On 17 April 1999, a Saturday afternoon, a nail bomb tore through a busy market area in the centre of Brixton, south London. It was to herald the start of a deadly neo-Nazi terror campaign, and a desperate hunt for those responsible in which Searchlight was to play an important part. The bomb was a […]
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100 years since the birth of fascism
In a passionate letter, Alfio Bernabei argues that Italy’s president should mark the anniversary of Mussolini’s rise with an apology – and stand against the fascist resurgence Dear President Sergio Mattarella, Heads of state are often expected to respond to important anniversaries marking crucial episodes in the history of the countries they represent. They […]
Tommy Robinson vs the media – and the ‘great replacement’ theory that links him to Christchurch
This article, by Tash Shifrin, first appeared on Dream Deferred on 21 March 2019. As “Tommy Robinson” released his Panodrama video in front of up to 4,000 supporters in Salford on Saturday 23 February, he was already expecting the ban from Facebook that followed two days later and urging his supporters to subscribe to his […]
This Friday, central London, oppose Tommy Robinson & UKIP: don’t let the racists divide us
UKIP has called a “Make Brexit happen” rally this Friday 29 March in Whitehall. The fascist “Tommy Robinson” (real name Stephen Yaxley-Lennon) will be speaking. Stand Up To Racism and Unite Against Fascism have called a counter demonstration at 14.00 – details here.
Cambridge dons revolt over ‘racist’ fellow’s role
More than 200 academics have signed a letter accusing a controversial scholar of “racist pseudoscience” after he was appointed to a fellowship at Cambridge University, The Times reported on 7 December 2018. Noah Carl is a social scientist who has spoken at a eugenics conference and has said that hostility to immigrant groups draws on […]
Unite against Tommy Robinson’s hate march
Stand Up To Racism calls upon anti-fascists to oppose Tommy Robinson’s and Gerard Batten’s ‘Brexit crisis’ demonstration under the slogan ‘Don’t let the far right hijack May’s crisis. No to racism and fascism.’ Fascist ‘Tommy Robinson’, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, and his thuggish supporters will take to the streets of London on Sunday 9 […]
Holocaust denial industry loses one of its chief proponents
A long planned trip to the UK by one of the world’s leading Holocaust deniers ended in chaos. And the very next day he popped his jackboots. Robert Faurisson’s extreme-right hosts had put in place a massive security effort for his visit to Shepperton, the town where he was born to a French father and […]
Analysis: the ‘Free Tommy’ demo and a year of far right protests (with table and video)
This article by Martin Smith and Tash Shifrin first appeared on Dream Deferred on 11 June 2018. Thousands of protestors turned out in Whitehall, central London, on Saturday 14 July for the latest “Free Tommy Robinson” demo – and the latest in just over a year of far right racist street protests, which we have listed […]
Trade union movement and Labour Party gear up against Tommy Robinson’s fascist rally on Saturday
The fight against the emerging Islamophobic street movement picked up pace this week, Unite Against Fascism writes. Activists from across the trade unions and Labour Party have been mobilising for the counter-demonstration to the next Free Tommy Robinson rally in Whitehall this Saturday. Initiated by Stand Up To Racism and Unite Against Fascism, it is […]
Unite against Tommy Robinson’s fascists – London 14 July
On 14 July anti-racists from across the UK will gather in London to oppose the supporters of Tommy Robinson, Stand Up To Racism writes. Find the Facebook event here. The last time Tommy’s supporters came out they rioted through central London attacking whoever was in their way. Their platform hosted notorious racists and fascists with […]
Leeds anti-racists step up fightback as Robinson supporters plan march
Activists from Unite Against Fascism and Leeds Stand Up To Racism have been organising against far-right attempts to march in their multicultural city on Saturday 7 July, UAF writes. Here anti-racists report on how they’ve been building the fightback against supporters of fascist Tommy Robinson. “Following Tommy Robinson’s arrest and jailing in Leeds for contempt of […]
Matteo Salvini and the dirt of Italy
This article has been contributed by Searchlight’s Italian correspondence Alfio Bernabei In this 2009 video, Matteo Salvini, Italy’s Home Secretary and Deputy Prime Minister, sings about the dirty smell (puzza) produced by people so disgusting that even animals run away from them. Surrounded by his enthusiastic fans, who hail him: ‘Matteo is the group leader, […]
LGBT rights campaigner arrested in Moscow
LGBT+ and human rights campaigner Peter Tatchell has been arrested during a one-man protest against Russia’s mistreatment of LGBT+ people, as the 2018 FIFA World Cup kicks off in Moscow. Mr Tatchell was holding a banner supporting gay men who have been violently targeted in a purge in Chechnya while standing next to the statue of […]
Analysis: behind the ‘Free Tommy’ demo – what’s going on in the new far right?
This article by Martin Smith and Tash Shifrin first appeared on Dream Deferred on 11 June 2018. The far right in Britain has mobilised its biggest ever demonstration. Around 15,000 people joined the “Free Tommy Robinson” demo in Whitehall, central London on Saturday 9 June. We look here at what the march means in the context […]
Scarborough Spa cancels far right ‘mouthpiece’
Scarborough Spa’s management has cancelled the Sargon of Akkad (Carl Benjamin) show ‘This week in stupid’ following a campaign by Scarborough Stand up to Racism (SUTR), supported by Labour and Green Party councillors and members, trade unionists and other anti-racists. Benjamin, who had been due to appear at the venue on 16 June, claims to […]
A sudden escalation: fascists and far right mobilise in London, Leeds and Manchester in a week
This article, by Martin Smith and Tash Shifrin, first appeared on Dream Deferred on 7 June 2018. A sudden escalation in far right and fascist street mobilisations has taken place in Britain over the space of just seven days. Snap demonstrations called at 24-hours notice and each turning out several hundred protestors took place in Whitehall, […]
Scarborough Spa urged to cancel far right ‘mouthpiece’
Stand up to Racism (SUTR) Scarborough has urged Sheffield International Venues, the subsidiary of Labour-controlled Sheffield City Council that manages Scarborough Spa, to cancel the ‘Sargon of Akkad’ (Carl Benjamin) show scheduled for 16 June. Using his stage name, Benjamin recently shared a platform with incarcerated former English Defence League leader Tommy Robinson (real name […]
Oppose far-right march for Tommy Robinson in London
Supporters of fascist and English Defence League founder Tommy Robinson, have said they will march in London on Saturday 9 June. Robinson and his supporters have a history of racism and Islamophobia, and have many links to fascist organisations. Anti-fascists have issued a national call for a counter demonstration which will gather at 2pm in […]
Scuffles break out after YouTube star is found guilty of denying Holocaust
Scuffles broke out outside a court where a YouTube star who denied the Holocaust in her pop songs was convicted of creating ‘grossly offensive’ material, Martine Berg Olsen wrote in Metro on 25 May. Alison Chabloz, 53, who mocked Holocaust survivors and described Auschwitz as a ‘theme park’, is due to be sentenced on 14 June for making […]
