25,000 take to the streets across Britain to stop the far right
A wave of anti-fascist protests swept across Britain on Wednesday night. An estimated 25,000 people in total took to the streets against the far right. In response to far right threats to target asylum centres, thousands joined protests called by Stand Up to Racism in cities across the country. Around 8,000 joined a protest called by Waltham Forest Stand Up to defend an asylum centre in Walthamstow. In Bristol, 7,000 joined the anti&mdashfascist protest. In Liverpool, 2,000 took to the streets. In Finchley, north London, another 2,000 protested chanting &ldquoNazis are not welcome here&rdquo. Similar numbers protested in Newcastle, Brighton, and elsewhere. The far right were massively outnumbered, with a poor turnout in most places. But the danger remains. In some areas they were able to mobilise a crowd. Stand Up to Racism has called a national day of protest this Saturday, 10 August, where more protests will be happening around the country. And on Saturday 17 August, an event to launch a new campaign against the far right is taking place with Jeremy Corbyn MP, drag artist Bimini Bon Boulash, Daniel Kebede NEU and more. Weyman Bennett, co-convenor of Stand Up to Racism, said: &ldquoTonight shows we can beat the far right. We won&rsquot let them attack Muslims, migrants or refugees. In city after city, people came together to unite against racism and the far right threat. We need more of that. They&rsquore not going to go away. We&rsquore building a movement across Britain to stop the far right - and it&rsquos a movement built on solidarity and unity.&rdquo Sabby Dhalu, Stand up to Racism Co-Convenor said: &ldquoPeople in Britain have said loudly and clearly that we reject racism, Islamophobia, antisemitism and hatred. We will not stand by and allow racist, pogromist attacks on asylum seekers, Muslim, African, Asian and Caribbean people. All these communities, alongside trade unions, anti-fascists and anti-racists united have stood up to racism and fascism. We have defeated fascist and racist movements before. We will defeat them again. But there&rsquos no room for complacency. We&rsquove seen fascist riots for over a week. We will keep mobilising until we push back these racist and fascist street thugs.&rdquo