Elliot Franks' memory is a blessing

Last week we learned of the passing of our good friend and talented photographer, Elliott Franks. If you have been following Our Fight for a while, then you will have seen many of his photographs on our social media feeds and our website. He would invariably pitch up at protests, counter-protests, court appearances, and even birthday parties, and give both his time and his images for free.

Quiet. Unassuming. Modest. Yet always able to get his subjects to smile, laugh, cheer, punch the air, and feel that what they were doing would make a difference. There are hundreds of activists across many campaigns that will miss him. For all those who knew him, his memory is a blessing.

Elliott Franks’ memory is a blessing

“Each smile in these pictures is a smile that you brought out, dear Elliott.” Mark Birbeck writes of the sad passing of Elliott Franks, a talented professional photographer, who always made time to support activists in their stand against anti-Semitism, and in solidarity with Israel.

Our Fight: For Israel, Against Anti-SemitismOur Fight

A New British Fascism? Cable Street at 90

Much of our campaigning over the last few years has focused on those who call themselves "progressive". We have not been alone in observing that anti-Semitism has involved attacking Israel and its allies. It has ranged from blunt lies about Israel—accusations of genocide and apartheid—through to attempts to isolate it politically and economically. And perhaps most dangerously, the recasting of any support for a Jewish state—Zionism—as racist or extremist.

As a consequence we have challenged boycotts organised by the Palestine Solidarity Campaign, faced down 'anti-war' marches that refused to mention Hamas, and confronted the anti-Zionist motions of the Green Party.

But this week's members' catch-up meeting on 17 August, focused on the anti-Semitism of the right.

We took as our readings a couple of recent articles by Jake Wallis Simons in which he argued that a "fascist" strand is re-emerging in British politics, and that it deserves the same attention as the anti-Semitism of the Islamoleft. He contrasts this new movement with the fascism that was confronted in Cable Street, 90 years ago this October, pointing out that this time round the right has Parliamentary representation. (Articles linked below.)

And whilst the radical left has Israel and Jews in its sights, Simons points out that Lowe's Restore Britain is targeting Jews and Muslims, with its talk of "demographic security for the white British people."

Whether this movement will remain on the margins, become increasingly mainstream, or drag other parties towards it, is not clear. But what our discussion did agree on is that society is becoming increasingly polarised around prejudice, and that there is an increased urgency to build a campaign of allies.

There is a growing sense that addressing this problem involves reaffirming shared values, rather than encouraging more polarisation, and we should be working to find those who share that view.

If you would like to be part of these discussions then please become a paying member (details below), and get in touch.

Coming up

Saturday, 3 October: Save the date for our Rally Against Anti-Zionism, in Brighton.

Saturday-Sunday, 17-18 October: Battle of Ideas. Our Fight will have a stand and we will also be involved in a number of panel discussions. More details to follow on the panels, and a discount code if you would like to join us.

Sunday, 1 November: North London Friends of Israel's annual event, addressed by Josh Howie.

Sunday, 17 January 2027: Save the date for our National Conference on the Anti-Semitism Crisis.

You might have missed

Outside South Africa House in December 2024, Mark Birbeck explained why it was crucial to challenge the genocide libel:

If they succeed in redefining the war in Gaza as a genocide, then they will effectively redefine the Holocaust as just a war.

Today it's more pressing than ever.

Worth a read

Jake Wallis Simons on the emergence of a new British fascism, and Cable Street's 90th anniversary.

We are witnessing the emergence of a 21st century British fascism

From talk of ‘traitors’ to calls for mass deportations, a strain of US-inspired ethnonationalism has arrived on our shores

The TelegraphJake Wallis Simons

Dominic Green, in the Jewish Chronicle, on how fascists and cranks have gatecrashed Rupert Lowe's party.

Rupert Lowe is riding a tide of extremism as fascists and cranks have gatecrashed the party - The Jewish Chronicle

For many Restore Britain supporters, Jews cause all of this country’s problems. They see us as foreigners by blood, following a foreign god and serving the interests of a foreign power

The Jewish ChronicleDominic Green

Simons again, tracing how Great Replacement Theory infiltrated British politics.

How a far-Right conspiracy infiltrated British politics

The Great Replacement Theory blames Jews for eroding the white race. Now, its anti-Semitic roots are being embraced by a new populist wave

The TelegraphJake Wallis Simons

For members

Our next catch-up meeting is Monday 24 August.

We need your help

We're building a campaign of allies who recognise the threat posed by anti-Semitism, from whichever direction it comes.

If you want to be part of this then please become a paying member, and join our discussions and campaigning.

Mark Birbeck
Founder and Director
Our Fight