After protests in Falkirk, Peterhead, Aberdeen and Perth join the emergency meeting on how we stop Reform, Robinson and the Far Right
Speakers TBA
A nearly 1000-strong racist "protest" outside a hotel housing refugees and asylum seekers is a dangerous wake-up call in Scotland. A peaceful counter protest, called by the Falkirk TUC, Stand Up to Racism Scotland and a coalition of local anti-racists, stood strong to defend the hotel and those inside it but were outnumbered 4-to-1. The mob, with known fascist organisors like Simon Crane from Homeland Party, Richard McFarlane from Patriotic Alternative and people wearing Britain First t-shirts, quickly descended into threats of sexual violence against female anti-racists, threats of violence, chants of support for neo-Nazi 'Tommy Robinson' and "there ain't no Black in Union Jack", a flag proudly displayed saying 'Kill 'em all' and, chillingly, lit flares and aerosol cans being thrown at the hotel. We don't want to imagine the horrors that would have happened had the counter protest not been called.
This is not happening in an echo-chamber. The demonstration in Falkirk follows a dangerous line of growing far right demonstrations across Scotland, 300 in Peterhead, 200 in Aberdeen and 100 in Perth. Showing that Scotland is not immune to racism and the far right and that riots and attacks on hotels cannot be reduced to a 'problem down south'.
All this under the environment that seeing demonstration either led, or supported by, 'Tommy Robinson' and the racist, far-right Reform UK party, according to some polls, predicted to win anywhere from 10-15 MSP seats in the Scottish Elections next year. This is the same party that sent a councillor to speak in Falkirk and share a stage with known fascists.
Join the emergency online meeting to be a part of building a mass anti-racist movement, made up of trade unions, LGBT+, community and faith groups and refugee rights organisations that can span across all of Scotland, from our workplaces to our campuses, from Peterhead to Perth that can stop the rise of the far right on our streets, stop Reform UK from getting a foothold in Holyrood and show that Scotland is anti-racist, welcomes refugees and can (and will!) stop this dangerous rise of the far right.
Book your free ticket now or get a solidarity ticket of £5 to help fund the anti-racist movement!
