THE world feels like a frightening place since Donald Trump’s inauguration as US president.

His first two weeks in office have unfortunately lived up to the racism, hatred and Islamophobia unleashed during his campaign.

It is a profound irony that on Monday morning we woke up to the news of what Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau correctly described as a “terrorist attack on Muslims” on a mosque in Quebec, yet days before its neighbouring country closed its doors to many Muslims in the world.

There is a direct link between racist and Islamophobic terrorist attacks and racist policies and political hate speech that receive global coverage.

Muslims are always portrayed as the perpetrators of terrorism, but never the victims.

Muslims in the countries affected by this ban are often refugees fleeing terrorism, war and persecution.

The US is closing its borders to the victims of terrorism not the perpetrators.

Chillingly, the executive order on the Muslim travel ban was issued on Holocaust Memorial Day, a day which felt more sombre than previous years. Since the end of the second world war, the world confidently said: “Never again.”

Now we are less certain about whether the horrors of nazism’s rise to power will never be repeated.

Front National leader Marine Le Pen could poll a high vote in the French presidential election.

Meanwhile refugees are being abandoned by Britain and Europe to destitution, drowning and exploitation.

May’s refusal to strongly condemn Trump’s Muslim ban is somewhat reminiscent of Neville Chamberlain’s appeasement of fascism in the 1930s. She claimed that immigration policy is a matter for the US government. May is wrong. Trump’s Muslim ban is a matter for all decent people and must be opposed.

May’s approach to withdrawing from the EU is conceding to racism, the Tory hard right and Ukip.

May is due to trigger Article 50 by the end of March to “have the freedom to choose the way we control immigration.” This is prioritising cutting immigration over and above anything else.

Polls show Leave and Remain voters are united in refusing to accept cutting immigration at the expense of jobs and the economy. May’s “hard Brexit” will cost people jobs, so let’s unite against racism.

We must tell the truth about immigration — our economy, jobs and pensions depend on them.

Trump and May’s shift to the right stems from the same problem: austerity and the fall in living standards.

The Establishment has failed to implement policies that make people better off.

Instead of scapegoating Muslims, Mexicans, Polish immigrants and others, we need policies that give us jobs, houses and secure the NHS.

There is hope. We can stop this surge of the racist right. Today we are marching in great numbers against Trump’s Muslim ban.

Earlier this week there was a huge demonstration against the Muslim ban and huge demos at JFK airport in New York and in Los Angeles.

Two weeks ago, three million women and others across the globe marched against Trump’s racism, sexism, homophobia and bigotry.

The lesson of history is that we must unite against racism and fascism.

The chosen target of attack may be Muslims now but tomorrow it will be women, trade unions, Jews and LGBT communities.

Join us on the March Against Racism on Saturday March 18 marking UN Anti-Racism Day. This is a global day of action against racism in all its forms.

The event is supported by the TUC, Unison, Unite, NUT, CWU, UCU, Aslef, PCS, BFAWU and Muslim Engagement and Development.

There has never been a more important time in recent history to stand up to racism.

We can turn back the tide of racism.

• Sabby Dhalu is co-convener of Stand Up to Racism. For more information on Stand Up to Racism visit: standuptoracism.org.uk.
• Today a protest organised by Stop the War, Stand Up to Racism, the Muslim Association of Britain and other organisations against US President Donald Trump’s Muslim ban and possible state visit to Britain will be held from 11am, starting at the US embassy in Grosvenor Square, London.

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