By Mame Sarr
Islington community members met at Finsbury Park mosque last Friday to discuss the rise of racism and fascism. The meeting took place prior to this Saturday’s big march, “Stand Up to Racism”, which will take place in Park Lane, London and is organised by Unison, the public service union.
A panel, formed by Councillor Claudia Webbe and many representatives of the multicultural community, got together to share thoughts about the current situation in London.
There has been an increase of racism and fascism attacks according to Cllr Webb. “The rise across Europe of racism and fascism has already moved from the partakes of the gutter to the corridors of power,” she told the audience.
The number of racist incidents in universities across the UK has surged by more than 60 per cent in the last two years according the Independent. Racism is happening every day on campuses across the UK, the National Union of Students (NUS) say, but often students do not tell their university as they fear they will not be taken seriously.
A lack of effort from the state to sanction racism was highlighted during this meeting. Webbe said the state should create legislation or policies that will punish those acts.
One of the biggest ways racism and fascism spreads is through mainstream media, according to the panel.
On the 16th of March, anti-racist and anti-fascist groups across the world will march in opposition to the far-right and against the politics of hate. For further information, visit #standuptoracism.
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