RCT Socialist Party member
On 26 July, the racist so-called Voice of Wales held a meeting in the Coed Ely club in Tonyrefail, Rhondda Cynon Taff (RCT). There was a counter protest organised by Stand Up to Racism, among others. When we arrived there was a shouting match going on – the anti-racist protesters were shouting “fascists, racists off our streets” and the people on the terraces of the club were shouting back. It was very loud and difficult for anyone to think, let alone make themselves heard.
The people gathered in the club were clearly not all hardened racists or fascists, or all members of the Voice of Wales. There were families there with children, and others who just seemed like local people and club members. Shouting at them likely just alienated them – thus driving them into the hands of the far right, including the Voice of Wales who were present with them.
I was there holding the Caerphilly Trades Council banner, and copies of the Socialist paper. We were the most visible trade union presence, although there were some PCS placards in the crowd. There were no speeches made, so no political ideas presented.
As I was not shouting at the people on the terrace above they started talking to me and it was quite interesting to hear what they were saying. I heard comments of “is that all you have to say?”, as well as “what do you mean by ‘fascist’?” and “genuine refugees are welcome”. They were asking me what the trades council were doing there and wanted to have a look at the front page of the paper. When they saw our main headline criticising Labour ‘Labour vs the working class – solidarity with Brum bin strike’ they said they don’t like Labour either. When I talked about the trades council representing workers they replied saying they are workers too.
I believe the anti-racist protest would have been more effective had it adopted demands appealing to those not members of Voice of Wales in the club – ‘Join a united fight for jobs, homes and services, not racism’, for example.
