Harlow Stand up to Racism campaigners join national protest against the Far Right
News / Mon 30th Mar 2026 at 06:36am
A COACH full of over fifty supporters of Harlow Stand up to Racism joined up to half a million protestors against the far right in central London on Saturday. Many others, unable to get a seat on the coach, travelled down by train from Harlow and from Epping.
The Stand up to Racism group included local trade unionists who joined members of Harlow Green Party, Harlow Labour Party, the Socialist Workers Party and non-aligned campaigners. The march was organised by the Together Alliance, billed as a movement for love, hope and unity over racism, hate and bigotry.
Banners on show included those from the Quakers, Amnesty, Greenpeace, Women against the Far Right, Stand up to Racism, and trade unions Unison, the NEU, CWU, Unite, GMB, RMT and many others.
The protest also saw a ‘House against Hate’ musical takeover of Trafalgar Square where thousands joined together in a multicultural celebration of unity in diversity.
Unison union general secretary Andrea Egan told the crowds, “These are our streets and those who want to divide us aren’t welcome. Look at any strike and you will see black and white workers standing side by side against the bosses. That is why the far right hates our trade union movement.
“We have to fight in our workplaces, not just against cuts and for better pay but against racism, sexism, transphobia and for unity.”
A spokesperson for Harlow Stand up to Racism said “Now, more than ever, we must stand united against the far right and the climate of fear. Hate and division is spread from the top, by politicians who want to create scapegoats to blame for the failures of the system.
“Refugees, asylum seekers and migrants are being wrongly blamed because they are powerless and make easy targets. But we know our history. We have seen this before. We know the far right will come for us all—migrants, Muslims, the LGBTQ+ community, trans+ people, trade unionists, anyone they can scapegoat. We must come together to fight back. Racism and fascism have been defeated before; they can be defeated again.”
adam
2026-03-30 08:13:04
We can be safe in the knowledge they did not miss a days work, look at that rabble. benefits are us not one net contributor in that picture. By right wing they mean anyone who has views they do not like.
Rose
2026-03-30 08:18:58
Adam, you’ve got no idea what you’re talking about. We are all hard working members of the community, and the March was organised by TRADE UNIONS, do you know what they are? Do your research before commenting so confidently.
jarrett
2026-03-30 08:53:51
Spot on Adam.
Freda
2026-03-30 09:38:35
Adam - It was on a SATURDAY? Not many office workers working on a Saturday, are there? Also, have you never heard of shift work? Or rearranging a rota or booking a day off for an event? All bog standard working life stuff.
David Forman
2026-03-30 09:38:36
A good turnout from Harlow which saw four Labour councillors attend. I'm sure I spotted leader James Griggs, deputy leader Lanie Shears, cllr Nancy Watson and cllr Luke Howard in the picture. Good on them for making a stand. We need to remember that United we Stand, Divided we Fall. The working class does not have billionaires to prop it up, just the common bond of worker solidarity.
David Forman
2026-03-30 09:40:21
Sorry, I forgot to congratulate Julie Taylor for her attendance. Julie is expected to be the Green candidate in Mark Hall ward for the local elections in May.
Adam
2026-03-30 09:52:14
Yes, Rose I am Trade Unions have destroyed the UK and are driving the UK into the ground with its communism
Harlow resident
2026-03-30 13:02:12
Adam you don't know what you are talking about I know some of those people and they are hard working not claiming benefits.
gary roberts
2026-03-30 13:10:40
Adam, "I am Trade Unions" that "have destroyed the UK". How well did you do in History and civil rights? Incidentally, how are you "Trade Unions"? Perhaps you should ask your parents and grandparents about how trade unions got them employment rights, education, housing and health services. Please also note they were the founders of the Labour party although I suspect you wouldn't know that now, sadly.
Michael Szpakowski
2026-03-30 13:29:11
Saturday was a *fantastic* day! What the miserable bigots and racists cannot bear about it is that we:old, young, black, white, gay, straight, trans, non-binary, people living with disabilities, people speaking all the languages of the world, showed that anti racists, those who welcome and embrace diversity, are the *majority* and we did it in *huge* numbers and with joy in our hearts and smiles on our faces. Saturday showed the future and we're not going away!
Seamus
2026-03-30 14:58:27
I do wonder if any of those pictured are being funded by the state by claiming they are to unwell to work but well enough to go on protest marches? On Multiple occasions within Harlow I've asked just what racism do they refer to as Islam is not a race and nor are Illegal economic migrants so will someone identify where the racism is? As to the far right, you are more likely to see buildings vandalised, public spaces dominated, cars driven at people, knife attacks whilst shouting Allahu Akbar by those who are or support the far left. Whilst it would be incredibly wrong to say all muslims are terrorists(most are not), it would be correct to say all terrorists in the U.K. are from one faith. The far left have always dealt with emotions because facts rarely support their claims. Which side wants to ban everything they don't like, yep the far left, always has been. As to half a million protesters in London, who was doing those numbers, Rachel Reeves? Authorities estimated it as closer to 50,000. One last point, some maybe aware of a video circulating from that March where a Muslim woman was continually shouting at a man wearing a lgbtq+ flag shouting over and over again, "you are not welcome here". I'd love to hear professionally offended's opinion on that event from the march?
Carlos
2026-03-30 18:28:30
What a load of old nonsense.
Joe S
2026-03-31 07:24:57
Seamus is shadowboxing again
David Forman
2026-03-31 08:38:37
Seamus' assertion that "all terrorists in the U.K. are from one faith" and that faith he asserts as Islam is patently false. I disproved that in 5 seconds. Counter Terrorism Policing's latest news is regarding a Northumberland teenager jailed for multiple terrorism offences. It says "during searches at his home address, evidence was seized which revealed a deep-seated extreme right wing mindset." Another article talks of a 33 year-old American Jason Symons living in Leeds on trial for collection and dissemination of terrorist publications. Not a Muslim either. So Seamus is a purveyor of fake news and has a bad attitude towards Muslims. See both Counter Terrorism articles below https://www.counterterrorism.police.uk/?post_type=post&p=32815 https://www.counterterrorism.police.uk/?post_type=post&p=32702
David Forman
2026-03-31 08:52:33
Three news stories from the specialist Counter Terrorism Police (CTP) and the bonus is that they are not Muslim. One has Mikka Anderson, a 23-year-old white man from Hull charged with five terrorist offences. Plus a 16 year-old from Northumberland who house search revealed "evidence was seized which revealed a deep-seated extreme right wing mindset.". Then a 33 year-old American Jason Symons arrested for dissemination of terrorist literature. Then we have a white 36 year-old Tygue Crowther from Cleckheaton jailed for multiple terrorism offences. None of them are Muslim which proves Seamus is a Muslim baiter and a peddler of fake news. See last example at https://www.counterterrorism.police.uk/?post_type=post&p=32476
David Forman
2026-03-31 08:54:49
Sorry, my last comment said three non-Muslim terrorists when in fact I got carried away and included four. A bonus item for Seamus for thinks all terrorists follow Islam.
Shameless
2026-03-31 12:23:56
Seamus managed to go from racism to benefits to terrorism to viral videos without actually addressing the article. It’s just a collection of talking points.
Mr George
2026-03-31 12:45:02
I see Adam and Seamus are triggered again... same old nonsense being spouted!
Seamus
2026-03-31 15:44:50
Not triggered at all but again for all the word salad that followed my post, you continue to dodge the question. What "racism from the far right" are you standing up against? Islam is not a race so it can't be that. People entering the country illegally surely it can't be that? People lying on their visa to get into the U.K. it can't be that? so what exactly is the racism you talk of?
carly
2026-03-31 15:49:42
Harlow Stand up to Racism, Adam and Seamus stand up for racism
Mr George
2026-03-31 18:21:55
Well said Carly.
Seamus
2026-03-31 19:18:52
Rather proving my point carly/mr george and your retort is typical of the far left when asked an awkward correct question, you just claim everyone who does not think like you must be racist in the hope of cutting the conversation dead despite the far left being the most intolerant groups of all. Let's look at what I said. Discussing a faith is not racism, this is true. Being unhappy that people are entering the country illegally and those lying on a visa. Both are illegal so to comment on those is not racist either. So you see when you say you are standing up to racism and use the examples you have, then there is no racism there at all. Now If you had said, "We the professionally and continual intolerant far left, hate people who are not like us" then there would be some honesty about who you are. However to do that you would have to admit to hating people who are not like you which would of course raise the question, who is the racist now?
Vlad
2026-04-01 07:34:41
Seamus, Muslims are treated as a racialised other (in contrast to the white majority). Note that the definition of Islamophobia is the hatred of or discrimination against Muslims, not disagreements with Islam as a faith. Your earlier assertion that while not all Muslims are terrorist, all terrorists are Muslim is proven false in a single google search. You made this mistake because the image of a typical Muslim man that popped into your head, an Arab with a beard, and you thought that was more convincing than evidence. You are pushing an Islamophobic narrative and therefore a racist.
Paul Murphy
2026-04-01 07:36:54
Seamus your commenter’s pattern is textbook rhetorical laundering: they begin by denying racism exists, then immediately redefine it so narrowly that nothing in the article qualifies, which clears space for the next move presenting hostility toward Muslims and migrants as neutral “concerns,” linking immigration, Islam, and terrorism as if they’re interchangeable categories, and then retreating behind “just asking questions” when challenged. Each step is framed as calm inquiry, but the structure does the work: it smuggles prejudiced assumptions into the conversation while keeping the speaker insulated from accountability. The final pivot — accusing others of being “triggered” completes the loop, shifting blame onto anyone who notices the pattern. It’s a familiar tactic: a way of expressing discriminatory ideas while maintaining plausible deniability. This is a classic way that racists hide their racism.🐷😉
Kim O'connor
2026-04-01 08:10:49
I'm a 68 year old pensioner, voting Reform, does that make me far right, are the Greens now putting everyone in the same box.. if you vote Reform, you are all far right. Oh please give me a brake. This March, was shouting divided and hate, no other s are shouting this. I'm voting Reform, I'm not far right, like thousands upon thousands that are voting Reform.
Joe S
2026-04-01 14:10:15
Kim, I am 68% sure you are a bot.
Kim O'connor
2026-04-01 18:33:52
Hi Joe. S. Could you explain to me what a bot is . I'm at an age where I don't keep up with theses stupid words. Or should I say childish words.
Paul Murphy'
2026-04-02 10:48:34
Kim. If you're voting for Reform with a profile of very large number of racists standing for them, you are voting for a racist party So the question is are you or ain't you, the answer is most definitely yes you're condoning racism making you a racist
Kim O'connor
2026-04-02 17:48:23
Paul Murphy.. Oh I see, it's OK for you to champion your party, but very different for someone else to champion there's. That makes me a Racist does it. Give me strength, . I've never heard such utter rubbish in my life. If all else fails pull the Racist card. Dear oh dear.
Joe S
2026-04-03 07:27:31
Paul, don’t bother with her you can tell she isn’t real. Notice how she just promotes her party unprompted and doesn’t actually respond in a way that makes sense. Obvious paid bot lol.
Paul Murphy'
2026-04-03 07:36:47
Yes that was my first thought Joe just want to make this point for anyone else reading who is a human
Kim O'connor
2026-04-03 10:35:50
Your way or the high way, comes to mind. I'm not real, you do know im an x green party. 🤣 But you probably won't think that's real either.
Kim O'connor
2026-04-03 10:41:44
I'm not real , you do know im an x green party candidate, one of the many that started the green party of in Harlow, don't you. 🤣🤣🤣 I suppose your say that'd not real next.
Kim O'connor
2026-04-07 18:21:02
Well , that kept them quite didn't it. 🤣
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