ANTI-racists from across Essex are angered to learn that the racist and fascist Tommy Robinson (whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon) plans to come to Braintree on Saturday 31st January. He is coming for only one purpose, to whip up hatred and division in the local community.
A spokesperson said: “Robinson and his allies have been trying to exploit the issues of migrant hotels and camps to win people to their vile extremist ideas. Under the guise of concerns about safety for women and children, they peddle their agenda of scapegoating people from other countries and other cultures. Their activities have brought their brand of thuggery and fear onto the streets of Essex towns and villages over the last few months.Entertainment guide Harlow
Robinson is a former member of the fascist British National Party and the founder of the violent organisation the English Defence League, which targeted trade union demonstrations, socialist and anti-cuts meetings as well as Muslims. He is also a convicted criminal who was convicted in April 2005 for assault occasioning actual bodily harm. He had assaulted an off-duty woman police officer who had intervened to stop a domestic confrontation between him and his partner.
“In November 2013 he was convicted of mortgage fraud and sentenced in 2014 to 18 months imprisonment”.
Countywide Response
Individuals and representatives from anti racist groups across Essex met to discuss how to respond. The meeting agreed to co-ordinate anti-racist activities across the county to help different areas challenge the far right when they raise their heads. There are plans for a countywide ‘Unity’ demonstration in the near future to make the voices of the anti- racist majority loud and clear.
Essex groups will also be supporting the national demonstration in London against the threat from far-right politics in London on Saturday 28th March, organised by the ‘Together Against the Far Right’ alliance. Coaches are already being laid on from across Essex.
Together Against the Far Right’ brings together a wide range of people and organisations, from celebrity endorsements to trade unions and campaigns including Stand Up to Racism and Amnesty International.
A spokesperson for the Essex anti-racist groups said: “We were horrified to learn that a character like Robinson wants to make trouble in Braintree this weekend. Local people need to be aware of what his agenda is and it has nothing to do with safety for anyone. We are all less safe if we don’t counter the lies and distortions of the far right.
“We can’t oppose every ‘pop up’ demo Robinson supports, but we can and will oppose the far right wherever possible. We intend to redouble our efforts to build unity and solidarity. We will counter the scapegoating and scaremongering propaganda that is being spread about migrants and asylum seekers, whether it is the outright racism of Robinson or the ‘dog whistle’ policies from Reform.
We will be working in our communities to get that message across and to mobilise anti-racists across Essex.”
Chelmsford anti racist group CHARAMH (Chelmsford Against Racism and Ant-Muslim Hatred) commented:
“Despite the rise of anti-immigrant rhetoric put forward in the media the people of Chelmsford have continually voiced support for a diverse and inclusive city.
We believe the vocal minority do not represent who we are as a community and we reject Tommy Robinson and his attempts to further stoke division and hatred.”
A spokesperson for Stand Up To Racism said: “The media like to portray Essex as a racist place but we believe the majority of people don’t want the far right in their communities.
“We are committed to countering the likes of Robinson and to exposing his vicious politics as well as challenging the mainstream politicians who shamefully stoke the fires of racism and scapegoating of migrants.
“We’re organising to get people to the ‘Together against the far right’ demo in London on 28th March and we’ve been active in opposing the far right in Epping and many other towns. We’ve always said that we need unity and solidarity to solve the problems we all face, not division. Migrants should be welcomed, not scapegoated. ”
Braintree-based group ‘Mid Essex For Everyone’ stated: “The far right presents themselves as “fighting for their country,” but this is a deceptive facade that serves to justify Islamophobia and anti-immigration narratives, further marginalising individuals of different ethnic and religious backgrounds while also intimidating or isolating vulnerable groups seeking refuge.
Essex will not be divided, and we strongly oppose the far right and Tommy Robinson/Stephen Christopher Yaxley-Lennon.
Essex is to be a place of tolerance, community cohesion and acceptance of everyone of all backgrounds.
The far right is another evil vessel to manipulate the people of Essex and cause division and animosity. ”
Colchester Unite Against Racism said: The people of Colchester have already shown we reject the hateful politics of Tommy Robinson and his various imitators twice in the past few months – first
massively outnumbering a tiny far right demo, and then turning out in huge numbers again for a refugees welcome march just a couple of weeks later.
“He has no answers for the problems facing people in our community beyond sowing hatred and division, and we don’t want him in our county.
What a one sided peice of bias reporting this article is. At least have a balanced report, whatever ones views.
I bet this reply don’t get published.