Half a million people took to the streets of London in one of the largest anti-racist mobilisations in recent years,a powerful rebuke to a far-right surge exploiting economic crisis,war,and political disillusionment. Yet mass demonstrations alone, however inspiring, are not enough to halt a movement that is rapidly sharpening its organisation, deepening its roots, and winning a hearing among sections of the working class. As mainstream politicians echo anti‑migrant rhetoric and the media fuels a climate of fear, the far right is being given space to grow. The central question now is how this unusual show of unity can be turned into sustained political power-on the streets,in workplaces,and in communities-to push back the far right and the system that nurtures it. This article sets out what must be done next.
From mass mobilisation to lasting power How the London march can become a turning point
The spectacle of half a million people on London’s streets has shattered the myth that the racist and authoritarian right speaks for a silent majority. But numbers alone won’t halt their advance unless that energy is anchored in structures that can fight every day in workplaces, colleges and communities. We need to turn fleeting outrage into durable organisation-locally rooted groups that meet regularly, link up nationally and can respond fast when the far right mobilises, whether that’s on our streets or in parliament. That means building campaign committees, union-led defense networks and rapid-response teams capable of defending migrants, Muslims, Black people, Jews, LGBT+ people and anyone targeted by reactionary forces.
- From march stewards to local organisers – keep the networks alive beyond the demo
- From slogans to strategy – discuss political alternatives, not just moral outrage
- From spectators to participants – draw new activists into unions, campaigns and socialist groups
| Step | Purpose | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Mass meetings | Debate next actions | Local halls, campuses |
| Strike solidarity | Tie anti-racism to pay & jobs | Workplaces |
| Neighbourhood groups | Counter far-right presence | Estates & high streets |
| Socialist forums | Develop political clarity | Online & in person |
Only by fusing this street power with organised class power-notably through militant trade unionism-can we undercut the economic despair that the far right feeds on and confront the racist narratives pumped out by politicians and the media. Every workplace dispute, every housing campaign, every challenge to police racism becomes a frontline in stopping their rise. The demonstration has shown the potential; now the task is to embed that potential everywhere the system breeds anger, and to give it a clear socialist direction that targets the real enemy-those at the top who profit from division and fear.
Exposing the real threat of the far right and the system that nurtures it
The racist street gangs parading through city centres are not an accidental eruption of hatred but the sharp edge of a wider ruling-class project. Their talking points are test‑marketed in billionaire‑owned newspapers,echoed by TV pundits and hardened into policy by ministers who scapegoat migrants,Muslims and benefit claimants while protecting landlords,tax‑dodging corporations and arms dealers. Behind every thuggish slogan sits a network of donors, lobbyists and think tanks that feed off economic crisis and insecurity, channelling anger away from boardrooms and towards the most marginalised. When police “lose control” of far‑right riots yet clamp down instantly on anti‑racist marches, it reveals a state machine far more threatened by collective resistance from below than by fascists who defend property and empire.
- State powers expanded in the name of “security” are repeatedly used against workers and anti‑racists.
- Media narratives demonise refugees while burying stories of corporate looting and Tory corruption.
- Capital profits from low wages, privatisation and war, then blames migrants for the resulting chaos.
- Police and immigration raids terrify communities while far‑right agitators enjoy leniency.
| Institution | How it feeds the far right |
|---|---|
| Corporate media | Amplifies racist myths as “common sense” |
| Mainstream parties | Copy far‑right rhetoric to chase votes |
| Police & state | Crack down on protest, ignore institutional racism |
| Big business | Funds reactionary campaigns, exploits division |
Building united resistance in workplaces campuses and communities
Turning the energy of half a million on the streets into lasting power means rooting anti-fascist organisation where we study, work and live. Every office, depot, call centre, campus and housing estate can become a frontline against racist scapegoating and authoritarian politics. That means forming open, democratic structures that don’t just react to crises, but plan, educate and mobilise. It means refusing “neutrality” when the far right targets migrants, Muslims, Black people, LGBT+ people or trade union activists. Instead, we must insist that solidarity is the baseline, not an optional extra.
- In workplaces, build unions that can challenge bosses’ racism, victimisation and wage divide tactics.
- On campuses,link student societies,anti-racist campaigns and campus unions in joint action.
- In communities, set up neighbourhood defence groups that can mobilise fast against far right activity.
- Online and offline, expose fascist networks and counter their propaganda with clear, class-based arguments.
| Where | Key Task | Immediate Action |
|---|---|---|
| Workplaces | Collective defence | Elect anti-racist reps |
| Campuses | Political education | Host teach-ins on fascism |
| Communities | Rapid mobilisation | Build local alert networks |
None of this will happen by itself. It demands continuous organising, not one-off photo opportunities, and a willingness to confront both the far right and the mainstream politicians who recycle their narratives in more “respectable” language. By knitting together these local initiatives into city-wide and national coalitions-linking trade unions, faith groups, tenants’ unions, migrant organisations and campaigners-we can turn scattered resistance into coordinated, disruptive power capable of blocking fascists on the streets, challenging them in workplaces and campuses, and undermining them at the ballot box. This is how the spirit of the London march can be kept alive every day, not just on demonstration routes.
Turning solidarity into strategy Organising for bold anti racist and anti fascist action
Real power lies not just in the spectacle of half a million people on the streets, but in what we build when the placards are put down. To confront a far right that is organising in workplaces, online and on the estates, our response has to be rooted where we live, work and study. That means turning fleeting moments of unity into structures that endure. In every union branch, campus society and tenants’ group, we can embed anti-racist organising as daily practice, not an occasional gesture. This involves setting clear political lines-no platform for fascists, no concessions to racist scapegoating-and the capacity to act fast when the Tories, Labor’s right wing or the media whip up anti‑migrant and Islamophobic panics.
- Build permanent anti-racist networks in workplaces, colleges and neighbourhoods
- Coordinate rapid responses to far right mobilisations and racist incidents
- Link street protests to strikes and community campaigns against austerity and war
- Train new organisers in stewarding, security, messaging and coalition-building
| Front | Key Task |
|---|---|
| Workplaces | Union motions, anti-racist reps, walkouts against deportations |
| Communities | Local defence groups, stalls, door‑to‑door conversations |
| Online | Counter-propaganda, reporting fascist networks, amplifying protests |
Strategic solidarity also means aligning our forces across movements-linking Palestinian liberation with struggles of refugees and Black communities targeted by police and border forces. The far right feeds on despair and division; we can cut off its oxygen by offering a fighting option that explains the real sources of crisis: bosses, landlords and warmongers. Socialist organisation is crucial here, arguing inside broader coalitions for mass, confrontational but disciplined mobilisations that refuse both racist narratives and “respectable” moderation. When unions are ready to strike against racist laws, student groups occupy for migrants’ rights and neighbourhoods physically block fascist marches, solidarity stops being a slogan and becomes a strategy capable of beating the right.
Final Thoughts
The scale and spirit of the London march have shown that the far right is not an unstoppable force, but a political project that can be pushed back when ordinary people act together. Yet demonstrations, however large, are only the beginning.
The task now is to turn that energy into lasting organisation: in workplaces, campuses and communities; in anti-racist campaigns and trade unions; in every space where the far right seeks to gain a foothold. That means challenging racist narratives wherever they appear, confronting state policies that fuel division, and insisting that the real enemies are austerity, war and a system that thrives on inequality.If the far right is preparing for a long fight, those who oppose it must do the same. The London protest showed the potential power of collective resistance. Whether that power is built into a movement capable of decisively halting the far right will depend on what we do next-how we organize, how we link struggles, and how determined we are to turn anger into coordinated action.
