ANTI-FASCISTS across Britain took a stand against far-right groups over the weekend by organising counter demonstrations. 

Trade unionists, anti-racist campaigners, refugees and local residents converged today for an STUC rally outside Muthu Glasgow River Hotel, which has been picketed in recent months by fascist groups Patriotic Alternative and Homeland.

Attending the anti-racist demonstration was ex-Scottish Labour leader Richard Leonard, who told the Morning Star: “I’m here to stand in support of the refugees here.

“This is a demonstration by the whole labour and trade union movement — we are opposed to racism and refugees are welcome here.”

STUC general secretary Roz Foyer paid tribute to the local solidarity campaign and told the crowd that the far right are “trying to sow the seeds of hatred in our communities.

“They want us to blame each other, but the enemies of our class don’t arrive in small dinghies, they arrive in private jets and super yachts.

“From Erskine to Elgin, or anywhere else in Scotland, we will come together and support those who are standing against fascism and racism.”

On Saturday, Cardiff’s Stand Up to Racism (SUTR) branch organised a rally outside the city hall after far-right groups had publicised a protest against so-caled 15-minute cities — a movement which is calling for basic amenities to be within a quarter of an hour’s walk or cycle from any point in an urban area.

One speaker, Edwin Savage, stressed it was important to oppose the fascists on the streets and also win the battle of ideas and ideology.

He said: “Every time the fascists organise a demonstration we have to oppose them on the streets and defend our communities.

“But playing whack-a-mole every time the far right organise events is not enough — we have to persuade people that there is a better way to transform society that builds unity and support.”

And Young Communist League member Sabina Price explained she had joined the counter-demonstration to “ensure that these racist groups know that wherever they try to organise they will be opposed.”

In England, North East Front Line Patriots had planned to target a Newcastle city centre hotel which houses refugees, but the fascist group cancelled its demo planned for Saturday after a counter protest by North East Against Racism was called. 

About 300 people attended the fightback, with many carrying placards and banners declaring “drown fascists in a sea of resistance” and “fight Britain’s racist immigration laws — no immigration prisons! No deportations!”