“I’m not going to tell you what your tactics should be. Each other’s tactics are not the problem. But I do believe that we can do more than shout ‘not in my name’. We can organize on whatever levels, in our everyday lives, on the streets AND in mainstream politics.
“We can refuse the divisions that have been imposed upon us. We can insist that we all get the world and community we deserve.
“We can refuse to be sacrificed for some Eton boys’ game. We can refuse to stay broken.”
However, Green Councillor Tom Druitt took a different stance, encouraging everyone at the rally to find a stranger and give them a hug. He said that he encouraged everyone to campaign peacefully for the loving, welcoming, open community of Brighton and Hove and beyond.
Said Mr Druitt: “I was angry. Angry that so many people had been duped by a pack of lies. Angry that the right-wing media had perpetuated the myths so willfully and effectively.
“Angry that people had been taken in and targeted their understandable disillusionment and frustration with the establishment, not at the people who are actually responsible, but at the most vulnerable in our society.”
Green councillor Phelim MacCafferty warned that Sussex University together with the University of Brighton will lose £730 million a year of EU research funding for future scientists, medics and engineers.
Mr MacCafferty also urged the audience to join him in proclaiming: “immigrants, you are welcome here”.
Following on from this rally, Brighton Antifascist Network have announced an anti-racism event to be held on The Level on Sunday July 3rd. Supporters are asked to gather at 12.30pm.
