London witnessed one of its biggest ever marches against the far right on Saturday, March 28, with at least half a million people joining the event. The demonstration was organized by hundreds of groups – trade unions, climate justice organizations, anti-war alliances, and community associations – in response to strengthening racist narratives and hatred in Britain.

These hate-driven narratives are promoted on different fronts, including by Reform UK and its leader Nigel Farage inside the political parties’ landscape, and by figures like Tommy Robinson in public spaces. A substantial part of these efforts feeds into the campaign for local elections in May, where Reform is expected to gain substantial breakthroughs as Keir Starmer’s Labour Party continues to lose support over austerity and war policies that have worsened living conditions.

“Working people don’t have access to decent housing, to decent jobs that pay a decent wage, and Labour has not provided any answers,” Morning Star wrote following the demonstration. “It is this sense of hopelessness that the far right have preyed upon, as has every successful fascist organization before them.”

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While Saturday’s march offered a powerful alternative vision to the far right’s dystopian plans, many participants and speakers emphasized the importance of building a concrete movement by recognizing shared concerns between struggles, including solidarity with Palestine. “We know that the movement for Palestine cannot ignore the far right,” the Palestine Solidarity Campaign said on the day. “But we also know that those who want to defeat the fascist threat today can’t ignore the issue of Palestine.”

“In this country and across Europe, the far right looks to Israel as a model for the racist societies it wishes to bring about. It admires Israel for its system of apartheid and genocidal violence against Palestinians,” they added. “The struggle against all forms of racism and bigotry, antisemitism, Islamophobia and Israeli apartheid are one and the same.”

The demonstration also recognized the importance for progressive forces to be present at all levels, including in communities and workplaces. A host of trade unionists spoke at the event, reaffirming their organizations’ determination to provide a counterforce to the far right, especially regarding racism and anti-migrant narratives. They highlighted that those actually working against workers’ interests are “the billionaires class” and figures like “Nigel Farage and Tommy Robinson.”

“Trade unionists need to stand up, change the narrative in our workplaces, and make sure that we are representative of the working class,” representatives of the Fire Brigades Union said on Saturday. “Do not allow us to be divided any longer – let’s fight back, let’s stay organized, let’s stick together.”

“This is our country, and we’re going to fight for it,” Daniel Kebede from the National Education Union echoed.

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Progressive and left politicians were also among the thousands at the march: members of Your Party, the Greens, and progressive factions of the Labour Party spoke in support of unity against the far right. Zack Polanski, leader of the Green Party – which is also expected to achieve record results in May’s election – emphasized the importance of remaining united in the face of far-right attacks.

After the demonstration, Polanski wrote on social media that a broad and united front against the far right must unmask their real agenda. “They are Trump-loving, NHS dismantling, climate-wrecking, corporate-backed stooges whose plans will make the majority poorer and benefit only the super rich,” he wrote. “They are no friend of the working class.”

“We must organize in our communities, with our friends, our neighbors, our colleagues,” Polanski added, insisting that this broad front can succeed if it offers a real plan to tackle inequalities and change the economy according to the needs of the majority.

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