WCML Statement on Recent Far Right Activity
The Working Class Movement Library has a simple mission.
‘To provide open access to the collections and organise programmes, events, courses and other activities so that working class people can learn from, and interpret, their history in order to enable them to apply a class perspective to contemporary politics and economics.’
Over recent weeks the rise of the far-right activity culminating in violence across the United Kingdom and on the streets of the North West demands we speak up in defence of our communities. We have all witnessed disturbing scenes of far-right extremist groups targeting minority communities, disrupting peaceful gatherings, and attempting to sow division among working people.
The working class continue to pay for the political and economic crisis. The conditions of the working class have regressed, and our communities have been savagely attacked, deprived of decent education, homes, jobs and essential services.
Our youth, pensioners, homeless, unemployed, those in precarious and low paid employment are amongst our most vulnerable with little or no opportunity to rebuild standards of living and under resourced communities.
The conditions for divisions in working class unity are rife. Racist and Islamophobic language, designed to persuade and motivate these divisions systematically use migrants and refugees as scapegoats and feeds the confidence of the far right into confrontation and violent street activity, influencing many of those vulnerable and disaffected in society.
The WCML oppose all forms of racism and fascist organisations. We will redouble our efforts to expose their myths and the lies they feed to detract from the real issues facing people today. We urge all our affiliates and supporters to work with their trade unions, student unions, tenants’ groups, and community organisations to build local broad-based alliances in a coordinated, non-sectarian response to defend community cohesion and build a platform for wider sustained activity to prevent the far-right from organising and recruiting in our workplaces and communities
Alongside this work the WCML commit to the following
Create and take opportunities to engage with members of the working class who are in danger of indoctrination by the far right to expose fascism as inherently reactionary and contrary to our material interests.
Work with organisations that supports the rights of minorities to promote and build wider partnership work.
Help develop a trade union response from policy development to educational tools for its members.
Engage in community organisations around issues effecting all workers to draw on the real issues faced in our workplaces and communities.
Use our own library resources to educate ourselves about the history of fascism, understanding the threats and recognise the tactics of fascist and far right groups.
We further encourage all communities to use our space, explore our archives, participate in our events and activities in a safe inclusive environment. Remember, our strength lies in our solidarity with each other. When we all stand together across racial, ethnic, and religious lines, we can be a formidable force for change and against hatred and division.