OVER A thousand anti-racist activists from Britain, Europe and the US are gathering at the Stand Up To Racism international conference on October 19.

Shadow home secretary Diane Abbott will headline the conference, at Friends House in central London. Other speakers include shadow secretary of state for justice Richard Burgon and journalist and campaigner Gary Younge.

International speakers include Vitalina Koval, a Ukranian LGBTQ+ and Amnesty International activist, who was the target of a chemical attack by the far right, and Greek anti fascist activist Petros Constantinou, recently featured by the Guardian newspaper.

In the week that racist chanting at the Bulgaria – England UEFA Euro qualifiers hit the headlines, ex professional footballer Sean Wharton from Show Racism the Red Card heads up a debate at the conference on opposing the far right and racism in football.

Campaigners are gathering to organise opposition to racism at a time when racist and fascist groups are receiving more support than at any time since the 1930’s.

Sabby Dhalu, Stand Up To Racism co convenor, said: “Hate crime has doubled since 2013, and rose 11 per cent in the last year from an already shocking level. The fascist salutes and racist chants on Monday night show this rise in racism is inextricably linked to the rise of the far right.

“The anti-semitic attack on a German Synagogue is the latest horrific example of far right terrorism against the Jewish and Muslim communities. 

“At a time when the US president and British prime minister are pushing bigotry and feeding the far right, it is absolutely vital that all those opposed to racism, Islamophobia & antisemitism work together to oppose it. That is why Saturday’s conference is so crucial.”