- Wreath layed at NZ House by representatives of Muslim organisations, Jewish, faith groups and trade unionists.
- Speakers at a rally in Whitehall included Diane Abbott MP, Frances O’Grady, Poet Michael Rosen, representatives of Muslim groups MCB and MAB, Jewish groups JCORE and JSG
- Following Christchurch attack, speakers called for unity against racism, Islamophobia, White Supremacy, antisemitism & fascism
- Many speakers expressed anger that more is not being done to combat Islamophobia, with many politicans and media outlets cotinuing to spread anti-Muslim hatred.
- Over 25,000 marched at demonstrations organised by Stand Up To Racism in London, Glasgow (1,000) and Cardiff (1,000), as part of #WorldAgainstRacism demonstrations for UN AntiRacism Day (IDERD – the UN International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination)
- Marches took place in 60 cities across the word including New York, Washington DC and Florida, in Brazil, and across Europe including Hungary, Austria, Denmark, Poland, Netherlands, Germany, Spain and Catalonia, Ireland, France, Belgium, Greece, Norway, Sweden and Canada and Australia.
- Demonstration was supported by musicians & music labels as part of #BeautifulResistance campaign & by Trade Unions as part of #Unions4Unity initiative
Pictures from the event can be found on twitter at @antiracismday, #WorldAgainstRacism, #NoRacismNoFascism and #Unions4Unity
The following quotes are taken from the rally in Whitehall:
Diane Abbott MP, 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.”
Frances O’Grady, TUC General Secretary, 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.”
Michael Rosen recited his poem Fascism: I sometimes fear. it reads: I sometimes fear that people think that fascism arrives in fancy dress worn by grotesques and monsters as played out in endless re-runs of the Nazis. Fascism arrives as your friend. It will restore your honour, make you feel proud, protect your house, give you a job, clean up the neighbourhood, remind you of how great you once were, clear out the venal and the corrupt, remove anything you feel is unlike you… It doesn’t walk in saying, “Our programme means militias, mass imprisonments, transportations, war and persecution.”
Maswood Ahmed, Assistant Secretary General of the Muslim Council of Britain, said:“Although much progress has been made, the crippling poison of Racism, Fascism and Islamophobia still persists, and it is on the rise. The struggle must continue until these elements are defeated. The Muslim Council of Britain is committed to joining all organised efforts for achieving fairness, justice and equality. This national demonstration is an excellent example of solidarity for achieving the common good.” Human Rights campaigner
Salma Yaqoob pinned the blame for the rise in Islamophobia on mainstream politicians. She said: “Don’t tell me it’s just lone-wolf shooters…”I call out Boris Johnson, I call out Sajid Javid, I call out Melanie Philips, I call out Douglas Murray.”
Edie Friedman, Chief Executive of the Jewish Council for Racial Equality called for unity across the movement to take on the far right. She said “When fascism comes to call it doesn’t care what shade of difference you are.”
Steve Turner, Unite the Union Assistant General Secretary said “We march yet again in opposition to growing hatred and intolerance. We remember the dead of Christchurch and the
millions of people across our globe including in the UK who live daily lives in fear.”
Sabby Dhalu, Stand To Racism Co-Convenor said “The world is still in shock at the Islamophobic terrorist atrocity in New Zealand. All our thoughts are with those killed and their loved ones. This is the latest in a series of horrific attacks carried out by far-right terrorists including the antisemitic massacre at the Tree of Life Synagogue, the racists massacre in Charleston and the attack here in London at the Finsbury Park Mosque. Our demonstration today could not come at a more crucial time.It is vital that while the likes of Steve Bannon are trying to link up the far right on an international scale, we build the links between anti-racists and anti-fascists across international borders.”
Weyman Bennett, Stand Up To Racism Co-Convenor, said, “If we don’t stand together, we will hang together.” He asked the crowd, “Who defeated the NF? We did. Who defeated the BNP? We did. Who stopped the DFLA? We did. “And we will stop the far right and fascists now.”
NOTES FOR EDITORS:
1.#WorldAgainstRacism international coordination joint website: www.worldagainstracism.org #WorldAgainstRacism joint Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/events/638497209939281/2.Stand Up To Racism is a broad based anti-racist organisation supported by the major trade unions, faith and community groups. Web: www.standuptoracism.org.ukEmail: info@standuptoracism.org.ukTwitter: @AntiRacismDay