A special award honoured the work of Stand Up to Racism (SUTR) and Unite Against Fascism (UAF) at Fusion.

The Fusion Awards were held on Saturday July 6 at King George’s Hall, Blackburn attracting volunteers, charity workers and sporting talent from across the North West.

The Campaign of the Year recognises the work of the groups of volunteers who have helped to highlight the dangers extremism poses to our communities.

VIDEO FILMED BY SHAKIL SALAM

North West members of the groups organised a range of protests across Cheshire, Cumbria, Greater Manchester, Lancashire and Merseyside.

Among those was an event where 80 people rallied in support of Manchester's Didsbury Mosque. Far right groups and supporters had planned a protest outside the building.

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Their most high-profile campaign in the run up the 2019 EU elections mobilised people in the North West to stop far right leader Tommy Robinson being elected as MEP for the North West Region.

VIEW ALL FUSION AWARDS PICTURES HERE

Paul Jenkins said, "There were so many people across the North West that supported us and got involved. We wouldn't be here if it wasn't for the work that everyone around the North West did. It's wonderful that the work we did as community activists got recognition."

SUTR and UAF, launched the campaign, with the support of trades unions and others on 25 April - the same night Robinson announced he was standing, and have delivered thousands of leaflets, posters and stickers over the past few months. 

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Nahella Ashraf from Stand Up To Racism said, “I'd like to thank the hundreds of activists that came out across the North West to make this happen. We have shown that there is no place in mainstream politics for a fascist.

“The campaign Stand Up To Racism and Unite Against Fascism ran showed that we can pull people together to regardless of how they voted in the referendum.”