Firefighters have joined thousands of anti-racist protesters in taking to the streets in opposition to far-right rioting this August.
After three young children were killed in a horrific stabbing attack on 29 July in Southport, far-right networks used the tragic deaths to launch a series of racist attacks.
Places of worship, hotels housing migrants, and support centres for asylum seekers were targeted. People of colour were attacked on the street, mosques vandalised, and the businesses and homes of ethnic minorities and migrants have been vandalised.
On Wednesday 8 August, local communities mobilised against far-right plans to target immigration support centres across the UK.
Anti-racist demonstrators gathered in towns and cities including Belfast, Birmingham, Cardiff, Liverpool, Southend and Glasgow. 10,000 anti-racists filled the streets outside Walthamstow station in London. Far-right activists abandoned their plans or were overwhelmingly outnumbered.
Trade unionists have joined forces with anti-racism campaigners, civil society organisations and local community networks.
Stand Up to Racism called a national day of protest on Saturday 10 August, with tens of thousands turning out. 5,000 people massed outside one of Reform UK’s offices, to protest Nigel Farage’s divisive rhetoric in recent weeks.
Firefighters were on the frontline of responding to the rioting. In Liverpool, a fire appliance had a window smashed, and far-right arsonists burning down a library and food bank attempted to block firefighters.
In Tamworth and Rotherham, rioters set fire to hotels housing asylum seekers, trapping people inside by blocking exits, and daubed the walls with racist graffiti.
The FBU leadership wrote to union brigade secretaries asking them to reach out to local mosques, migrant groups and civil society organisations to offer support and build links.
The FBU issued a statement condemning the violence. Matt Wrack, FBU general secretary, said: “Firefighters were among the first to respond to the appalling stabbings in Southport last week. The FBU sends its thoughts and condolences to all those affected. “
It is clear that the organised far right has used these tragic events to mount a deliberate campaign of racist violence and intimidation. This situation has been decades in the making. Mainstream politicians and media outlets have stoked anti-migrant hate and Islamophobia while driving down the living standards of most people.
“The FBU stands in solidarity with those facing racism, violence and intimidation, and we stand for the unity of all workers against a cynical divide-and-rule agenda.
“The trade union movement has a proud history of mobilising against the far right, and it must continue to do so.”
