Last Saturday, Stephen Christopher Yaxley-Lennon, better known as Tommy Robinson, led a rally of up to 150,000 protesters, mostly draped in Union Jack or England flags, through central London as part of a ‘Unite the Kingdom’ demonstration.
The march followed a summer of anti-migrant protests, fuelled by the growing far-right rhetoric being thrown around by British politicians. Make no mistake; this is a wake-up call.
It's easy to feel at a loss for what to do, how to fight this? Feeling afraid and anxious is completely understandable, but we're not helpless. There is so much to be done to take care of yourself, your community and combat the growing tide of racism and xenophobia in the UK right now.
Bad faith actors are at it again.
Here's how we can fight back against the far-right:
It is incredibly important to stay on top of things and educate ourselves about current affairs, as well as the meanings of symbols, slogans and other political jargon that you may not initially understand. Make sure the news and information you are receiving comes from verifiable sources. The world feels scary enough without seeing a headline that turns out to be fake news.
If you are able, consider joining a march or protest! It is always safer to go with friends or a community group. Stand Up To Racism UK regularly promotes protests happening around the country. Having been to a few over the years myself, especially as a Black woman, it's safer to go in a group, and these marches are often a great place to meet like-minded people and find out what else is going on in your local community and how you can help. If you're going on your own, consider messaging the organisers beforehand and letting your friends know where you are going.
Read as much as you can! Of course, we have our first-hand experiences, but I find that an academic perspective is just as important for giving us all the context that we may be unaware of. Books like Brit(ish) by Afua Hirsch can give context to the identity crisis many of us can feel as people of colour. Biased by Dr Jennifer Eberhart is another book that uncovers bias at every level of society and how to address it.
Enemy Feminisms by Sophie Lewis is a great book that looks at the history and modern movements of white women and their role in promoting far-right rhetoric and the appropriation of feminism against marginalised people. Hood Feminism by Mikki Kendall is another amazing book about the role of black and brown women in liberation movements. If you also want to understand nationalism, George Orwell's Notes on Nationalism remains one of the most defining texts in political literature for a reason, as he dissects in a very accessible way why nationalism is not patriotic at all.
If you are a new university student starting this month or in October, consider joining your university’s society for people of colour. As someone who went to a very white university, the society for people of colour was a lifesaver because you had a group of people who understood what you may be going through when dealing with feelings of isolation and fear.
It feels like every year or so, there’s a new round of cries to “ban the burka!”
Taking care of yourself is incredibly important. The updates on the news and social media are helpful, but can further instil feelings of hopelessness. You are not a bad activist if you need to log off; you need to take care of yourself before you can take care of your community.
Furthermore, for people of colour, self-care in these times is especially important. A recent study found there was a direct relationship between poor mental health and experiences of racial discrimination.
I know myself the toll of reporting and experiencing constant microaggressions can take, and I have learned that taking a few hours or days away from the screens and work can help. Sometimes, just taking an afternoon, going for a wander with an iced coffee, going to the cinema or meeting with a friend is the best remedy. Or staying at home, switching from the news to an old TV show or film you enjoy. None of us should feel guilty for needing to take a moment or two.
In these times, you can follow this guide and more. Call out racism when and where you see it. Challenge it when you can. More than ever, you have a duty to stand up for marginalised people as nationalism and xenophobia spread through the nation. Check in on your Black and brown friends and community around you.
If 2020 was the year you needed to listen, 2025 is the year you need to actually do something.
What do you do when a friend is racist? Do you turn a blind eye, tell them how you feel or cut them out of your life?
