United Against Racism!

By New Worker correspondent

On Saturday London comrades joined thousands of other anti-fascist protesters who marched in unity against racism and fascism following the massacre of Muslims at a mosque in New Zealand last week. They assembled in Park Lane and marched to Downing Street, pausing only to lay a wreath at New Zealand House in memory of those who died in the attack in Christchurch, the New Zealand capital. They marched along with those in Glasgow, Cardiff and 60 other cities across the world taking part in similar events to mark United Nations Anti-Racism Day.

Stand Up To Racism co-convener Sabby Dhalu said the event had “a more sombre tone than previous years because of what happened in Christchurch. These types of hatred, terrorist attacks do not happen in a vacuum. There is a link between the hatred peddled by the politicians and the media, and hate crimes on the streets and places of worship.”

At the rally in Whitehall Diane Abbott, Labour’s Shadow Home Secretary, said: “We are still in shock after the Christchurch attack. We have to fight fascism and white nationalism wherever it rears its head. And we have to fight the enablers of anti Muslim hatred wherever we see them.”

TUC General Secretary Frances O’Grady said: “Now more than ever we must promote our values of tolerance and diversity. Racism and fascism have no place in our society. As trade unionists we’ll continue to stand up to the forces of hatred and division, and won’t flinch in our campaign against the far right.”