Key Points
- Over 1,000 people marched in north London on Saturday, 7 February 2026, in a show of unity against the far right and racism, organised by Stand Up To Racism (SUTR).
- The event was the first of several unity marches called by SUTR, starting from Finsbury Park Mosque at 12:30 PM.
- Speakers urged participation in the Together alliance national demonstration against the far right on 28 March 2026 in central London, backed by SUTR and 250 organisations including National Education Union (NEU), Unison, TUC, and Unite the Union.
- Simultaneous events included over 400 at a Women Against The Far Right launch in Manchester, 400 protesters in Warwick outnumbering Patriotic Alternative fascists (less than 100), and 200 in a Bournemouth unity demonstration.
- Gary McFarlane from SUTR highlighted US parallels with Donald Trump and ICE, warning against Reform UK and Nigel Farage importing similar tactics.
- Samuel, Haringey NEU union member, called for unions to use power against fascism and racism beyond pay issues.
- Shezan from Camden United Against Racism stressed diverse alliance unity amid rising racial abuse.
- Mohammed Kozbar, chair of Finsbury Park Mosque, vowed to defeat division, racism, Islamophobia, and antisemitism nationally.
- A Day-Mer Turkish and Kurdish Community Centre representative blamed Labour government’s lies for normalising hate and breaking working-class unity.
- Alan from Haringey Justice For Palestinians linked local anti-racism to global fights, noting Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC) push for 28 March.
- Banners from UCU, NEU, Unison, Extinction Rebellion, Gik-Der, Day-Mer, and community groups were prominent.
- Jeremy Corbyn, Your Party MP, endorsed the 28 March march, criticised Labour for mimicking Reform UK, and advocated wealth redistribution over blaming refugees.
- Build-up included Haringey leafleting, NEU branch support and donation, ahead of Reform UK challenges.
North London ,Finsbury Park (North London News) February 8, 2026 – Over 1,000 people took to the streets of north London on Saturday in a show of unity and defiance against the far right and racism, as reported in the primary coverage by Socialist Worker.
The march, the first of several unity events called by Stand Up To Racism (SUTR), assembled at Finsbury Park Mosque from 12:30 PM, drawing diverse participants united against rising far-right threats. Speakers at the rally emphasised building momentum for the Together alliance’s national demonstration on 28 March 2026 in central London, with SUTR among 250 backing organisations.
What sparked the north London unity march?
The protest responded to growing far-right activity, including Reform UK’s influence under Nigel Farage and parallels to US policies under President Donald Trump. As detailed by Socialist Worker, Gary McFarlane from SUTR told the rally,
“We’re marching against the background of what’s happening in the United States—Donald Trump is trying to take us back to the 1930s.”
He continued,
“They want to drag us back to those days. They are doing it on the streets with Ice—these are fascist methods.”
McFarlane highlighted resistance, noting,
“But we also know people have been on the streets in Minnesota. It’s people power on the streets that has driven back Trump—Ice is retreating.”
He warned,
“We’re here today to make sure that Reform UK and Nigel Farage do not succeed in bringing a British version of Ice to our streets. We’re not going to allow Farage to spread his poison in that way.”
Local context included rising racial abuse, as Shezan from Camden United Against Racism told Socialist Worker,
“I think we need to come together. It is a diverse alliance. Sometimes the groups don’t completely agree with each other, but on some things we need to work together.”
She added,
“As a person of colour, for the first time I’m hearing people say ‘go back home’ and say ‘you don’t belong here’ or be called a p*ki. People are getting more vocal, so we need to stand together.”
Who were the key speakers at the rally?
Prominent voices addressed the crowd, reinforcing anti-racism commitments. Mohammed Kozbar, chair of Finsbury Park Mosque, said,
“We are together here united against those who try to divide us and spread hatred, fear and division.”
He urged action, stating,
“This is why we must defeat them. This is why we must defeat them on the streets of London and anywhere in the country. We must defeat their narrative and bring down their propaganda. Today we make it clear that racism, Islamophobia and antisemitism are not acceptable. It is time to make our campaign national and grow all over the country.”
A representative from the Day-Mer Turkish and Kurdish Community Centre declared,
“not here just to march against the far right but also to name why they are growing and that is the Labour government’s lies.”
They explained,
“They are creating a climate where hate is normalised. It is an attempt to break the unity of working people, the unity to push back cuts, oppose war and defend democratic rights.”
Samuel, a Haringey NEU union member carrying his branch banner, told Socialist Worker,
“We take our banner to every demo.”
He critiqued,
“In my opinion, I think that trade union leaders are organising over pay. But they could use union power to build solidarity and broader fights against fascism, racism and many other issues.”
Alan from Haringey Justice For Palestinians told Socialist Worker,
“The fight against racism in Israel is the same as the fight we have here. We need to build the biggest organisation we can from all sections of the movement.”
He noted,
“I know people from all different organisations coming together on this demo. We are members of the Palestine Solidarity Campaign, there is a definite push within PSC to join up and build for the 28 March. There is no question.”
Jeremy Corbyn, Your Party MP, told the rally,
“Thank you for showing your solidarity against racism. Put this date in your mind, 28 March, a national march against racism”
to show
“our determination to live in a decent, anti-racist society.”
He elaborated,
“providing hope of something different. We don’t deal with problems by blaming refugees but redistributing wealth in our society.”
Corbyn added,
“Labour is aping the language of Reform UK. We won’t defeat Reform UK by copying them. You have to offer something different, some alternative, some real change.”
Which organisations supported the demonstration?
Banners represented broad support, including UCU, NEU, and Unison union branches, local community action groups, Extinction Rebellion, Gik-Der, and Day-Mer. The Together alliance encompasses Stand Up To Racism, National Education Union, Friends of the Earth, Unison, TUC, Unite the Union, and more, as per NEU event details.
Haringey NEU provided a donation and speaker, following a general meeting commitment, amid leafleting efforts against Reform UK candidate Matthew Goodwin.
What other anti-racism events happened simultaneously?
On the same day, over 400 attended a launch for Women Against The Far Right in Manchester. In Warwick, some 400 protested against fascist Patriotic Alternative, outnumbering and drowning out fewer than 100 fascists. Bournemouth saw 200 join a unity demonstration against racism.
These events built on prior actions, like Haringey leafleting at tube stations and mosques against Tommy Robinson, and NEU involvement.
Why is the 28 March national demo significant?
The Together alliance national demonstration on 28 March 2026 aims to counter division, with voices like the Communist Party mobilising for it as a major public action. NEU describes it as building momentum against growing divisive voices. SUTR’s role underscores a national anti-racist push, as Kozbar called to grow campaigns countrywide.
Build-up in Haringey includes weekly leafleting every house against Reform UK, with timetables for volunteers.
How does this fit broader UK anti-racism efforts?
Amid far-right rallies, like Tommy Robinson’s 100,000-strong London event in September 2025 met by Stand Up To Racism counter-protests, these unity marches signal resistance. Stand Up To Racism has organised national marches, such as on UN Anti-Racism Day. The north London event, promoted on Instagram by SUTR with Haringey SUTR, reinforces #standuptoracism.
As a seasoned journalist covering urban protests for over a decade, this march exemplifies grassroots defiance in north London boroughs like Haringey and Camden, where community tensions simmer amid national debates on migration and Reform UK’s rise. Participants’ calls for unity across divides—trade unions, mosques, Palestinian groups—highlight a multifaceted response, with the 28 March poised as a pivotal escalation.
The event’s scale, exceeding 1,000 despite February chill, and endorsements from figures like Corbyn and Kozbar, position it as a harbinger for larger mobilisations. Coverage by Socialist Worker captured raw voices, while event listings confirm logistics at Finsbury Park Mosque. No incidents were reported, unlike clashed far-right gatherings, underscoring peaceful resolve.
Trade union involvement, from NEU’s banner to calls for broader solidarity, signals potential for escalated action beyond pay disputes. Community centres like Day-Mer frame it politically, linking government policies to hate growth—a narrative echoed in Palestinian solidarity links.
As north London residents, from Haringey to Camden, face vocal racism, alliances like Camden United Against Racism embody necessity. The march’s diversity—unions, environmentalists, ethnic minorities—counters division tactics, aligning with Together’s hope-over-hate ethos.
Looking ahead, Haringey activists’ house-to-house leafleting against Reform’s Goodwin exemplifies local-national synergy. With 250 organisations behind 28 March, this could swell into Britain’s largest anti-far-right turnout, per patterns from past SUTR events.
