ANTI-FASCISTS are hitting the streets this weekend to counter the biggest surge of far-right protests since the riots of August 2024.

More than 20 rallies against hotels housing refugees have been planned, starting today and continuing tomorrow.

They face fierce resistance from trade unionists, campaigners and local communities who have united to stage counter-protests up and down the country.

Anti-racists will mobilise tomorrow outside the Richmond Hotel in Liverpool starting at noon, the Mercure Brigstow Hotel in Bristol at 11.30am and the Roundhouse in Bournemouth at midday.

A demonstration will also take place outside Nuneaton Town Hall at midday, after Reform council leader George Finch claimed Warwickshire Police had held back information about the alleged rape of a 12-year-old girl.

The main admin of the Facebook page organising the demonstration is a leading member of neonazi group Homeland, with fellow traveller groups Patriotic Alternative and The Great British National Protest also being involved.

Stand Up to Racism (SUTR) co-convener Weyman Bennett said: “Many of these protests involve Hitler admirers and neonazis. They are being encouraged by the language of Nigel Farage and mainstream politicians.”

SUTR co-convener Sabby Dhalu added: “We must push back the tide of racism and fascism by mobilising against these demonstrations, challenging racism and demanding a fair human rights-based refugee policy.”

Protests were due to take place last night outside hotels in Altrincham, Southampton, the Wirral, Leicester, Islington, Cheshunt, Bowthrope and Aldershot as the Morning Star went to print.

It will be the largest wave of anti-immigrant protests since last summer, after far-right agitators exploited the fatal stabbing of three young girls in Southport to incite riots.

More than 1,800 people have been arrested and 1,110 charged in the 12 months since the disorder.

The latest protests follow violent clashes in Epping, where mobs threw missiles and attacked police outside a refugee hotel.

In Canary Wharf, a group of protesters tried to break into the Britannia International Hotel last weekend and harassed occupants and staff.