~ Scott Harris ~

Over 400 students and staff joined a rally opposing the invitation of a racist, far-right speaker to the University of York campus on Friday evening. They were protesting against an event organised by York Reform Society featuring Jack Anderton, best known for running the Reform UK Leader Nigel Farage’s TikTok account.

Anderton has made frequent racist statements, and last June stated on his website that “white people are being displaced…as government departments use [the Equality Act] to push extreme racial, gender, and societal changes”. He has also stated that he believes Britain would be better off had it not fought and defeated the Nazis in World War Two, and lauded human rights abuses being committed by authoritarian leaders around the world.

“He says immigration has stolen the youth’s future”, said a student, “You know what stole our future? The climate crisis, the greed of billionaires, landlords and politicians who would rather have us stab our neighbours, force trans people to live as second class citizens and have us live in fear rather than look upwards”.

The rally was organised by the York Student Action Network (YSAN) after the students’ union allowed the event to go ahead despite concerns raised by racialised and minoritised students about their safety. The protesters marched to the location of the event on the University’s East Campus. “Jack Anderton is a white supremacist and his views have no place on our campus or in our society”, said the group

Friday’s rally comes nine months after hundreds of students, staff, and local residents mobilised to oppose Reform UK Deputy Leader Richard Tice on a campus visit.