotry that emboldens them.”
Weyman Bennett, co-convenor of Stand Up To Racism said, “Tommy Robinson has a history of promoting fascist organisations including the British National Party and English Defence League. Days like today show the true nature of his supporters – racist and islamophobic to the core. Last year they mobilised around 15,000 on the streets of London, now they can only bring out tiny a fraction of that. We stopped Robinson when he was in the EDL. We stopped him becoming an MEP. We’ll stop him again from building the racist street movement he craves.”
Notes for editors
1) Stephen Yaxley Lennon now has 13 convictions including for violence, public order and mortage fraud.
2) Robinson was originally jailed for 13 months over the broadcast from Leeds on Facebook, but was released after two months following an appeal. His case was then referred back to the attorney general, Geoffrey Cox.
3) Robinson led the anti-Muslim English Defence League, which held a series of provocative and often violent demonstrations in areas of high immigrant population. The 2017 Finsbury Park mosque killer, Darren Osborne, was said by just partner to have been influenced by Robinson’s online activity
4) Stand Up To Racism is a major anti-racist organisation with support from across the labour and trade union movement and from many faith organisations. It’s international conference will be held on Saturday 19 October. Previous events have been addressed by Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn and Shadow Home Secretary Diane Abbott.
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