The criticism came amid King Charles and Queen Camilla’s visit to Waltham Forest Town Hall today in celebration of the anti far-right August protest, reports Marco Marcelline
Credit: Bradley Crees
Community activists and organisations have criticised Waltham Forest Council for “taking credit” for the massive anti-racist protest it told people to stay away from in August.
The criticism came amid King Charles and Queen Camilla’s visit to Waltham Forest Town Hall for a reception today (20th December) to “celebrate” the anti-racist mobilisation.
The royals met with councillors, local MPs, community volunteers, youth representatives, emergency services, front line staff and faith representatives.
Former asylum seeker Usman Khan, who now runs Haven Cafe, served refreshments at the reception while A Little Choir of Joy, made up of children from Waltham Forest schools, performed festive songs.
The King and Queen then greeted the public who had lined up in Fellowship Square before leaving at around midday.
The 7th August protest the visit was in celebration of came at the tailend of a week of far-right riots across England that were sparked by false social media reports that the killer of three girls in Southport was a Muslim asylum seeker.
King Charles meeting with senior councillors, Credit: Penny Dampier
On the day, many Hoe Street shops were shut after the Metropolitan Police warned of potential “disruption and disorder” in the area. Walthamstow MP Stella Creasy and the council had relayed police advice for people to avoid Walthamstow town centre.
However, thousands of people opted to ignore the advice and attended the peaceful demonstration while no far-right members turned up.
One community organiser from a prominent Waltham Forest organisation said they only found out about the royal event after they received emails from locals asking if they were going.
Asking to remain anonymous, they said it was “surprising” that the council did not extend an invitation given the “relevance” their organisation had to what the visit was celebrating.
Meanwhile, Ulrike Schmidt and Siobhan Hawthorne, who co-chair Waltham Forest Stand Up To Racism told the Echo: “The council are being congratulated for an event that they did everything they could to stop going ahead; putting out statements telling people to stay at home, and telling ward councillors not to attend.”
Waltham Forest Trades Council secretary Kevin Parslow said: “We find it galling that the council is claiming the credit for defeating the far right when they were actively urging people not to turn out on the counter-protest. Our members risked their own safety to turn out and helped to get workers and the community to defend the [Hoe Street immigration] office, mosques and other buildings.”
In response to the upset, council leader Grace Williams said: “It was our residents who gathered in August to stand in unity against the violent racist protests seen across the country in the preceding days and show support for their neighbours.
“The council’s focus was on working with the police and community partners to keep everyone safe and reassured, and to be prepared in case the violence seen elsewhere across the country was replicated in Waltham Forest. Many people were involved in preparing for potential disorder on the night of the protest, including representatives from organisations [invited to the reception].”
The Echo understands that the council spent money on the visit but the exact amount will not be published until the forthcoming budget is announced.
Independent news outlets like ours – reporting for the community without rich backers – are under threat of closure, turning British towns into news deserts.
The audiences they serve know less, understand less, and can do less.
If our coverage has helped you understand our community a little bit better, please consider supporting us with a monthly, yearly or one-off donation.
Choose the news. Don’t lose the news.
Monthly direct debit
Annual direct debit
£5 per month supporters get a digital copy of each month’s paper before anyone else, £10 per month supporters get a digital copy of each month’s paper before anyone else and a print copy posted to them each month. £50 annual supporters get a digital copy of each month’s paper before anyone else.
More information on supporting us monthly or annually
More Information about donations