WE are facing horrific levels of racism and rising fascism globally. From the increase in reported — and unreported — hate crime post-Brexit to Donald Trump’s racist policies in the US, Lega Nord politicians in Italy wanting to make support centres for refugees unlawful to racist policies such as the Immigration Act here in Britain.  

Austerity has fuelled racism while politicians and pundits seek to scapegoat migrant communities. We have seen the “no dogs, no blacks, no Irish” signs replaced with “Go-home” vans and the National Front replaced by new far-right groups on our streets.

All of these actions and policies have combined to create the conditions that allow racism and fascism to thrive and have emboldened those who hold racist views to express them openly and to target those who stand for equality, justice and socialism.