We must summon up Kenmure Street spirit and stand against racism

Absolutely. It could be one of the best ways to celebrate the tenth anniversary of the indyref. Back then, there was spirit, energy and determination. Folk felt a strong sense of connectedness and responsibility for all the citizens of this country. We need to feel that and act upon it again.

Muslims like Humza Yousaf (below) feel disheartened, fearful for their families and uncertain about their future in Scotland – even though this is a country the former first minister clearly loves. He speaks for many people – all of them Scots.

And this point is vitally important.

We are being asked to step up to protect our ain folk. Will we do it?

Scotland’s definition of citizenship was effectively created at the indyref. Anyone who had lived here for three months could vote. Scots born but not currently living here – like the late Bahamas-based Sean Connery – could not. And hardly anyone complained.

If you’re here, you’re in – the simplest and most powerful evocation of civic nationalism, with ethnicity playing no role. That’s not to say racism doesn’t exist – some days we are not our best selves. But the contrast with the citizenship defined by Westminster for the Brexit referendum couldn’t be greater.

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In 2016, only British, Irish and Commonwealth citizens could vote – excluding hundreds of thousands who had always believed this was their home. The Brexit vote was ethnic. And no-one down south complained about that either.

Scots know we are Jock Tamson’s bairns, which means we must show solidarity, not just talk a good game.

And it can be done.

In May 2021, two Sikh men – a chef Sumit Sehdev and mechanic Lakhvir Singh – were taken from their home in Kenmure Street, Govanhill, and detained in a Home Office van for supposed immigration violations. Immediately neighbours and refugee support networks sprang into action and surrounded the van.

The men were Indian nationals in their 30s who had lived in Scotland for 10 years but without official leave to remain – living on tenterhooks like asylum seekers cooped up in hotels by Tory governments to stoke up public rage over the cost of their housing.

That sit-in on Kenmure Street had all the ingredients for trouble.

But there was none.

No rage.

No violence.

No lapse in self-discipline by the thousand-strong crowd.

No arrests.

There were cups of tea and sandwiches brought out by other neighbours.

There was the famous but unnamed “van man” lying beneath the van to make sure it didn’t drive off.

There was mediation between activists, lawyer Aamer Anwar, Police Scotland and the Home Office police. The stand-off lasted eight hours. But folk were quietly determined. They waited and trusted the process.

And they won. Sumit and Lakhvir were released and still live locally.

A huge result – for them, for Kenmure Street, community relations and everything progressive Scots hold dear.

Now I’ll grant you, it will be hard and perhaps impossible to wrest such a positive outcome from September 7. Dealing with uninhibited far-right thugs organised by the Patriotic Alternative, English Defence League (EDL) and (from a distance) Stephen Yaxley-Lennon is not the same as dealing with Home Office police who quickly realised their every move was being filmed by hundreds of locals.

George Square is a general civic space over which Scotland’s far right do feel ownership – in July 2018 a Scottish Defence League protest against the “Islamification” of Scotland (for crying in a bucket) saw mounted police and officers with dogs brought in to separate them from counter-demonstrators. By contrast, Kenmure Street was a safe space – home to almost everyone who pitched up.

Equally there was a matter of timing. The Kenmure Street raid was conducted on the dawn of Eid – especially provocative in Scotland’s most ethnically diverse constituency. But it’s not clear why shadowy right groups have picked September 7 for their “Pro UK Rally” – it was initially called “Stop the Boats” and set for August 10 – this Saturday.

Clearly, that could still happen and groups from Dumfries to Aberdeen are organising peaceful support rallies just in case.

But there is another big difference. Activists from ethnic backgrounds moved like greased lightning when the Home Office struck at Kenmure Street in 2021. But the same folk don’t feel safe to confront the far-right in George Square on September 7.

According to one prominent campaigner: “I’ve never felt this way before. Friends are asking if it’s even safe to leave the house. People making comments to our faces feel bolder now. We are telling children how to act if they are threatened. We must think about not provoking racists.

“I can’t get over that people could set a hotel on fire [in Rotherham] with people inside. They could come and target asylum seeker hotels here. And in George Square, they could target us. We also have to get there and get home safely. So, we might not turn up. But we do need people there from other backgrounds. I would feel terrible if racists were able to walk our streets freely.”

Wouldn’t you? Basically, Scots from ethnic minorities need the majority population to act – folk whose skin colour makes them less likely to be targeted.

It’s called solidarity. That means not being a bystander if you hear or see racist slurs or attacks around you. It means a peaceful, organised but determined presence in George Square on September 7, coordinated with Police Scotland. But above all it means creating a counter-narrative of hope for Muslim communities in Scotland.

According to the campaigner I won’t name for her own safety, there is despair and weariness at the levels of anger and hate towards black and brown people around the world. And yet, there is also help, kindness, bravery, generosity and tolerance.

Communities under attack need hope and that springs from action.

Now, admittedly there’s been action, with three jail terms handed out yesterday to rioters. This could have a deterrent effect – though 100 towns in England were steeling themselves for more violence last night. Police in England have asked everyone to stay off the streets – not even to defend their mosques and communities. And I’m sure Police Scotland would prefer to avoid the difficulty of having right wing thugs and anti-racist protesters together in George Square next month.

But Scots from all backgrounds – from the Tartan Army to Palestine protests and AUOB – have a strong record of self-organisation. Planning, stewarding, communications and a bit of training help ensure safety and avoid confrontation.

But that needs to start now.

Yet there is a fear amongst Yessers that this right-wing rally is a trap designed to provoke a sparky response that will make Scotland look like the rest of the UK – violent, divided and unable to contain the far-right.

But what is independence for if it isn’t to protect every community in Scotland?

Indeed, what is a nation for if it can’t spot a threat and decide to act? If even a few people go out to counterprotest – and they certainly will – the media’s narrative of “both sides are at it” is already written.

Whatever.

We can’t keep independence as a nice pristine project or live in fear of the small incidents, mistakes, or occasional bams that will allow the media to go off on one. If we can only maintain Scotland’s reputation for trouble-free events by avoiding a gathering of largely imported racists, who are we?

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September 7 can be a positive, powerful demonstration of common cause with folk from every political tradition in Scotland – the trade union movement, Stand up against Racism, AUOB and all. Or Yessers can sit on their collective hands.

The SNP conference takes place a week before September 7 – will there be an emergency motion urging members to get to George Square or will the party look the other way? I’d say this is one challenge neither party nor independence movement can duck.

And if the far-right impetus totally peters out beforehand, a giant Scottish rally to assert progressive values would be no bad thing.

Better and safer to be big, organised and planned than last-minute and disorganised.

And vital to show New Scots that we always take care of one another.