Socialist Party Wales Socialism In Wales
On Saturday March 25th, hundreds of anti-fascist protesters gathered in Llantwit Major, opposing the far-right Patriotic Alternative who were spreading poisonous propaganda against Ukrainian refugees being housed in the area and had organised a ‘rally’ in Llantwit.
Anti-fascists were made up of seasoned campaigners as well as workers from the community who didn’t want racist propaganda being spread around their homes. On the other side, the group of around 10 to 15 fascists had made the trip to Llantwit in Wales, hoping to promote their racist ideas.
They were led by someone who has been spotted at previous clashes, wearing a long brown Hitler-style trench-coat and sporting a haircut to match. The group ended up finding no audience for their rhetoric, and looked deflated at a wasted trip on their part.
The group didn’t even manage to arrive at the site they had planned to protest, where temporary housing for Ukrainian refugees is in the process of being built. Instead, likely getting wind of the counter-demonstration awaiting them, they changed course and ended up in a small field half an hour away, eventually surrounded by another group of counter-protesters, sandwiching a police line.
The anti-fascists waiting at the building site then marched down to the heart of the action, bolstering the numbers of those opposing the fascists. The Patriotic Alternative demonstration was isolated by its location and their voices so outnumbered that their PA was drowned out by chants such as ‘The workers united will never be defeated’ and ‘There are many, many more of us than you’ as well as ‘Refugees are welcome here’. Tails tucked between their legs and escorted by police, the fascists fled Llantwit just as they had Hull the week before, demoralised about what they had failed to achieve.
Along with others, Socialist Party members played a crucial role on the day. We argued that the demonstration shouldn’t split into two at the beginning when it was unclear where the fascists were. It is vital that local people and the trade unions are mobilised to drive them and their ideas out of communities.
The organisers of Stand Up To Racism had organised a rally miles from where the fascists had assembled but we argued successfully that we should all march to where the fascists were gathered and confront them. Despite the organisers reluctance to challenge them the overwhelming view of all the anti-fascists was that we should march to confront them and an impromptu march to their ‘rally’ took place.
Socialist Party Wales members also brought demands such as ‘Jobs and Homes not Racism’, that really resonate with people because they point to a way forward rather than just vent anger. We level pressure against government policies or government inaction that provide an opening for fascists ideas, as resources are scarce and people are encouraged to fight amongst each other. Such demands don’t let the government and capitalism off the hook, and play a role in uniting the working class.
The workers of South Wales and the people of Llantwit Major sent fascism a message on March 25th – you are not welcome in our communities, but refugees fleeing war are!
