Counterfire members attended demonstrations across the country and sent the following reports of the heartening mobilisations against racism and fascism

Dozens of counter-protests sprung up across the country in response to widely reported far-right riots planned for Wednesday night. Across the country, anti-racist activists vastly outnumbered the far-right, and in many towns and cities, the far-right failed to turn up at all.  

Fear had been building all day, with police forces reporting over 100 planned far-right riots at various immigration advice centres, immigration lawyers’ offices and hotels housing asylum seekers. Towns were boarded up in preparation for disorder and violence and mosques were implementing extra security, given the Islamophobic violence seen in the past week.

Instead, towns and cities were packed with anti-racists, from Walthamstow to Liverpool and Brighton to Newcastle. The far-right, racist mobs turned out to be a very small number of individuals in many places and in some places, no one turned up at all. It represents a huge victory for the anti-racists and while the far-right threat is not gone by any means, this is a very significant pushback on the streets.

Walthamstow – Clementine Russell

I’ve lived in Walthamstow for eighteen years, and I’ve never been prouder of that fact than I was last night. On the way to the unity rally, I had a picture of what it would look like: fascists on one side of the street, anti-fascists on the other. I was imagining maybe fifteen fascists, up to 500 counter-protesters. In reality, no fascists turned up, but the anti-fascist turnout was twenty times my prediction: 10,000 people. Over five percent of Walthamstow’s population. The crowd was a sea of diversity; no matter age, race, sexuality or gender, we stood together as one Walthamstow. 

Although many protesters held Palestinian flags, wore keffiyehs or sported watermelon badges, Stand Up To Racism (SUTR), who organised the protest, were discouraging ‘Free Palestine’ chants. At one point, when I got the megaphone and chanted for Palestine, I was told by another protester that I was being anti-Semitic, that ‘this is not the time or place’. When it comes to standing up to racism, there is no ‘time or place’ factor. We must stand up to racism everywhere, even if it is not palatable to liberal Israel-sympathisers in the media and politics. Especially if it is not palatable to liberal Israel-sympathisers.

Despite SUTR attempts to supress the pro-Palestine presence, flags still flew proudly and chants were still recited loudly. I found myself in a circle of protesters. Along with the typical anti-racist and antifa chants, we also chanted for Palestine. A teenage boy who had climbed to the top of a pole was handed a Palestine flag which he held high. An elderly Muslim man danced with his Palestine flag at the centre of the circle. I managed to get the megaphone again, but this time when I shouted, ‘From the river to the sea…’, a chorus of voices responded, ‘Palestine will be free!’

Walthamstow stands up, not only for our own, but for all vulnerable people, and for that I am very proud.

Newcastle – Alex Snowdon

There was a huge demonstration in Newcastle (‘more than 3000’ according to BBC News). It was one of the most important and inspiring protests we have had in Newcastle for decades. 

It became increasingly joyful and celebratory as the numbers grew and grew. It turned from a protest into a carnival of anti-racist, anti-fascist and pro-Palestine unity. 

This was organised very rapidly, with the local Asian community taking the lead, but it was the fruit of many years of anti-war, anti-racist and Palestine solidarity organising in the city. 

Hopefully, it will embolden not just everyone in the multi-racial, working-class west end of Newcastle, but people in other parts of the region to organise a mass movement to smash the fascist threat.

Liverpool – Madeline Heneghan

Over 2000 people filled Overbury Street in Liverpool to defend Asylum Link after it have been listed as a target of the far right.  Veteran anti-racist campaigners mingled with young protesters, many from the Asian community. As groups arrived in the street, they were greeted with rounds of applause by those already assembled. Hugh cheers went up as Palestinian flags arrived. The Merseyside pensioners’ association received a warm welcome too.

Despite bogus social-media posts purporting to be from the staff at Asylum Link, instructing counter protestors to stay away, anti-racists filled the street. The manager of Asylum Link addressed the crowd, thanking us for our support, while young people climbed the walls of the building, symbolically protecting this vital community service.

With no signs of the far right, the protest had a festival feel as people sung ‘refugees are welcome here’ to the beat of a drum. A group of young Asian men, some with covered faces, distributed food and water. It was show of real unity.

Southend – Des Freedman ‘There were many more of us than you’

Around 300 people turned out in Southend to defend a local solicitor’s office threatened by fascists. This was a lively and mixed demonstration that forced the closure of the main road through Westcliff-on-Sea with chants gathering pace as the evening wore on. A tiny number of fascists were rumoured to have shown up, but this was a reminder that even in a troubled coastal town like Southend, there is a young and militant anti-racist community prepared to take to the streets.

Harrow – Chris Bambery

Over 300 people gathered in North Harrow after fascists threatened a local immigration law office. There was a strong turnout from the local Muslim and Asian community, alongside trade unionists and Palestine activists. There was a real sense that the local community, young and old, from all different backgrounds, will not let the racists divide us. There was no sign of any Nazis or racists. It was also notable that no Labour elected representatives were prepared to take a stand and join the counter demonstration.

Birmingham – Rob Horsfield

Wednesday’s Stand Up to Racism demonstration outside the Refugee and Migrant Centre was a fantastic success. At least 500 people attended in a display of solidarity that cut across lines of ethnicity, religion, and gender. Speakers from organisations such as the Windrush campaign, the NEU, PSC, Stop the War Coalition, and the National Union of Students all affirmed fighting fascist street violence on the basis of class politics.

Most encouragingly, the demonstration crosspollinated with the Palestine movement. There were as many Palestine flags as there were antiracist placards and signs, and as we marched through the streets to Victoria Square after the speeches, pro-Palestine chants rang out.

The handful of fascists who turned up at 8pm sulked off shortly after filming for a while. It is not clear how many intend to turn up on the 17 August, but tonight was a promising sign for future antifascist activity.

Cheadle, Greater Manchester – Cameron Boyle

In response to a threat to an immigration solicitor’s office, 500 anti-racists gathered in a carpark in Cheadle, a small market town south of Manchester. 

A very diverse and young crowd chanted and heard speeches while waiting for the fascists to arrive. When it became obvious none were going to show, the crowd eventually dispersed in jubilant mood.

North Finchley – Elaine Graham-Leigh

The target of the far-right protest in the north London suburb of North Finchley was a small immigration advice centre which, it turns out, closed down some years ago. Their turnout was as underwhelming as their research, with only a small handful facing 2,000 anti-fascists.

The impressive anti-fascist mobilisation was down in no small part to the strength of the Palestine movement in north London. The Palestine flags and keffiyehs seen throughout the crowd showed how people understood the connections between the far-right, Islamophobia and support for Israel’s genocide of the Palestinians, and that we won’t beat the far-right by trying to keep anti-fascism and the Palestine struggle separate.

We got home to discover that the local Labour MP, Sarah Sackman, had reported ‘so-called “anti-fascist” groups in Finchley which are clearly anti-Semitic’ to the police. To be clear, there was no anti-Semitism on the protest, just a community coming together to reject racist violence from England to Palestine. In the face of that community, the few fascists slunk away. We hope that we’ve sent a message that will deter them from trying again.

Plymouth – Pete Stevenson

Three hundred anti racist campaigners gathered in Plymouth city centre on Monday 5^th August. We created a carnival atmosphere by singing, dancing and chanting our opposition to racism and our collective welcome to refugees. We faced one hundred fascists who should abuse with nazi salutes. Concerningly, several children, some under the age of ten, were part of their action.

It was good to see several trade unions represented, including the NEU. Speeches from union members were met with roars of approval. They were joined by community groups and families from across the city.

The police arrested five fascists for racist abuse and threatening behaviour.

Journalists and technicians from the local press, TV and radio stood with us, interviewing and recording our positive energy. Sadly, they later presented inaccurate reports where the two groups were portrayed negatively. More action is planned.

Brentford – Lucy Saunders

We very nearly didn’t go to Brentford yesterday. What if us two fifty-something females were the only ones standing in front of the UK Immigration Help office, behind a police line facing a massive throng armed with projectiles and golf clubs? On the other hand, if we don’t go and the police don’t show, (or even if they do) surely there will be violence. 

What we were clear about was that it should be the non-targeted demographic that turns out. So we went. In the end we decided we’d approach with caution, retreat if we felt at all uneasy, and leave together.

We planned to walk the last few blocks, and our bus was diverted anyway. We’d heard that the whole of Hounslow High Street had been closed off. We didn’t wear any face coverings or anything to protect our identity, and strolled along casually, as ‘passers-by’, checking in with each other from time to time, to make sure we both felt OK.

Seeing a few people gathered at a junction in the distance, we slowed. As we approached, we still weren’t clear whether they were chanting that immigrants AREN’T or ARE welcome here. Meanwhile, a woman in a state of agitation bordering on hysteria was shouting at a group of teenagers all in black, hooded and masked, presumably begging them not to cross the road and join the rally. We crossed over and joined the small group. All were calm but clearly watchful. There were around ten police vans and a few officers dotted around. 

We joined in the call and response:

1… we are the people

2… we won’t be silenced 

3… stop the nazis NOW NOW NOW NOW. 

‘This is what community looks like’

‘Our streets, our streets …’

The throng grew steadily over the next hour or so, and must’ve numbered around 200 by the time we left at about 8pm.

No show from the Islamophobic racists!

Preston – Michael Lavalette

Over two hundred people came out to protect an immigration centre in Preston. Called at short notice, the protest was lively and resilient. Though small by comparison with other protests on the night, it has been widely covered in the local media and has clearly boosted confidence and changed the mood in the town.

This Saturday, there will be a large festival of anti-fascism and antiracism in the town centre – and an opportunity for the left to direct our strategy after the harrowing events of the last week.