All eyes were on London on 16 May 2026, as another large far-right march went ahead. Many counter-protesters converged in London to assert their commitment to justice, peace, and humanity.
Over the last few years, demonstrations, marches, and hostile altercations have become the fabric of our everyday lives. On the street, outside asylum hotels, and in public squares, acts of both confrontation and solidarity were witnessed, raising the adrenaline levels of participants and spectators alike. Afterwards, however, people left the scene. People went home.
Those of us who are being targeted by this racist hatred and hostility cannot leave the scene. The shouting, the faces contorted in anger, the sight of flags waved around intimidatingly – they paralyse us and linger in our minds, uninvited. We do not have a safe home to go back to, because it feels like our home is on fire.
Right to Remain has been holding spaces for groups and people affected by this surge of hostility, emboldened by successive governments. We do this as part of our public legal education, strategic convening, and campaigning and organising work. All of these involve people, and people need to feel present before we can do our collective work of building the migration justice movement. We undertake this repair work collectively, holding spaces for each other.
In these spaces, we hear the same questions repeatedly: What happens after these marches? What happens to people harmed by hatred?
We must spread solidarity beyond marches. We need to steadily repair the community that has been under so much stress.
Another observation shared repeatedly is this: social media likes and shares are great, but where is the action?
We need to actually show up. We cannot be present through social media.
We know that the latest far-right march took place in London, but we are asking you to step up and show up in areas outside London where people might feel more exposed to hostility. We are also specifically asking you to support grassroots groups that need donations, volunteers, and love – people that need you. You might not see their action on social media, but their vital solidarity work is real and embedded in their local community – this is what we need more than ever. We must build stronger connections and relationships, to resist the tide of hatred to survive and build a better future to thrive.
Below are some of the local groups working with people seeking asylum, migrants, and others, whom we got to know through Right to Remain’s public legal education work and our Toolkit. These groups continue to generate solidarity with and for people long after the marches are over. They will continue to hold space for people affected by racist hostility – we are grateful for all they do.
Support Cooking and Community Project in Ashford, Kent!
Napier Friends is building a supportive community for refugees and the wider community in Ashford. They are supporting connection, integration and increased wellbeing through cooking, crafting, learning English, and social activities. You can support their fundraiser here!
Tinned food, pasta and rice (and more) needed in Leeds!
PAFRAS (Positive Action For Refugees and Asylum Seekers) in Leeds are currently very low on food in their food room. Rises in food prices have led to the perfect storm – while the need for food is as high as ever. Next time you do a food shop, please consider adding a couple of tins to your basket for folks seeking asylum in Leeds. They ALWAYS need tinned chickpeas, tinned tomatoes, tinned fish, tinned fruit, pasta and rice.
Help people seeking asylum in Tees Valley access justice!
Justice First was set up in 2006 in response to a lack of specialist legal advice and support for asylum seekers and refugees arriving in the Tees Valley. The core purpose of Justice First remains to respond to the needs of people in the Tees Valley who are seeking asylum in the UK but have had their initial application rejected.
Football buddies and befrienders sought for people seeking asylum in Birmingham!
BIRCH is a small but mighty group active in Birmingham. They offer support and friendship to people seeking sanctuary, who are on the periphery of society. They are a volunteer-led charity that harnesses the hospitality of the local community with a view to making Birmingham become a welcoming city of sanctuary to migrants.
ALWAYS SUPPORT LOCAL GROUPS! Please be present for them, and even better, be part of them.
Right to Remain team
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