Countering fascism: reflection on “Hope Not Hate” Rally

The following is a reflection from a community member on the “Hope Not Hate” counter rally to the “Canada First” rally that took place on October 25, 2025. The author has been anonymized ensure safety from Canada First affiliates and doxxing efforts.

On October 25, community members from various London-based organizations held a counter-demonstration to a planned “Canada First” rally. The anti-immigrant rally was organized by a far-right group centred in the east end of Toronto and their associates in the Second Sons, a white nationalist men’s-only fraternity. The rally in London was one of a series of demonstrations held concurrently in Toronto, Halifax, and Calgary. While the demonstration largely proceeded without any violence, a number of interesting observations were made by both new and veteran anti-fascist organizers. Counter-protestors saw their 4-hour standoff against the protesters not just as a victory against hate; rather, as the mark of a disturbing trend towards the reemergence of open fascist organizing in London.

Context

London has long been known as a nexus of hate organizations. From the historic Klu Klux Klan, founded after the fall of the United States Confederacy to the activities of the Northern Alliance in the 2000s, and the recent murder of the Afzaal family in 2021; the organizing potential of neo-nazis and their offshoots continues to be a threat to the London community. With recent groups like Second Sons adopting a covert approach to operations, they manifest the values of preparedness and willingness to fight. Namely, in their capacity to organize so-called “Active Clubs,” where members train in fighting styles inspired by the street politics of the Rise Above Movement that surged to prominence during the first Trump era. Existing as a decentralized network of cells to be activated at any moment, they are able to act on any whim—from a banner drop to an organized attack on targeted communities.This stands in contrast to the previous approaches of the 2010s far-right which emphasized organized protests intended to provoke reactions, with easily identifiable uniforms, and a more or less centralized structure. 

Though one could be forgiven for thinking that this decentralized, “hidden” white supremacy embodied by their use of masks represents a retreat in the fascist creep, it is easily recognizable as a new pathway for young disenfranchised white men to join into a cause that they are readily accepted into. The fracturing of the white nationalist movement following the deadly events of Charlottesville in 2017 was visible even here in London as PEGIDA (Patriotic Europeans Against the Islamisation of the West)—an avowed Christian nationalist group with roots in Europe—saw their numbers rapidly drop as counter-demonstrations limited their freedom of action. We now see Canada First and Second Sons represent the latest in coordination between more generic far-right nationalist groups that appeal to populist sentiments and their white supremacist allies who act as more violent and masked enforcement.

London’s October 25 Anti-fascist Response 

Past lessons in London anti-fascist organizing appear to show a common theme: we go where they go. This Saturday was no different. As the counter rally for “Hope Not Hate” kicked off, London community members reveled in mutual joy of each other’s company, sharing soup and coffee along with some minimal chanting and speeches. It was a wholesome experience. The counter demonstration was organized by the London and District Labour Council, Forest City Solidarity, and the London Branch of the International Socialists. To see veterans of London community organizing alongside the newest generation of young activists brought together a sense of strong solidarity and care for another as each person played their role. Despite the joy in the first hour as the hate rally consolidated its dozen or so members across the park, that mood quickly shifted when activists learned that the rally was “coming this way”. Frantic reorganization set in as people hurriedly prepared to move. Mild fear of course was present as those of us who had seen this before knew that things could get ugly but still, all seemed determined to bring the protest to the fascists directly. For myself I was reminded of all the times I shared the street with those comrades against PEGIDA and knew that whatever happens today was up to how we reacted to the provocations and vitriol of these groups. It’s easy for things to get out of hand in large groups with police presence so I took a breath and hoped for the best.

When we arrived at the Victoria Park bandstand, we found a pretty interesting sight. The Second Sons had left the park immediately as we arrived. They rolled up their banner that had the phrases “No Blood for Israel” and “Mass Deportations Now” which they previously unfurled at a local mall and truck stop. The messaging for their photo ops combined the group’s overt anti-Semitism with calls for “remigration” of all non-white immigrants in Canada. It’s unclear if this was intentional strategy or recognition that their numbers were solely lacking but the end result was less than two dozen Canada First protestors who attempted to heckle the main march with Canadian flags and hellacious yelling. The counter protest circled the Canada First rally a few times and then established a front with the demonstration which was increasingly being encircled by police. After some attempted heckling, the Canada First march attempted to leave the park to march down Richmond Street and appeared to take on a couple members who may have been Second Sons individuals that simply changed out of their black outfits. The counter-protest followed, at times on opposite ends of the street to indicate to passerbys who had the larger presence with one Canada First individual being arrested on suspicion of having an openly sheathed knife. 

The protest returned to the park gates and all seemed to be wrapping up for the day until organizers called everyone back to the bandstand where the Canada First individuals attempted to reconstitute their demonstration. Though some had left by this point, several returned. The counter demonstration firmly established that we would not be leaving until the Canada First participants did first to ensure our community members’ safety. Eventually, one by one, these individuals left the park and organizers remained on ground to ensure all had escorts back to their homes or vehicles. It was a long day but a great opportunity to take a small win for whatever it’s worth.

What’s next

The success of one demonstration, as my experience with PEGIDA showed, does not always guarantee the success of all. One thing I have learned is that fascist and far-right groups are extremely motivated, perhaps fanatically so, when faced with overwhelming opposition. It’s admirable from an organizing perspective that one could host concurrent rallies only to be shouted down at virtually all of them by a much larger and more experienced crowd of anti-fascists. What disturbs me is knowing that these rallies are not the end game of these organizations. Whether we speak of Canada First, PEGIDA, Proud Boys, Second Sons, or any other hate group, these are organizations which are currently riding the wave of popular discontent with the broken post-Covid 19 world. They morph in some ways but largely have stayed the same since their inception and their target audience has not changed.

London’s vulnerable and marginalized community knows all too well the end result of white supremacist beliefs. Following a period of hiatus from PEGIDA demonstrations, the murder of the Afzaal family firmly reestablished the stakes for all of us that these are not ordinary demonstrations or tolerable dissenting opinions to be given the time of day. They fester in the very rot that exists at the centre of our system. Fascism remains a force which must be opposed no matter how small or large it has become and its antithesis anti-fascism must be the vehicle to oppose it. As the United States moves towards designating “Antifa” as a foreign terrorist organization, the stakes for our opposition have never been higher. Every comrade who was there Saturday represented a small atom of resistance that pushes back against the tidal waves of reaction and carries the fighting spirits of our ancestors who resisted the same enemy in their time as well. I’m proud to have stood ground with such brave people and to share this victory knowing that our community is strong, unbreakable, and will not cede any territory to this scourge.