Dispatch From Barry: Ten Reasons To Oppose The Far Right On The Streets

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Anti-fascist activist Adam Johannes reports from on the ground in south Wales, where far right and fascist groups have been trying to stir up racial hatred, and argues the case for joining the counter-protests. Cover image by R Witts Photography Ltd

The far right have fixed their sights on Rhoose near Barry, where Afghan families granted the right to live here because their lives would be in mortal danger after work supporting the British armed forces, are being temporarily housed in a local hotel. They’ve also targeted the council offices in Barry. Their campaign is simple, to bully these families and try to stir up resentment in the community against them. But they have not gone unchallenged. Local anti-racist, peace, anti-austerity, trade union and community groups have come together in greater numbers to confront the thugs head-on. Their counter-protests have sent a clear message: the community stands with the new arrivals, not against them. This article sets out why these counter-protests matter so much, and how you can play your part.

Ten reasons why we should counter-protest the far right

1. No opposition helps them grow:

If racists and fascists gather and no one stands against them, they look like the community’s voice. The media reports only their lies. Anti-racists feel isolated. It begins to feel like their rise is unstoppable.

2. Break their monopoly:

When we counter-protest we break their monopoly over the narrative. We show our communities that most people reject their hate and they do not speak for us. We put the counter-argument in the media and communities.

3. This is not a debate:

The far right don’t come to debate. They come to intimidate. They target asylum seekers, whip up hostility and fear, and create a climate where attacks become acceptable. When left to grow unopposed, they have escalated, smashing refugee accommodation, terrorising communities, and attacking marginalised people, workers organisations, and the left.

4. Numbers change everything:

When the far right is confronted and outnumbered, the balance of power shifts. Their propaganda weakens when every photo and video shows them penned in and overwhelmed. Their claim to represent the majority collapses when the majority is visibly against them. Being outnumbered demoralises them, dents their confidence, and makes it harder for them to grow.

The far right thrives on appearing strong. If they are consistently met with larger numbers, they look weak. Recruitment becomes harder, and their image of power crumbles.

5. We stop racist hate becoming normal:

Even a small far right protest, unchallenged, can slowly normalise reactionary hate in a community.  Counter-protests challenge that normalisation, showing that racism, bigotry and fascism, is never acceptable.

6. We can split their base:

Not everyone at their protests is a hardened racist or fascist. Some are drawn in by fear, ignorance, or resentment. When they see organised opposition, some begin to doubt, to drift away, to hesitate. We can separate a softer periphery from the core extremists and weaken their movements.

7. We give each other courage:

When we show up together, people who are targeted by the far right feel less alone. New people are drawn into action. Whole communities can discover their strength. We can show that collective action works. We also know from people working with those inside the hotel that our protests have given asylum seekers hope.

8. The danger is real:

The far right on the streets are not acting in a vacuum. There is a growing danger of fusion between far right street movements and mainstream politics with Reform, hard-right Tories, and Labour ministers scapegoating immigrants. Bigotry grows in periods of deep crisis when the ruling class fears revolt. It is not just allowed to grow, the ruling class cultivates it from the top down, using it to divide us and distract from crisis.

9. Lessons of History:

Far right street movements have been stopped when everyday people come out together in larger numbers and deny them the streets. The far right can only be stopped by a force greater than themselves. That force is us…Movements, trade unions, campaigns, communities, mass democratic forces coming together.

Every time they try to take the streets, we must meet them with greater numbers. Every time they try to pose as the voice of ordinary people, we must show who really speaks for our communities.

The fight  is not won in parliament, or in media debates. It is won in the streets, in workplaces, in schools, colleges, universities, in our communities through solidarity, through unity, through mass mobilisation.

Unity does not mean we all agree on everything. It means we act together against the common threat. On this, we agree: the far right must not grow. That is what a united front is. Not words, but action. Action when the Muslim taxi driver and the atheist socialist, the queer youth and the old churchgoer, the immigrant nurse and the white pensioner stand side by side to defend a hotel housing asylum seekers. Then the right’s weapons of divide and conquer are blunted.

10. Build a mass anti-racist culture:

Counter-protests are not just about stopping one march or rally. They are about creating a culture where anti-racism is part of everyday life, solidarity is normal, communities support migrants, refugees, and marginalised groups, and bigotry is actively rejected. By showing up, speaking out, and organising, we make anti-racism visible, widespread, and powerful. Fascists cannot take root where a mass anti-racist culture exists.

GET INVOLVED

Upcoming events

Counter-protest: Refugees Are Welcome – Fascists are Not!

Friday 29 August, 5.30 pm, Holiday Inn, Cardiff Airport, Port Rd, Rhoose, Barry

Counter-protest: Defend Refugees Against Hate

Saturday 30 August, 11 am. Barry Civic Offices, Holton Road, CF63 4RU

Family Fun Day

Sunday 7 September, 2 pm onwards, King’s Square, Barry, CF64 4RW

Crocheting, zine-making, crafting, music, food, and more.