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We are witnessing an alarming growth in the threat posed by the far right in Britain.

The release of ex English Defence League leader Tommy Robinson on bail, the attack by fascists on the Bookmarks bookshop, and the violent assault on trade unionists, show we have reached a critical moment in British politics.

The far right are organising on an unprecedented scale—nationally and internationally. They are receiving political and financial support from the US Alt-right, including Trump’s former chief of staff Steve Bannon and other far right figures across Europe.

Tommy Robinson is the focus for a galvanised racist right from fascist groups through to the Democratic Football Lads Alliance to UKIP.

They are targeting Muslims, refugees, migrants, and increasingly the left. Racism, Islamophobia and Antisemitism are at the heart of their agenda.

Boris Johnson’s outrageous racist and sexist comments about the burqa are a sign of how this horrible agenda has entered mainstream political life.

The murder of Jo Cox, and the attack on Finsbury Park mosque that saw the death of Makram Ali at the hands of Darren Osborne, show just how far some on the extreme right are prepared to go.

We welcome the call by John McDonnell, shadow chancellor, for a mass movement in the spirit of the Anti-Nazi League. There is a long tradition of opposing racism and fascism, Antisemitism and Islamophobia in Britain. We beat the National Front in the 1970s, defeated the British National Party and broke the English Defence League. Now we face even bigger challenges.

We call on all those who oppose racism and fascism to work together to build a movement in every workplace, college and community to drive the racists back.

We support the calls by Stand Up To Racism and Unite Against Fascism for:

• the biggest possible counter mobilisations against any demonstrations or events called by Robinson and his supporters
• a mass anti racist, anti fascist national unity demonstration on 17 November, backed by the TUC and supported by Diane Abbott and John McDonnell
• the International Conference against racism and fascism on 20 October in London, where Diane Abbott and John McDonnell are now headline speakers

We support gigs and initiatives organised by Love Music Hate Racism this autumn.

It’s time for a mass campaign – unity against racism and fascism.

Add your name to the statement HERE

Signed,