At SMK, we have been shocked and dismayed at the distress impacting charities, activist communities, groups and individuals working to support refugees and asylum seekers, from the ongoing threats coming from all corners of the far right.
Charities are having to increase staff safety measures, are being forced to cancel services, staff are being advised not to wear ID badges in public, some are adding safe rooms and others closing offices to keep staff and clients safe.
Some charity leaders have reportedly received death threats “while one NGO was named on a far right hitlist”. The Charity Commission has removed the names of trustees from some refugee charities listed on its register to protect their safety
As a campaign community there has never been a more critical time to come together, reach out and stand up for those doing this work because there are so many campaigners, leaders, individuals and activists who despite the dangers will not let hate win.
We are reminded of that incredible, and hopeful moment when RNLI, the Royal National Lifeboat Institution, having experienced attacks from Nigel Farage back in 2021 and other far right groups because of their work rescuing migrants in small boats, released a video defending their work, and thereafter received a 3,000% increase in donations as a result.
Support and resources
- The Hope and Courage Collective in Ireland have done a lot of work in this area, particularly working with communities to counter far right protests.
- The amazing Natasha Adams and ‘self-styled activism and social change geek’ has created a slack group called ‘Building Beyond Authoritarianism’ for those working in a social change space looking to connect with and support each other to respond to the rise of the far right. Read her article ‘We need new strategies to respond to the far right’ with details at the bottom for how to join.
- Also, check out Natasha’s blog, just out this week, Reflecting on new strategies to defeat the far right, from a recent online workshop she delivered with Jim Coe with nearly 50 change makers from across civil society. They are hosting another online workshop on 9 October. Find more information and book a place here.
- Sign up to the Hope Not Hate newsletter or find out more about how they are building hope and opposing far right extremism.
- Follow the Refugee Solidarity Summit socials for up-to-date information, support and insights.
- Proforma Festival 2025, from Counterpoint Arts is back this October across the East of England, that includes arts events across music, theatre, film exhibitions, and more by, with and about refugees.
- The Ella Baker School of Organising has developed Defeating Narratives of Division that includes a manifesto for change, and an open-sourcing of educational materials that you can deliver to groups in your community that want to build a new, more inclusive, story.
We cannot lose hope, and we must come together as a campaign community to support those doing such brave and important work. Over the coming months we will be sharing the stories of campaigners and leaders working in this hostile environment so we can learn and share and find out how we can hold our ground and come together as a community in solidarity.