International Conference Against Racism and Fascism

The mood at the Stand Up To Racism-hosted International Conference Against Racism and Fascism on Saturday 19th October was serious.

Every workshop and plenary session highlighted the growing threat from the far right, especially in Europe, the USA, India and Brazil; and the victories in defeating them and some of the racist policies of the Tory government.

Activists from across Europe and beyond met to discuss the urgent need to organise to defeat far right organisations internationally. Within the UK, the workshop on unity against hate crime was particularly good. Speakers from GR8 Power, the Gypsy and Roma traveller group, Jewish Socialist Group, Polish Rainbow in the UK, Student Stand Up to Racism and Stand Up To Racism made for an electric session, with some fantastic examples of unity across groups which are targeted for hate crime.

Quote of the session: "Human rights aren't like cake - you don't get less if I get more." Jarek Kubiak

The first plenary was led off by Gary Younge, who discussed the effect of the populist right in power in the US, Brazil and India. Quote of the session: "These people are symptoms of a system that cannot deliver, but can demonise."

We also heard from a wide range of activists. Weyman Bennett's caution that we must distinguish clearly between the populist right and the fascists they give cover and encouragement too was well taken.

The second workshop on Solidarity Forever: Refugees Welcome Here had a range of excellent speakers, but what sticks in my mind most is Maurice Wren from the Refugee Council speaking about some successes - particularly in the likely end of detention for asylum seekers. Miguel Roldan could not attend but sent a video in which he described the despicable situation of being prosecuted for saving the lives of migrants trying to cross the Mediterranean in boats that are unfit for purpose.

The final plenary session was on the need to fight racism in the upcoming general election. With Johnson's notorious record on this issue - the explicit anti-immigration stance from the Queen's Speech and his past comments about 'picaninny smiles' and 'letterboxes' coming to mind, it is generally agreed that the Tories will use racism in a big way during the election campaign.

Unsurprisingly perhaps there was a big call for a Labour win, with the Labour Party now under the leadership of a long-time anti-racist activist and with Diane Abbot as a senior figure in the Party, there was a commitment from many Labour figures speaking from the platform to fight an anti-racist general election. Trades unionists speaking from the platform spoke about a range of approaches. The CWU has recently ended a strike which began with a walkout by members in Liverpool in defence of a Muslim colleague who had been a victim of racist abuse from a manager. This is the kind of action that will have a real impact in workplaces, especially if it is supported by union leaders. Kevin Courtney from the NEU spoke about the need to fight but also our history of victory against the forces of the far right from the NF to Tommy Robinson.

Diane Abbot got a standing ovation just by entering the building and she spoke well about the need to fight racism and fascism in the general election.