Spirit of Cable Street

The spirit of Cable Street will be felt across the South West this weekend as Unite members join counter demonstrations and protests against far right attempts to divide their communities.

As Unite continues its preparations for the 90th anniversary of the Battle of Cable Street in October members are saying “¡No pasarán!” in response to groups trying to stoke up division and hatred in Somerset and Dorset.

On Saturday 29 August in Taunton the recently formed Somerset Campaign Against Racism and Fascism (SCARF) are organising a peaceful protest against the far right plans to march the county town.

This will be the third counter-protest organised in Taunton, and campaigners are determined not to allow the far-right to take over Taunton’s streets on a regular basis.

Brett Sparkes, Regional Communities Co-ordinator for Unite South West said,  “This is the third time that right wing activists have tried to sow division and hatred in Taunton. Each time local people have come out in their hundreds to challenge that narrative. 

“Unite and the Trade Union movement have always been at the forefront of opposing hatred in all its forms and will continue to reject these ideologies wherever they raise their ugly head. Unite Community in Somerset has a long history of celebrating the diversity of our communities and that will continue.”

The Somerset and North Devon Branch of Unite Community is encouraging as many trade unionists and their supporters to attend and tell the far right they are not welcome in Somerset.

Unite Communities Andy Mitchell said, “Unite Community’s message remains the same as it has ever been: racism, fascism and all forms of hatred is not welcome on our streets. 

“Standing up to the far-right in rural areas is just as important as it was in Cable St a hundred years ago. We need to defend our communities, protect the vulnerable and stop those who seek to disrupt and divide.”

“Racism is polluting our communities and dividing people when they should be united and fighting for a decent standard of living for all.” added Glen Burrows, Treasurer, Somerset and North Devon Unite Community

Organisers say they will not be marching, but will remain in one place outside the Market House in Taunton where there will be music and speeches to “celebrate our togetherness and the contribution everyone makes to Somerset, no matter what their background.”

The group are encouraging people to bring banners and placards to support the counter-demonstration and community celebration at 11.30am, Saturday August 29th, at the Market House, High St, Taunton.

Meanwhile on the same weekend, Dorset campaigners and trade unionists will be gathering in Weymouth in a Celebration of Unity on Bank Holiday Monday (31 Aug). 

The celebration and demonstration was originally planned as a response to a threatened far right rally by “Weymouth Patriots”, but they cancelled their event after running scared in the face of unity and solidarity from the local community.

Organsies Stand Up To Racism Dorset said on social media that “We plan to celebrate our diversity with music, hope and love. Half a million joined the Together Alliance demonstration against the far right in London and we want to show everyone that unity exists in Dorset too!

“We also stand against the threat of bringing hatred and division to Weymouth. 

“Weymouth Patriots” – if they really exist – planned a bank holiday protest which now appears cancelled. But they still threaten to come to Weymouth in September.

“We want to show that their message of hate is not welcome at any time.”

The event features music and speakers, including socialist choir Dorset Red, who many will remember from their set at the Tolpuddle Martyrs Festival thanks to organisers of the Unite Marquee.

Unite member Barry Lovejoy is part of the choir, and said, “Dorset Red are really pleased to be bringing songs of solidarity and hope to Weymouth as part of the Celebration of Unity. 

“The division and hatred spread by the far right is not welcome in Dorset and we stand together with groups that celebrate diversity.”

The Dorset Celebration of Unity takes place on Monday 31 August from 12 noon at The Clock Tower on Weymouth seafront. 

Unite is participating in the major events this Autumn to mark the 90th anniversary of the Battle of Cable Street where, in 1936, Mosley’s British Union of Fascists were chased off the streets by a strong working class who knew that the politics of hate and division offers no solutions.

Events are taking place over the weekend of 3 / 4 October and over the coming months more details will be released on developing plans for Battle of Cable Street events, and you can keep up to date by registering for more information here. 

You can also find out more at the TOGETHER on Cable Street website here.

By Keith Hatch