Brits take to streets on UN anti-racism day

Thousands of people in Britain are taking part in a national demonstration against what they see as rising racism and fascism across Europe.

The protests which have been organized by over a dozen anti-racism groups, including Stand Up To Racism, Unite Against Fascism, the Muslim Council of Britain, and Stop the War, are aimed at commemorating the UN anti-racism day.

Marches are also being held in capitals across Europe and around the world. The day commemorates the victims of the Sharpeville massacre in 1960, when 69 peaceful protesters against apartheid were killed in South African.

Last year, over 10,000 people took part in protests in London to call for action on racism.

“From Germany to Greece to Ferguson, people who want a society free from racism are saying no more. People are taking to the streets in large numbers to oppose the racist Pegida movement in Germany and the Neo-Nazi Golden Dawn in Greece, and to protest institutional racism and police violence against Black communities", the main UK organizer said in a statement.

In London, protesters assembled in front of the BBC to march to Trafalgar Square, close to parliament. They held banners reading "No to Islamophobia”, Muslim Lives Matter", "From Ferguson to London Black Lives Matter", and "Immigrants Are Welcome Here"

"They are angry at the rise of far-right groups. For example there is a lot of anger towards the UK party. They feel the UK policy is racist and targeting migrants, using them as an escape goat. Anger is also simmering towards other far-right parties across Europe that is really emerging", Mohamed Walji Press TV Correspondent told us from one of the protest venue in London.

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Many organizations have warned of a recent escalation of hatred, racism and Islamophobia in the UK. They say people are fed up and outraged over racist slogans and mass media silence over recent killings of Muslims and Blacks.

"There’s a frustration at the mainstream media not just at what they cover, but at the things that they choose not to cover. So, we had the shootings of 3 young Muslims in Chapel Hill which wasn’t covered by the mainstream media", Press TV's Walji  .

"So many have mobilized under the slogan 'Muslim Lives Matter'. Immigrant communities are fed up with being wrongly blamed for an economic crisis they did not create. On UN Anti-racism Day people across the world will be taking a stand," the organizer said.  

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