THE terrorism unleashed in Southport, Manchester and London by sections of a peculiar “Very British” fascism was on display last week.

Abusing the tragedy of the loss of three young girls’ lives and the injuring and traumatising of so many on Merseyside, hundreds of racist thugs took to the streets with disinformation from social media about a “Muslim” named perpetrator. Lies amplified by so-called mainstream-right politicians like Nigel Farage.

This flare-up of racist hatred and the ghoulish capitalising on schoolkids’ murders is just the latest white supremacist UK nationalist aggression that has dominated the debate on immigration, asylum and refugee rights for three decades.

READ MORE: How disinformation fuelled English far-right riots and fears Scotland could be next

Our relief that there was no religious motive for the senseless murders, however, provides small comfort. A clearly very disturbed young man perpetrated these hideous crimes, leaving many wondering: “Will this mean the far-right (or the fascists in suits, Reform UK) target Black people even more than they did before?”

The brilliant local community response in defence of the local mosque, the repairs and the clean-up demonstrate that the thugs have no support in Southport as the locals should be grieving in peace and dignity – across these islands, we are facing some immediate tasks. This includes making a call to the independence movement.

Those calling for a national independence march elsewhere really haven’t got their priorities right nor seem to understand the importance of Yes supporters being a key component of the urgent anti-racist/anti-fascist response. They should postpone the Edinburgh demo and rally their saltires to Glasgow because it’s obvious that there’s a clear and present danger of fascist racial violence on Glasgow’s streets if this so-called march for the Union goes ahead.

(Image: Newsquest)

I’m glad our council leader Susan Aitken (above) has made it clear that they’re not welcome here but we need to go much further. We must oppose the racists on the streets to ensure our own safety given the track record of Police Scotland has been lacking in policing fascist groups compared to what force they use on pro-Palestine, climate and anti-racism protesters.

When thugs rampage on our streets, it’s clear to many potential victims of their violence that the state (police, courts, judges who are themselves too often perpetrators of institutionalised discrimination, injustice and abuse) will not sufficiently defend them by action.

By rights, Prime Minister Keir Starmer should be issuing banning orders and proscribing (making illegal) these violent far-right groups as the terrorists they are. We doubt that’s what he’ll do!

READ MORE: Humza Yousaf slams politicians 'normalising far-right language'

It is now up to the citizens of Glasgow to do that. So, let’s turn up in our numbers, occupy our key locations and say: “They shall not (and shall never) pass!” Only then will the police do the right thing and prevent these violent thugs from entering our city centre at all.

If independence is a progressive mission that breaks with the UK’s shameful record of racism and imperialism, then the most important place for any independence supporters to be on September 7 is in Glasgow. No other demonstration takes precedence over our collective responsibility to defend our friends, neighbours and co-workers in marginalised communities.

The Radical Independence Campaign will work in tandem with others across the independence movement, the left and other social movements to build the largest possible mobilisation on the day. We urge organisations and activists who share our commitment to get in touch via contact@ric.scot

Cllr Graham Campbell is the co-convener of SNP Socialists

Shelly-Ann Brown is the SNP’s national BAME convener