Iran and the Middle East in flames  

 Trump is wounded by the Iran debacle - but he is dangerous and continuing to lash out. The "ceasefire" is very fragile, with the US military seizing an Iranian ship near Hormuz and Israel continuing to assault Lebanon. Plus the economic impact is huge, with the war likely to precipate a cost of living crisis.   

 See below for protest this weekend against the war and to close US airbase at Fairford.

  All out for 16 May  

 Stand Up to Racism and the Palestine coalition - including Palestine Solidarity Campaign, Stop the War, Friends of Al Aqsa - have just announced a joint demonstration against Tommy Robinson for Saturday 16 May. See announcement on Instagram, Facebook and X.
 
Called under the slogan Nakba 78: Justice for Palestine, united against Tommy Robinson and the far right, the demo is a huge opportunity to outnumber Robinson and halt the momentum of his street movement. 
 
It is very significant that there is a joint mobilisation bringing together the anti-racist movement that came out so brilliantly for the Together march with the Palestine movement that has put millions on the streets against genocide. The two combined can build a dynamite force capable of stopping Robinson. See end for details of Oxford coach.

 Stop Reform UK in May   

 Reform is hoping to make a breakthrough in the coming local elections.  A rag bag of ex-Tories and racists are hoping to ride Reform UK's racist campaign into power. 

Stand Up To Racism is mounting a national campaign to deliver a blow to Reform UK's election dreams by exposing Reform UK as a party built for the rich that uses racism to divide us.  Read this newsheet exposing Reform UK.

Oxford Stand Up To Racism is distributing flyers across multiple wards in Oxfordshire where Reform are standing and we urge readers of this bulletin to support the campaign to deliver a blow to Reform UK's election hopes. Let's keep the racists out of office.

Email contact@oxfordstanduptoracism.org.uk if you would like to help get out this anti-Reform UK flyer and/or you would like to help build the national march against Tommy Roboinson's mobilisation in May.

Flyers can be supplied for free on request from local campaign or you can order a campaign pack for your area. 

Can you help Oxford Stand Up To Racism raise £400 to cover the costs of printing 20,000 flyers?  Please donate here. 

The Together Against the Far Right alliance march in central London on 28 March, 500,000 people strong, was a massive show of love, hope and unity. Four coaches went from the Oxford area alone.

But in our communities, we still have far right street thugs attempting to intimidate people. And threatening to increase its reach on our local councils, we still have racist Reform UK.

So what can we do next – to counter the hate and division of the far right? How can we build on the energy demonstrated by the Together march?

To give people a chance to exchange ideas with others about how we can drive back the far right, Oxford Stand Up To Racism is organising a public meeting. 

A small panel of speakers will kick off the discussion. We hope to see you there!

Public meeting:

"From elections to street movements:
How can we beat the far right?"

Tuesday 21 April, 7pm

Friends Meeting House, St Giles, Oxford OX1 3LW

Hosted by Oxford Stand Up To Racism

  

 No to Racism - Stop the Far Right!⛔Counter-demonstration

Saturday 25th April

Assemble 11:30 Oxfordshire county Hall, New Road, OX1 1A

Bring signs, banners, musical instruments and friends!

+ Stop Farage & Fascist Tommy Robinson Bumper Campaign Stall! 

Bonn square, same time, across the street from counter-demo.

🌊 Join us to build a tidal wave in the public to stop Reform UK and oppose Tommy Robinson on May 16th.

 Far right activists continue to try to build a movement of racist scapegoating. 'Raise the Colours' have repeatedly harassed and threatened council workers over their anti-migrant flags campaign. Oxford Patriots have called another racist protest around the flags to stir division and blame migrants, muslims and refugees for austerity.

This is us, our families, our neighbours, colleagues and friends. 

When the far right are allowed to spread hate and lies unopposed, it emboldens racist outbursts and hate crimes.

Bring your friends and let's leave no doubt that Oxford is a welcoming and proud anti-racist city!

  

People can contact 07946315325 to book seats on minibus from Oxford or if you prepared to drive and car share.

Next Oxford and Thames Valley meeting

 7.15 PM 29th April

 Elections, parliament and winning change: 

how can the left challenge Starmer?

 Michael Young Building, Manzil Way, East Oxford, OX4 1YH

What3 words ///sleeps/visits/spun

 Alll welcome

Stand Up To Racism will be mobilising in London on 16 May in discussion with the Palestine coalition who are organising the annual Nakba day demonstration on that date. Fascist Tommy Robinson has signalled his intention to mobilise on the day. We want to send a message of unity against the far right  
Book your seat on the Oxford coach to the march to counter Tommy Robinson
Book tickets to Marxism festival

Marxism 2026 is Britain's biggest left wing festival. We will be gathering in London on 2-5 July. We are gearing up for the biggest and most exciting festival yet.   

  

The early bird offer for Marxism 2026 end this Friday. Book this week to get a substantial discount on the cost of your ticket. 

Initial line up of speakers:

  • Yanis Varoufakis • Gary Younge • Jodi Dean • Zarah Sultana • Richard Boyd Barrett • Andrew Feinstein • James Meadway • Alyssa Battistoni • John Bellamy Foster • Ilan Pappe • Michael Roberts • MV Ramana • Samira Ali • Rebecca Jane Morgan • Matt Huber • Joseph Choonara • Liz Fekete • Judy Cox • Shahed Ezaydi • Tariq Ali

The Together demo on the 28th March saw 500,000 people take to the streets against the far-right, the biggest anti-racist mobilisation in British history. Discussing and debating the growth of the far right in Britain and globally will be one of the major themes of Marxism 2026. We will hear from academics and anti-fascist activists to discuss the unique danger posed by the present period and debate the strategy needed to drive them back. Don't miss it! 

We’re 4 months into 2026 and this year has seen the spectacular acceleration of political crisis and upheaval. Trump's war on Iran has plunged the region into chaos and increasingly threatens to tip the global economy into crisis. Mainstream politics is increasingly unable to provide answers or gain support in this period. We are witnessing the increasingly likely demise of the two biggest political parties in Westminster, with a resurgent Greens and Reform. Debating left strategy has never been more urgent.

 

Join thousands of people from across the world to make sense of this time of shock, awe and instability.  Across the weekend take part in mass rallies, alongside hundreds of meetings and workshops digging into history, theory and strategy. Expect sharp debates, meetings on key Marxist theory, film screenings, live music and cultural events.