CARDIFF anti-racist campaigners have called for mass support to stand up to a planned fascist protest on Saturday outside the city hall at noon.

Cardiff Stand Up to Racism has issued a warning that far-right groups and neonazis are planning a demonstration about the issue of 15 Minute Cities, an environmental initiative where everything a person needs — work, shopping, education, healthcare and leisure — should be within a 15-minute walk from any point. 

A similar far-right event in Swansea about the issue two weeks ago included Students Against Tyranny and Voice of Wales.

The anti-racism campaigners claimed these groups had tried to intimidate council workers, harassed refugees, and targeted anti-racist campaigners and politicians with online and physical intimidation.

Cardiff Stand Up To Racism’s Ruth Brown said: “We know from a similar event in Oxford that these groups use such protests to try to spread race hate and increase their influence.

“Both Students Against Tyranny and Voice of Wales are now promoting the event in Cardiff, and it is no accident that many of the key ideologues against 15 Minute Cities hold anti-semitic views and promote extreme conspiracy theories.

“This is at a time when the scapegoating of refugees and other minority groups is being popularised by the Westminster government.”

The anti-racist group pointed to the successful counter-demonstration in March in the south Wales town of Llantwit Major.

“Locals and anti-racists massively outnumbered the fascists and the Nazi ‘master race’ made a quick retreat to the train station,” Ms Brown said.

“We call on the people of Cardiff to show our own unity and determination in opposing the fascists and we invite all those who oppose such hatred to join us.”