LOCAL people joined anti-fascist campaigners yesterday to send packing a bunch of neonazis demonstrating against Afghan refugees being housed in a south Wales village.

Neonazi group Patriotic Alternative had organised a protest against a Westminster government-organised scheme bringing Afghan people who had worked with British forces and their families into the country.

Hundreds of people turned out to oppose and sent scurrying the small number of fascists who turned up outside the gate of RAF St Athan, where Afghan families are being temporarily housed.

The former interpreters and other workers are being helped to settle in Britain because their work with British forces meant they had become targets of the Taliban.

Welsh chair of the Communist Party of Britain Laurette Picand said: “For the second time in just over a year the Patriotic Alternative, one of Britain’s fascist organisations, has failed miserably to stir up anti-refugee prejudice and create division within the local community. 

“In a political climate where xenophobia is state policy, it is important to maintain the principles of anti-fascism, anti-racism and respect and dignity for all.”

Barry Palestine Solidarity Campaign’s Sheree Conibear White said: “It is as important to stand up for the rights of all refugees as it is Palestinians. We need to stop funding arms and instead spend that money to help people who need our support.”

Wales TUC president-elect Sian Gale said: The Welsh labour movement has a long and proud tradition of combating racism, including around 200 Welshmen who joined the anti-fascist International Brigade during the Spanish Civil War.

“I participated in the anti-racist demo in St Athan and like other trade unionists I am deeply concerned about the rise of the far right and fascism in Wales and around the world.” 

The National Education Union’s Welsh executive member Maireed Canavan said her union is proudly anti-racist. She said: “It is not those arriving on our shores in small boats that working people should be worried about: it is those who arrive in private jets.

“One of our NEU members, Kate Pearce, travelled here today from Llanelli and spoke about how her community has become radicalised in the ongoing struggle against the far right which culminated in [opposition to] a hate camp outside the Stradey Park Hotel.”