Delegates to Waltham Forest Trades Council were among those counter protesters physically attacked by a large number of far-right racist thugs outside the Bell Hotel in Epping on Thursday 17 July.

The Bell Hotel: the far-right out again

This was during the second protest of the week at The Bell Hotel which is used to house migrants and asylum seekers whilst they are being processed by the authorities. Following the arrest and remanding of one migrant residing at the hotel after very serious allegations against 38-year-old asylum seeker Hadush Gerberslasie Kebatu. He was charged with sexual assault – after an incident where he is alleged to have attempted to kiss a 14-year-old girl.

Local people decided to protest and were unfortunately joined by far-right racist thugs determined to stir up racial hatred.

Experienced anti-racist campaigners realised this could well have turned into a race-hatred fest, even degenerating into similar events as those at Southport and elsewhere. They decided to hold peaceful counter protests calling for calm at the Bell Hotel, to let the courts deal with the alleged sex offender, to not blame all migrants for the alleged crime of one, to recognise that difficulties faced by struggling working class people are not being caused by asylum seekers and migrants but rather as a failure of government, and to not fall into the trap of being used for the political ends of the racists of the rabid right.

On Thursday the counter demonstrators at the Bell Hotel were greatly outnumbered by those on the main protest and the majority were not there to attack the counter protesters. However, a significant number were, and unsuccessfully tried to break police lines to carry out attacks.

Counter the arguments

Kevin Parslow, Secretary of Waltham Forest Trades Council said:

Sadly we have seen a rise in protests about migrant support services, many turning to violence by right wing racist thugs. We need to learn the lessons of not so distant European history, and the trade union movement must step up its activities to counter the rise of the right and Reform. We must counter their arguments and stand together on the streets to resist this rise.” said

Being a migrant or asylum seeker isn’t a passport to freebies and preferential treatment as is often described. They more often come from war torn areas pursued by oppressive regimes, exploited by the migrant transport gangs and anyone else on their journey. We have long standing international agreements to support refugees and we must not deny them or tear them up.” He continued.

As well as this, we also need to ensure that working class people have access to decent housing, health care, education, work and a decent standard of living – because if we don’t the voices of the right wing racists pointing out failures to achieve this help them gain ground – and we don’t want that.

A statement following events

Following events at the Bell Hotel in Epping, WFTC committee members agreed the following statement:

We condemn all acts of racism and threats against asylum seekers. We stand in solidarity with victims of sexual harassment and violence.

Savage Tory austerity, now continued by Starmer in government, has been passed on by local councils – in Epping’s case a Tory council, but disgracefully the same is true in Labour councils. Coupled with decades of low pay, poverty and a housing crisis, this has created the basis for despair and division in our communities which dangerous racist far-right groups aim to exploit, aided by the appalling anti-migrant rhetoric of all the main parties including Starmer’s Labour.

We say:

• Oppose all racism and division; defend the right to asylum; workers’ unity against attacks on asylum seekers.
• End all council cuts. Demand full funding from the government for all our communities’ needs.
• Jobs, homes and services for all.
• Build council houses; cap rents.
• Oppose all sexual harassment and violence. Restore funding for women’s services; invest in street lighting and other measures to keep our streets safe

We pledge our assistance to the trade unions and communities of Epping to help build a united campaign for the resources all residents need and against the far right. We’ll work with any anti-austerity councillors who want to fight Tory and Labour cuts.

We call on the TUC to organise a national demonstration against Labour’s austerity and division. We support the anti-Tommy Robinson demo on 13th September called by Stand Up To Racism and will produce our own material to publicise it.

Following the decision of Unite to suspend Angela Rayner and open up a debate about Unite’s relationship with Labour – as a result of the brutal treatment of Birmingham bin workers by the Labour council backed up by the Labour government – WFTC will organise a debate in the autumn on how the trade unions can build a workers’ political voice that can undercut support for Reform and for other far-right groups.

Featured image via the Canary