Follow #NoRacismNoFascism
For reports from each session at the conference on 20 October, and also for the Unity March, a national mobilisation against fascism and racism, on 17 November
Last week’s international conference: How do we defeat the rise of fascism and racism? was an inspiring day that brought together local anti-racist activists, a breadth of many campaigns involved in fighting racism, trade unionists, politicians, those leading anti-racist resistance internationally and students.
As we face the impact of Donald Trump, the rise of racist far right street movements and fascists gaining political representation across Europe, what’s happening in the US and Brazil, and the far right movement focussed around ex EDL and fascist ‘Tommy Robinson’ here, there is a sense of urgency with which the anti-racist majority must mobilise to drive back the far right, racism and fascism.
The conference was a key organising space for discussion, debate, reports and a sharing of experiences from different campaigns.
Crucially, it was a building block to delivering a massive Unity Demonstration on 17 November, which is backed by the TUC, Diane Abbott (home secretary) and John McDonnell (shadow chancellor), and a whole host of unions, faith groups, campaigns and cultural figures.
Sessions and workshops at the conference included:
- International panels discussing how to respond to the rise of the far right and fascism
- Refugees welcome: Enact Dubs now!
- Grenfell, austerity and the rise of racism
- Brexit: Defending EU nationals’ rights and freedom of movement
- Student & Youth: Stand Up To Racism
- Football for all: Unite against the racist DFLA
- Windrush, to Black Lives Matter:
Emma Dent Coad MP backs #N17 Unity Demonstration Challenging the Hostile environment
- How do we defeat fascism and the far right in Britain?
- From Hate Crimes to Prevent: Challenging the rise of Islamophobia
- Love Music Hate Racism: music and the masses
See reports and outcomes of each workshop and session below
International sessions shared sobering experiences but uplifting examples of resistance to far right:
With speakers from anti-racist and anti-fascist organisations leading the fight against the far right and fascism from Germany, Hungary, Austria, Greece, France, Brazil, Poland, Denmark, Canada, Catalonia, and Scotland joining two panels discussing the international experience, it was fantastic to have the discussions on what we face as a movement here framed by a wider picture that can offer lessons and solidarity for how we can successfully unite, organise and win.
For quotes and pictures from speakers, see #NoRacismNoFascism
Grenfell, austerity and the rise of racism session:
A busy session discussing the links between the austerity attacks facing working class people and the rise in racism heard from a panel of activists from the NHS, the fire service, Grenfell and the People’s Assembly.
Speakers took on the myths on the Tories’ attacks on migrants in the NHS, stressed the key role unions have to play in combatting racist scapegoating, condemned Theresa May’s manufacturing of a hostile environment and outlined the need to fight racism collectively and united.
As firefighter Ricardo put it, “The far right are working together, we have to do the same”.
For quotes and pictures from speakers, see #NoRacismNoFascism
Brexit: Defending EU national’s rights & Freedom of Movement session:
A thoughtful session discussed the threats and challenges facing EU migrants and shared expriences of how we can organise to resist attacks on EU migrants’ rights, as well as drawing out the role of “Fortress Europe” with many speakers stressing that everyone should be welcome.
For quotes and pictures from speakers, see #NoRacismNoFascism
Football for all: Unite against the racist DFLA session:
This packed session heard from those who have gone out and taken initiatives around leafleting the football grounds, and from within fans groups, to oppose the racist ‘Democratic Football Lad’s Alliance’ (DFLA).
As speaker Michael Bradley said, “There will be a battle for the soul of what football support looks like–we have to mobilise around the grounds”.
For quotes and pictures from speakers, see #NoRacismNoFascism
Refugees Welcome: Enact Dubs Now! session:
A full session with a panel bringing together Maurice Wren, Refugee Council chief executive, Fay Lockett, NEU activist and human rights campaigner, Nas Popalzai, Nas Must Stay Campaign and Clare Moseley Care4Calais founder discussed organising soldiarity with refugees, sharing the experiences of a huge amount of work through the convoys that have also been a big part of Stand Up To Racism’s ongoing work. The day after the session, a fresh convoy was on its way out with Care4Calais, this time made up of students. Read a moving report of the student convoy by a Glasgow student who took part HERE
And the next major convoy to Calais on 8 November
For quotes and pictures from speakers, see #NoRacismNoFascism
From Windrush to Black Lives Matter: Challenging the Hostile Environment session:
A buzzing session heard from home secretary Diane Abbott, Notting Hill Carnival activist and music producer Smokey Joe, social commentator and Windrush campaigner Patrick Vernon, Rachelle Romeo, impacted by the Windrush scandal, Brian Richardson from Stand Up To Racism and others.
To loud cheers, Diane told the crowd, “When I am home secretary, something like this will never happen again”. She said “We have to change this conversation, we have to talk about what migrants have contributed in this country.”
Patrick Vernon read out a moving letter from the family of a a victim of the Windrush scandal. Rachelle spoke of the impact of the Windrush scandal on her whole family, saying, “We are human beings, not statistics. We are not going to take it anymore. We will be listened to”.
Student and Youth Stand Up To Racism session:
A lively student and youth session at the conference brought out into groups after a panel with Myriam Kane, NUS NEC & Black Students Committee, Artin Giles, London Young Labour, Naima Omar, Student Stand Up To Racism, and chaired by Faisa Hassan, London Young Labour Under 19s Officer.
Key action points included the student convoy to Calais, and to call a Student and Youth bloc on the 17 November Unity Demonstration: Watch this space
Love Music Hate Racism: Music and the masses session:
This session brought together musicians and activists discussing the role of music in the anti-racist movement.
Fuller report to follow shortly!
The key action point: to call an LMHR bloc on the 17 November Unity Demonstration: Watch this space
From Hate Crimes to Prevent: Challenging the rise of Islamophobia session:
Fuller report to follow shortly!
How do we defeat fascism and the far right in Britain? session:
This session aimed to address the worrying rise in a far right street movement since the emergence of the ‘Football Lads’ Alliance’, the then split into the so called ‘Democratic Football Lads’ Alliance’, and the morphing into the ‘Free Tommy’ movement around the trail of fascist and ex EDL leader ‘Tommy Robinson’ (or Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, his real name).
The discussion was focussed around the strategy we need as an anti-racist, anti-fascist movement to respond to the rise of the far right here in Britain, and to understand the international context, in which Trump is giving confidence and breathing oxygen into far right, racist and fascist forces all across Europe.
Alex Norton from the Morning Star said, “We need to be telling people we are winning and we are marching in anti-fascist unity.
Gerry Gable from Searchlight added from the panel, “Fascists and holocaust deniers are meeting together at the moment… with financial backing. We must be warned”
Co convenor of Stand Up To Racism Weyman Bennett argued, “Boris Johnson’s ‘acceptable’ racism has opened up the door to ‘unacceptable’ open racism. We must be courageous in challenging all forms of racism and taking on the far right, like the Muslim women wearing the hijab who are courageous. We need mass collective action to win.”
Key action points included mobilising to oppose the far right:
- On 23 October at ‘Tommy Robinson”s trial (report on our protest to follow soon and we’ll link here)
- On 7 November in Oxford, when the racist AfD in Germany, a party with an openly fascist wing, are due to speak at the Oxford Union. Join and share the Facebook event page here
- On 14 November in Edniburgh to ‘Cancel Bannon’, and protest the invitation of the European Broadcasting Union’s News Xchange committee to Alt-Right guru Steve Bannon. Join and share the Facebook event page here
-
Build in every locality, union, community, campaign, organisation, faith group, college and university for the biggest possible united turn out on the streets of London on Saturday 17 November on the #N17 #UnityDemo