A COACH-LOAD of Stand Up To Racism supporters from Barnsley joined the largest anti-racism demonstration in British history recently.

Half a million people were reportedly in attendance at the protest in London.

It was called by the Trades Union Council, major trade unions and over 400 different organisations plus a large number of singers, actors and other cultural figures.

A number of people from Barnsley and Rotherham were in attendance at the event.

Crowds took to the capital’s streets, with placards displaying messages including ‘fight ignorance not immigrants’ and ‘reject racist lies’ visible.

High-profile figures such as Sir Lenny Henry, Paloma Faith and Billy Bragg backed the event.

While there were also a number of politicians in attendance, including Green Party leader Zack Polanski.

Fran Postlethwaite, from the Barnsley branch of Stand Up To Racism, told the Chronicle: “It was a great day.

“Our intention was to show that the vast majority of people in our country are opposed to the policies of Reform which intend to slash public services, cut tax for the rich, smash workers’ rights and gut trade union strength and use racism to divide people.

“Like many people I’m fed up of the Tory policies that devastated our area and I’m disappointed that Labour have not offered a better way forward.

“But we mustn’t let Reform con us as an alternative.

“They have made things chaotic in the councils they won control of last May.”