Revolutionary Communist Group - RCG / FRFI

26/07/2026

Today marks 40 years since the Viraj Mendis Defence Campaign completed its Long March from Manchester, through towns and cities such as Birmingham and Leicester, to the Home Office in London, demanding: Viraj Mendis Must Stay!



Viraj Mendis, a Black communist, was facing deportation by the British state. He feared certain persecution if forced to return to Sri Lanka, as a defender of the Tamil liberation struggle. The Home Office targeted him due to his anti-racist, anti-imperialist organising as a member of the Revolutionary Communist Group and our paper, Fight Racism! Fight Imperialism!

In opposition to this racist deportation, and in opposition to all racist immigration controls, the RCG built the Viraj Mendis Defence Campaign…

…a campaign which stretched across the country, drawing support from a wide range of individuals and organisations – from Irish Republican prisoners of war in the H-block to Labour Party MPs – built on principled positions that we refused to compromise on: not only opposition to the deportation of Viraj, but opposition to immigration controls as a whole. 

In towns and cities the march passed through, local groups and campaigns held public meetings and arranged food and accommodation.



From the beginning to the end of the march it faced constant harassment from the police – in Handsworth, for example, VMDC campaigners were threatened with arrest for using megaphones, collecting donations and walking too slowly! Police were attempting to stop the march and limit its impact.

They failed, and the Long March was a significant factor in making the VMDC into a national campaign.



On 20 December 1986, Viraj Mendis was forced to take sanctuary at the Ascension Church in Hulme, Manchester. He remained confined to its grounds until 18 January 1989, when police forced their way in and dragged him out.

Viraj was deported to Sri Lanka, but was subsequently able to travel to Bremen, Germany where, through the work of VMDC, the municipal authorities had agreed to grant him asylum.

40 years on, the same fight against racist

21/07/2026

At the session on Cuba at 'Marxism 2026', the SWPs yearly festival, comrades from the RCG intervened to expose the SWP's pro-imperialist and counter-revolutionary politics.

The SWP say, 'we can have unconditional but critical support’ for Cuba, which is a complete dishonesty. The SWP has never supported Cuba, it has never organised a single event against the blockade or participated in such an event. It is not ‘critical’ of Cuba, it is utterly condemnatory, and it teaches its members to be the same.

In assessing their supposed right to offer ‘critical support’ to Cuba we need to remember that the Cubans have defied imperialism for nearly 70 years, whereas the SWP have achieved nothing.

-

How to donate to our next Cuba brigade:

Account name: 1C4C
Account number: 21162859
Sort code: 52-10-33
Reference: Brigade

-

19/07/2026

At the session on Cuba at 'Marxism 2026', the SWPs yearly festival, comrades from the RCG intervened to expose the SWP's pro-imperialist and counter-revolutionary politics.

The SWP say, 'we can have unconditional but critical support’ for Cuba, which is a complete dishonesty. The SWP has never supported Cuba, it has never organised a single event against the blockade or participated in such an event. It is not ‘critical’ of Cuba, it is utterly condemnatory, and it teaches its members to be the same.

In assessing their supposed right to offer ‘critical support’ to Cuba we need to remember that the Cubans have defied imperialism for nearly 70 years, whereas the SWP have achieved nothing.

15/07/2026

Defending Cuba in a British left debate! 🇨🇺

An RCG speaker defends the Cuban revolution against the popular myths used by much of the British left, who refuse to support the socialist Cuban government and the Cuban revolution, against US imperialism. Communists have a duty to defend socialist Cuba's example!

This was filmed during the RCG's debate with the Spartacist League Britain earlier this year.

🇨🇺Defend Socialist Cuba! Abajo el bloqueo! Donate to help us bring medical aid to Cuba here: bit.ly/marti26

12/07/2026

JON CINK of the BRIZE NORTON 6 writes for FRFI ‼️

Jon writes from prison about his experiences at HMP Foston Hall and the never-ending cycle of incarceration he has witnessed, that keeps vulnerable people, failed by lack of support from the British state, coming back again and again. In the midst of rising wealth inequality and crumbling social services, prison cannot be a refuge!

This is part of a series of writings by imprisoned Palestine solidarity activists. Fight Racism! Fight Imperialism! is the only left newspaper in Britain which reports regularly on the struggles of prisoners. We send the paper free of charge to all prisoners who request it. Please help this work by funding a subscription for a prisoner at frfi.org.uk/subscribe

For updates on Jon and his co-defendants follow and support the campaign

FREE THE BRIZE NORTON 6! FREE THEM ALL! ✊⛓️‍💥

SOLIDARITY WITH PRO-PALESTINE PRISONERS! 🇵🇸

11/07/2026

08/07/2026

Sarah from the SOAS 2 emerged from court this morning defiant and facing a retrial, on 14 September 2026.

Solidarity to all the groups and individuals who maintained presence outside the court in support of Sarah, the anti-imperialist movement and Palestine 🇵🇸✌️

New court date:
Monday 14 September 2026
The Old Bailey

Defend the right to defend Palestine!
Defend the SOAS 2! follow for full updates

07/07/2026

Court protest - Defend the SOAS 2
🗓️Wednesday 8 July - 10 AM
📍Old Bailey, EC4M 7EH

-

An RCG comrade speaks at Resist for Peace, Democracy and Liberation campaign alongside other groups on 4 July, against the repressive laws in Britain used by the state against anti-imperialist organisations.
britain




#

02/07/2026

Wednesday was the 8th day of the SOAS 2 trial and the court has been adjourned.

We have protested every day of the trial and will be back loud and proud on the pavement opposite the court on Wednesday 8 July from 10 AM.

Join us there!

01/07/2026

Britain, the US and the EU are racing to militarise their borders: riot police on French beaches, ICE becoming a $85bn paramilitary force, Frontex’s budget doubling to €11.9bn. This isn’t about 'smashing smuggling gangs' – it’s imperialism in crisis, scapegoating migrants to justify the ramping up of deportation.

Minneapolis rose up against ICE occupation, and detained migrants in New Jersey are striking against inhumane conditions. This is the movement we must build in Britain!

All immigration controls in imperialist countries are racist. The fightback starts with opposing them.

✊ Here to stay, here to fight!

🚩GET INVOLVED at frfi.org.uk/join!