Thousands of people have turned out for the March Against Racism in London today in a show of unity against the rise in racism, Islamophobia and anti-Semitism and in support of refugee and migrant rights in the face of recent national and global events.
Amid an atmosphere of “defiance and unity”, protesters arrived at Portland Place in Central London at around midday holding banners adorning messages including “Hands off EU workers”, “Refugees and migrants welcome here” and “Stand up to Trump”.
The march, organised by UK campaign group Stand Up to Racism, is part of a series of demonstrations taking place across Europe to mark global event United Nations International Anti-Racism Day, with cities such as Berlin, Vienna and Athens, as well as UK cities Cardiff and Glasgow, also taking part.
The mass demo in the capital has taken place every year since 2012, but organisers say today is set to be the largest to date, due to a number of national and global events over the past year that have made it “more important than ever” for anti-racists to unite.
Speaking to The Independent from Portland Place before the crowds set off for Parliament Square, Zakariya Cochrane, assistant convener for Stand Up to Racism, said: “It’s the fourth year that we’ve held this demonstration now for UN anti-racism day, but we think this year is more important than ever.
“We’ve had the election of Donald Trump, with his Muslim ban and the wall with Mexico. We’ve had the EU referendum, where we’ve seen the highest increase in reported hate crime in the country, showing that the scapegoating of migrants gave confidence to racists.
“Just this week, the ruling of the Government winning the victory over the Lords on EU nationals means that our Government are prepared to use EU nationals as bargaining chips in the Brexit negotiations. There was also the defeat on Dubs.
“So this year is really about anti-racists uniting and going on the defensive on all the issues: child refugees, defending migrants and refugees, the divisive policies of Donald Trump and Theresa May."
Speakers scheduled to take to the stage during the event include Labour MP David Lammy, MEP Claude Moraes, Shadow Attorney General Shami Chakrabarti and TUC General Secretary Frances O'Grady, as well as many other leading faith, community and trade union figures.
Protesters were welcomed with music played from newly launched campaign Love Music Hate Racism, which brought a carnival float for artists and DJs to perform on during the course of the event.
Just before 2pm the crowd was said to be "absolutely huge", stretching currently stretching down Regent Street and back past the BBC offices, where the demonstration began.
It comes a day after a report by the Trade Union Congress (TUC) found that one in three black and minority ethnic (BAME) Britons have been racially abused since the EU referendum, with protestors concerned that hate crimes could be set to increase again following the triggering of Article 50.
Ahead of the march Unite The Union National Officer for Equalities, Harish Patel, said: “In light of research by the TUC showing one in three black, Asian and minority ethnic people experienced or witnessed racist abuse following the EU referendum, tomorrow's March Against Racism is a timely opportunity to unite against this scourge of racism.
“Unite the Union is proud to be supporting tomorrow's event marking UN Anti-Racism Day. It is incumbent upon trade unions to challenge racism - an injury that one is an injury to all.”
Making reference to the recent rejection by Dutch voters of a far-right leadership candidate, Claude Moraes MEP said prior to the march: “The people of The Netherlands rejected the racism and Islamophobia of Geert Wilders.
“I congratulate them and Civil Society for all their work to push back against the far right and keep communities together — but there is still a huge amount of work to go to fight populism and the far right in the EU.”
