
LEFT MPs Zarah Sultana and Diane Abbott and senior trade unionists will lead thousands of counterprotesters marching against Tommy Robinson’s “far-right festival of hate” in London on Saturday.
A thousand people attended an online event to launch the Women Against the Far Right campaign on Thursday night, in the run-up to the march organised by Stand Up To Racism, with hundreds from the campaign set to join the march.
Ms Abbott, who is currently suspended from the Labour Party, said: “The far right are a menace to the whole of society.
“Their first targets, asylum-seekers and Muslims, are broadening to all migrants, black people and on to trade unionists, all religious minorities and anti-racists. They must be stopped.”
Ms Sultana said: “The far right are not welcome on our streets. We see through their lies.
“Their politics of hate and division make our communities weaker and women less safe.
“That’s why thousands of us are marching on Saturday — to show that fascists will be met with resistance wherever they spread their poison.”
The protest called by the far-right agitator Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, who goes by the name of Tommy Robinson, will be addressed by figures from the international far right, including Steve Bannon, a former aide to Donald Trump, and British online hatemonger Katie Hopkins.
Stand Up To Racism co-convener Sabby Dhalu said: “When the far right mobilise, racist attacks follow. Stand Up To Racism, with the support of the TUC, affiliated trade unions and others, will be countering this in our thousands and saying no to racism and hatred.”
The group’s national organiser, Samira Ali, added: “It’s the far right who are the threat to women — the domestic abusers, sexists and thugs in their midst.”