Protest in Whitechapel on 25 October
by Chris Newby, Tower Hamlets Socialist Party
In an extreme provocation, Nick Tenconi, leader of the now far-right UK Independence Party (Ukip), has called a protest in Whitechapel on Saturday 25 October.
This intrusion on the East London borough of Tower Hamlets, part of Ukip’s “mass deportations tour”, is a blatant attempt to whip up racism and division in an area with a big Muslim population. It’s vital this is met by the biggest possible counterprotest.
It comes after months of anti-migrant protests outside a local hotel housing asylum seekers in the Isle of Dogs — also met by counterprotests, including local trade unionists.
Most recently, the ‘Pink Ladies’ — one of the right-wing groups apparently behind the Isle of Dogs protests — protested outside Tower Hamlets Town Hall on 8 October. The council was hearing a motion condemning anti-migrant protests.
Again, this was met by a counterprotest, outnumbering the Pink Ladies — and this time led by council workers defending their workplace, through the local branch of their union, Unison. Socialist Party and Socialist Students members took part.
There’s a lot of anger in the area at Ukip’s plan, and will likely be a big turnout to oppose it by the local community. The Socialist Party is playing our part to make the counterprotest as big as possible.
To build the most effective campaign against racism, it’s vital that trade unions take the lead. 6.5 million workers are organised in the unions, of all different backgrounds, and with the power to bring society to a halt.
That power is crucial to effective campaigning against racism – and the conditions it breeds in. It needs to challenge austerity with clear demands that can unite the working-class community – such as jobs, homes and services for all, not racism.
That makes the recent initiative by activists in Tower Hamlets Unison especially important. They have set up a campaign group based among members of multiple unions to fight racism and the far right – on the day itself, and through community campaigning afterwards.
Tower Hamlets Socialist Party welcomes this and is participating fully. We suggested — and the trade union group agreed — demands to challenge austerity alongside racism, and for the unions to assert control over stewarding the counterprotest.
There is a proud tradition in Tower Hamlets of mass struggles led by socialists and trade unionists defeating fascists and the far right. The Battle of Cable Street in 1936 beat back the British Union of Fascists. The British National Party’s street presence and first elected councillor were ousted in the 1990s. The English Defence League was stopped from marching in the 2010s.
The Socialist Party will continue building that tradition alongside other trade unionists and workers. And, as part of the struggle against racism today, a big, working-class, anti-austerity challenge is vital in next May’s council elections.