After their very successful protest against the widely reported racist attack upon two Muslim women outside the North Ealing Tube station last month, the West London Stand Up To Racism are holding a public meeting in Ealing with some important invited speakers.

The title of the meeting is ‘Resisting the Rise of the Racists and Fascists’ which will be held on Tuesday, 8 October 2019, and will be addressed by Nahella Ashraf, a long-standing anti-racist and women’s rights activist who herself was a victim of a racist attack in Hammersmith Broadway, a couple of years ago.

She would be representing the national body of Stand Up To Racism organisation. She would be joined by Jenny Manson, co-chair of Jewish Voice For Labour, Nick Onley from Extinction Rebellion, Gary McFarlane, an Black Lives Matter activist and Eve Turner, chair of Ealing Trades Union Council.

The rally would discuss the rising threat of racism and fascism in this country as well as across Europe and beyond. It will also discuss related issues, such as how to combat Islamophobia and anti-Semitism, rising knife-crime that is claiming many, usually, young black men’s lives, affects of austerity helping to increase community tensions and affects of climate change that could lead to major refugee crisis.

It will also seek to build support for the international conference against racism and fascism being organised by Stand Up To Racism, on 19 October, in central London.

Balwinder Rana, spokesperson for West London Stand Up To Racism, said, "A new far-right street movement, led by the likes of Tommy Robinson, is attempting to take advantage of the political crisis of Brexit by scapegoating migrants, EU citizens, refugees and the Muslim community. Our current prime minister has also helped their cause by comparing Muslim women to ‘letter boxes’ and ‘bank robbers’. Thus, Islamophobia, anti-Semitism and racist attacks are on the rise."

"The austerity, with cuts in welfare and the NHS is creating insecurity which feeds hostility towards foreigners, the very people who help to keep our NHS and other public services going. Locally, with the closure of parts of Ealing Hospital, closure of libraries and the air pollution in Southall are having devastating affects upon ordinary people’s lives."

"There is rising knife and violent crime amongst the youth which has already claimed more than 100 young lives this year alone in London and we are also facing the threat of climate change which will affect the poorer counties most leading to mass migration and refugees. The threat is huge and problems are great but by bringing people together we can begin to turn the tide."

He further added, "However, it has come to our attention that our meeting coincides with Kol Nidre, the start of the Day of Atonement. We apologise for any inconvenience caused to observant Jews wishing to attend."

He appealed for people to attend the rally which is open to all and is being held on Tuesday, 8 October 2019, from 7:30pm till 9:30pm in St Mary’s Church Hall, St Mary’s Road, South Ealing.