Faced with racist and fascist attacks

Build union and youth anti-fascist committees to defeat the fascists

Mobilise union rank and file

From the anti-fascist movement in Britain and northern Ireland

Fascists having won on 3rd August in some other cities places on  Telegram messaging app and circulated widely on social media by the far right, of asylum advice and support centres and immigration lawyers’ offices, in towns and cities across the UK targeted for attack and arson. The date time specified, Wednesday 7 August 8 p.m. Fearing a repeat of the racist violence and rioting that the country experienced in the past week, offices and shops were boarded up and closed, as theatre performances were cancelled in fear of being caught in the mayhem.

Despite calls from the government and police to stay away, many thousands of anti-fascists and anti-racists mobilised from across different sections of their local communities, including trade unions, to stand together and defend the people and the buildings targeted. In a powerful show of unity against racism and Islamophobia thousands mobilised in  Brighton, Bristol, Birmingham,  Liverpool, London the fascists were defeated and if any did turn up, they were an insignificant presence. 

On Saturday 3 August, across the country the police failed to defend anti-fascists and the towns and cities being rampaged by the far right and fascists, who looted, burnt destroyed everything in their path, attacked black and brown people and terrorised communities. It was this failure that forced community members, anti-fascists and trade unionists to begin to organise their own self defence. Thousands of people gathered in force: Bristol 7000, Walthamstow, London 7000, Finchley, London 3000, Liverpool 1500, Sheffield 1500, Brighton 2000, Manchester 500 – carrying home-made reading ‘No to racism,’ ‘Refugees welcome,’ ’Nans against nazis,’ and many more asserting community solidarity and hatred against racism and support for immigrants, alongside trade unionists who brought banners from RMT, FBU, Unite, PCS, Unison and UCU. Inside the mass defence were many 100s of trade unionist across the country.

Unions and youth take the lead build the fight including self-defence committees

Workers and youth can advance in defeating fascist as they did on 7 August, and as they have in the struggle for Palestine. Workers must demand the trade unions lead the fight against the acute problem of unemployment, poverty, low pay, precarious work, poor housing, welfare and health service cuts – which affect a multicultural working class.

Workers must demand the trade unions build their fight against fascists by organising with our youth and forming anti-fascist committees and establishing a firm worker and youth alliance. The union leaderships must organise the anti-fascist committees for self-defence and take these demands to the rank and file and mobilise. 

The union and youth led anti-fascist committees must seek training for the masses and among the vanguard in boxing and jujitsu academies and seek equipment for basic defence such as shields, at the same time finding specialists to train a front line. 

We need trade unions, organising from the base, to build and lead demonstrations and movements, in the regions and nationally, to invite all who are fighting racism and fascism, for Palestine, for real action on the climate, for socialist feminism, for LGBTQ+ rights and demand an end to austerity and restoration of all cuts.

Martin Ralph - UCU Liverpool

----------

here a number of press releases and statements issued by British trade unions in response to the racist and fascist attacks currently taking place.

Fire Brigades Union condemns far right campaign of racist violence and intimidation

UCU statement on fascist violence

PCS National Black Members' Committee statement on Far Right protests

PCS anti-racist, anti fascist (ARAF) campaign against the far-right

Mick Lynch (RMT): Trade unions need to do more to quell anti-immigrant protests