Friends join march against the far right
‘They whip up racism to dehumanise whole populations.’
Quakers were among over half a million people who took to the streets of London this month to demonstrate against the far right in the UK.
Ruth Kettle-Frisby, from North East Thames Area Meeting, told the Friend that the march was organised by the Together Alliance. ‘I steadily made my way through the crowds, eventually joining fellow Quakers and good friends, Phil Laurie and Laurence Hall among others,’ she said. ‘For me, our faith-based place in the march was consciously against growing Islamophobia in this country, fear-mongering anti-refugee and asylum-seeker rhetoric, and of course our egregious military complicity in Israel’s racist occupation and genocide in Gaza, now spreading via the US/Israeli illegal, devastating attacks on Iran and Lebanon.’
Ruth added: ‘Meanwhile, our dear Friend Rajan Naidu was arrested and piled into a police van outside New Scotland Yard for peacefully protesting against state war crimes and genocide.’
CND described the march as the biggest ever demonstration against the far right. As part of the Palestine Coalition, CND also helped organise a 30,000-strong feeder march which it said was met by huge cheers as it joined the main protest at Hyde Park Corner.
Speaking ahead of the march, Sophie Bolt, CND general secretary, explained why CND is part of the Together Alliance. ‘Uniting against the far right is critical to halt the growth of war and the nuclear threats we face. Far right figures like Nigel Farage and Tommy Robinson are cheerleaders for Donald Trump’s global wars. They whip up racism to dehumanise whole populations and justify illegal wars like Iraq and now the horrific war unfolding in Iran.’
Sophie Bolt’s speech can be viewed on Facebook and Instagram.
Comments
John Woolman urged Friends to “try whether the seeds of war have nourishment in these our possessions.”
I ask Friends to consider whether their enthusiasm to march with people calling for the elimination of the State of Israel and support for the murderous Ayatollah regime in Iran does not nourish the seeds of the current wave of arson attacks against the British Jewish community.
YiF
Ol Rappaport
By Ol Rappaport on 20th April 2026 - 8:33
Please login to add a comment
