THOUSANDS of people are expected to join anti-racism marches across Britain on Saturday as part of a global day of action.

Protests are set to take place in London, Glasgow and Cardiff to challenge the government’s recent anti-refugee legislation and hostile environment policies on UN Anti-Racism Day.

Organisers of the international action have called on people to stand up together against racism and fascism and the “politics of divide and rule” amid the cost-of-living crisis across the world.

Stand Up To Racism co-convener Weyman Bennett said: “We are continuing to see a polarising world in 2023, as the economic, political and ecological crisis deepens.

“The cost-of-living-crisis is hitting millions of people hard, while governments have dragged the mainstream political discourse to the right.

“In many cases across the board they are seeking to intensify racist hostile environments, making border policies more brutal and inhumane for those seeking refuge and merely a safe life.”

Mr Bennett said that refugees are often fleeing war, persecution and oppression, or climate chaos, warning that their demonising and scapegoating is “opening the space to give far-right and fascist forces oxygen to grow.

“But from Black Lives Matter to the resistance in many countries to racist pushbacks, we can see that millions of people are opposed to institutional racism and the racist offensive,” he added.

“With fascists like Meloni and her Brothers of Italy, Le Pen and the National Rally in France, or the Swedish Democrats making dramatic electoral gains and entering government, organising as a matter of urgency to expose and oppose fascists in the wider street movements and in office is imperative.

“We also have to continue to fight the racist offensive from governments and Establishment parties that fertilise the ground for them to grow.”

He said that the day of global action was an opportunity to come together and “assert the collective power of the anti-racist majority.”

“The stakes are too high,” he said. “We must place anti-racist mobilisation at the centre of the movement for unity, resistance and solidarity.”

Protesters in London are due to gather outside the BBC, Portland Place at 12 noon.

In Cardiff, the demonstration is set to begin outside City Hall and in Glasgow at George Square, both at 11am.