Last Saturday (16 July) thousands of demonstrators gathered in London to join a protest against racism and Tory austerity measures. The demonstration was called by Stand Up To Racism and the People’s Assembly Against Austerity.
More than twenty coaches travelled to London on the day to take part in the march, including demonstrators from as far a field as Newcastle and the North East.
The march featured lively student and LGBT+ Against Islamophobia blocs as well as a Black Lives Matter bloc which drew on activists from some of the recent antiracist marches in London and elsewhere.
Weyman Bennett, Co-Convenor of Stand Up To Racism said on the day; “they say that people are suffering and I say that is true. They are suffering from joblessness, lack of housing and division. But who is to blame for that? The people to blame for that are the Tories, are the bosses, are the bankers and that is the truth.”
The march was aimed at uniting both sides of the EU referendum debate against racism and austerity as well as to demonstrate solidarity with migrants and refugees.
Sabby Dhalu, Co-Convenor of Stand Up To Racism, said at the Parliament Sq rally on the day; “we have had enough of the Tory government scapegoating immigrants, scapegoating refugees and scapegoating Muslims for their austerity policies. We have had enough of austerity and enough of racism.”