Far Right Riots in Southport, England

Following the horrific attack in Southport, England, far right riots have unfolded on the streets of several cities

Here we publish the text of a leaflet distributed by Socialist Alternative members, who are participating in urgent anti-racist protests in response.

Millions have been shaken by the scenes in Southport. First, the unspeakable murder of three children during a dance class in broad daylight. Then, after the spreading of fake news on social media, a crowd of racists from outside descended on the community to throw bricks, bins and fire bombs at a local mosque. This is an insult to the families and communities affected.

Southport has overwhelmingly rejected this racist poison, with hundreds gathering to rebuild the mosque after the attacks. But the far-right will be preparing to carry out similar actions elsewhere! We need a mass, fighting movement to crush the far-right and build a real alternative to their hatred, based on working-class solidarity and struggle for a socialist future.

Capitalist establishment is guilty

While the violence was from fascist and far-right groups, we need to be clear: the whole capitalist establishment is guilty for this. This is a system in which gender inequality and violence is baked in.

Farage’s election to parliament has given a boost and confidence to these forces. The Tories have deployed right-wing ‘culture war’ rhetoric against migrants, refugees and LGBTQ+ people to distract from Britain’s dire situation, the crisis in the NHS and growing misery for the working-class majority. The Tories’ austerity policies have created the conditions violence against women and girls to be declared a national emergency. While Labour have issued condemnation, they also share the blame given their big business policies and increased migrant-bashing rhetoric.

This is why we cannot rely on Labour, or the police and courts to stop the right. Nor can we rely on them to solve the epidemic of violence against women and girls — we can only rely on our own strength to end this crisis.

We need to build a mass movement against the far-right, who can counter them on the streets, in the workplaces and communities. This includes mass demonstrations to fight Farage, to defend the rights of refugees, queer people and all the oppressed. But it must also be prepared to resist attacks from the bosses against all workers. There cannot be ‘unity’ with establishment politicians of any party.

Only a fighting left can stop the far-right

Corbyn and other anti-war independents should use their newly elected positions to call protests in every town and city across the country. The trade unions also have a key role to play. Not only do they have the size and resources to organise mass demonstrations, but they can link this to a fightback which can unite the multi-racial working class in struggle for our own interests and squash the far-right. For as long as communities are left with the pro-big business policies of Labour without a working-class opposition being built, anger will continue to be channeled in a reactionary direction by the right.

It is not enough for unions to simply to support or endorse a demonstration. They must also be mobilising and organising in every community to build up a united struggle for jobs, homes and services for all. This means fighting for good quality, unionised jobs, mass council house building and for a £20/hr minimum wage. They must also challenge the government not just on wages and conditions but issues like anti-racism and the right for asylum seekers to be able to work and have decent housing. This can show who our real enemies are — the bosses and profiteers, not refugees and migrants.

Instead of pinning the epidemic of sexual harassment and gender-based violence on migrants, the best way to counter this hypocrisy is by confronting misogyny and transphobia in the streets and the workplaces. Socialist feminists fight against the for-profit capitalist system which breeds harassment and sexism.

All of our movements need to be linked together by building a new left party, based on struggle and socialist policies. Corbyn and the anti-war independents should now call a national conference of resistance, which can group together anti-racists, trade unionists and all those seeking to build a REAL alternative to Starmer and Farage.

Socialist Alternative stands for a fundamentally different kind of society to capitalism. We are part of International Socialist Alternative, fighting back on every continent for revolutionary change and a democratic socialist society.