Introduction
This guide aims to support progressive community groups and organisations to make a statement to their supporters to counter the influence of the far-right, particularly in pivotal moments of far-right momentum like the 2024 US election.
By coming together to make strong public statements, we aim to ignite broader discussions on countering far-right narratives and affirm the importance of solidarity and community organising in our justice movements.
Please note: This guide has been written by people in Australia for the Australian context. You may like to adapt this for the context in your country or community.
For further resources, updates and community events on countering the far-right you can sign up for email updates. (Note: Your email would be collected by Will Potter for this purpose only and will never be shared. All resources developed will be for the Australian context).
Why Share a Statement?
The far-right uses moments of widespread attention to normalise and spread divisive and hateful ideas. As this guide is being written, the 2024 US election is a week away. Whether Trump is re-elected or contests the election result, the far-right will use global media attention to normalise ideas that target marginalised communities and undermine democratic foundations.
As community groups and organisations, we have a responsibility to stand in solidarity with marginalised communities and ensure that this rhetoric does not gain traction in Australia. While events like the US election might feel a world away, the far-right uses a global messaging format.
With extreme ideology already seeded across the country, the further normalisation of divisive rhetoric could embolden the far-right and pressure Dutton’s LNP to become even more hateful in the lead up to the 2025 Federal Election.
A public statement creates accountability for our community groups and organisations. It tells marginalised communities that we are serious about our support, and that we will not stand idly by as their rights and safety are threatened.
A strong reaction to a Trump election can also help set a narrative of what is acceptable in our society, which can be leveraged against divisive politics leading up to the next Federal Election. Setting the narrative early could pressure political parties to distance themselves from far-right rhetoric.
Why be United in our Statement?
By presenting a diverse, united front that reflects a commitment to justice across various communities and issues, we send a clear signal that hate, division, and extremism will not find a foothold in our society.
Unity demonstrates our commitment to solidarity with marginalised communities, reinforcing the idea that no group stands alone in the fight against hate.
This intersectional solidarity is key, because countering the far right requires advocating for multiple issues and responding to key moments.
What Makes an Effective Statement?
1. Be co-designed through engaging with your community organising networks if you have them, and be directed towards your supporter base.
2. Lead with your values of justice and people power –
- Celebrate diversity in our society, particularly relating to First Nations and immigrant communities.
- Centre the role of democratic values and institutions.
- Affirm a commitment to universal human rights.
- Make a commitment to show solidarity with marginalised communities, particularly queer and trans people, immigrant communities, faith communities, and First Nations Peoples. Is there a role you can play to amplify messages from these communities?
3. Call out the real threat. The people who benefit from a divided and distracted society are the wealthiest few.
4. Explain the harm caused by the far right.
5. Ask people to take actions that get them involved in democracy through community organising. This involvement gives people agency and is our best tool to undermine the strength of the far-right.
6. Reaffirm your strong vision that centres broad ideas of justice and the importance of people power through community organising as the long-term solution.
7. Use accessible language and avoid negating or echoing far-right narratives.
8. A message is not enough, it should be part of a long-term strategy grounded in community organising.
For further resources, updates and community events on countering the far-right, sign up to stay informed!
Sample Statement
At [Your Organisation/Community Group], we want a society rooted in justice, inclusion, and collective power—one built on strong democratic values and institutions that enable every community to thrive. Our strength lies in our society’s diversity; we celebrate all cultures, people, and beliefs.
The divisive politics of the far-right has no place in our communities. Human rights are universal and must be protected for everyone regardless of faith, class, gender, or place of birth.
The far-right seeks to distract and divide us by blaming each other for the erosion of our rights, weakened public services and increasing cost of living. We need to make it clear who profits from this division – corporations and the elite class who don’t want to pay their fair share or be held accountable. For decades, the far-right has been turning us against each other, yet time and again we have stood united, acting in solidarity when they hope to divide us. Our unity across our differences is our strength!
The current system is not working for the people, so it’s up to us to solve the problems and stand united against growing hatred and division. We stand in solidarity with the communities they seek to marginalise: our queer and trans community, faith communities, immigrant communities, women, and First Nations Peoples.
And we won’t win unless we’re organised!
Your voice matters! Let’s unite around a vision for justice and commit to the long-term organising needed to bring community agency back into our democracy. Here’s how you can take action:
- Get organised! Attend our upcoming community events [replace with your call to action] to connect with others who share your values and bring along your friends. Involvement in democracy is one of the key ways to counter the far-right long-term!
- Follow and amplify fights for justice! Act with empathy and stand in solidarity with marginalised communities. For everyone to thrive, we must uplift those facing the greatest challenges.
- Volunteer, support and vote for political candidates who platform integrity. Everyone should be writing the narrative of our politics and deciding our future, not just the wealthiest few.
- Stay informed! We’ll keep you updated on our upcoming events and share resources to achieve our vision for a just democracy with this link [insert your signup link]! You can also visit this article on the Commons Social Change Library for more information about the far-right.
Resources on how to Counter the Far Right
- Messaging
- For another guide on far right messaging using the Race Class Narrative method, see below.
- For statements responding to far-right violence – see this link by the New Economy Organisers Network with learnings from the UK Riots earlier in 2024.
- For a guide writing your own solidarity statement – see this link by the Building Movement Project.
- For a First Nations Justice messaging guide, see this link for Passing The Message Stick, developed for the referendum.
- Community Organising
- Solidarity
- To understand how the far-right targets Trans People – see this link from the Trans Justice Project.
- Conversations
- For a guide on how to talk to people with far-right or conspiratory views – see this link from the Conversation.
- Strategy
- For guides on how progressives can counter the far-right long-term – sign up to be updated as we develop them!
Countering Far-Right Narratives
The far-right thrives on spreading division and fear, pitting communities against each other and distorting the truth. To push back effectively, we need to shift the conversation and offer a stronger, unifying message.
Here’s how you can tackle far-right narratives using a ‘Race-Class’ approach (adapted from We Make the Future):
- Start with shared values
Focus on what unites us. Instead of reacting to the far-right’s divisive language, lead with values we all share – like fairness, dignity, and the belief that everyone deserves a fair go, no matter where they come from or what they look like. When we speak to these values, we build solidarity across communities. - Call out the real threat / Name the villain
The far-right aims to distract and divide us, but we need to make it clear who’s really benefiting from this division – corporations and elites who don’t want to pay their fair share or be held accountable. When we reframe it as “all of us vs. the powerful few”, we can expose how far-right narratives serve to keep power in the hands of the few at the expense of the many. - Lead with solutions, not fear
Far-right rhetoric thrives on stoking fear and offering false solutions. We need to counter this by offering real, hopeful alternatives – better jobs, safer communities, a fairer democracy. When we focus on what we’re building together, it undercuts their scare tactics. - Debunk with empathy and facts
Disinformation spreads easily, but it’s harder to dislodge. When addressing it, don’t just throw facts at people – start by acknowledging their concerns and then offer evidence-based information to gently shift their perspective. Always bring the conversation back to the values of fairness and equality, rather than getting stuck in the weeds of the far-right’s talking points. - Focus on Unity, not Division
The Far-Right’s biggest tool is division – by race, class, identity. Our job is to bring people together. When we talk about our communities and our struggles, we need to show that we’re all stronger when we stand united. Whatever our background, we all deserve the same dignity and opportunity.
Additional Bibliography
- Blee, K. M. (2002). Inside Organized Racism: Women in the Hate Movement. University of California Press.
- Della Porta, D., & Diani, M. (2006). Social Movements: An Introduction. Wiley-Blackwell.
- Batson, C. D., et al. (2002). Empathy and Altruism. In Handbook of Positive Psychology. Oxford University Press.
- Ponsot, A. S., Autixier, C., & Madriaza, P. (2018). Preventing Violent Radicalization: A Framework for Local Action. Journal for Deradicalization, (16).
- Conversation. (2023). How to Talk to Someone about Conspiracy Theories in Five Simple Steps. The Conversation. Link
- Verba, S., et al. (1995). Voice and Equality: Civic Voluntarism in American Politics. Harvard University Press.
- Klandermans, B. (2014). Identity Politics and Politicized Identities: Identity Processes and the Dynamics of Protest. Political Psychology, 35(1), 1-22.
- Amnesty International. (2020). Shared Values: The Foundation of Human Rights.
- Green, M. C., & Brock, T. C. (2000). The Role of Transportation in the Persuasiveness of Public Narratives. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 79(5), 701-721.
- Rydgren, J. (2008). Immigration Sceptics, Xenophobes or Racists? Radical Right-wing Voting in Six West European Countries. European Journal of Political Research, 47(6), 737-765. Link
- Pettigrew, T. F., & Tropp, L. R. (2006). A Meta-Analytic Test of Intergroup Contact Theory. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 90(5), 751-783.
Note: The feature image has been modified and must be shared under the same as the original licence – Love thy Neighbour, Credit – Alisdare Hickson CC BY-SA 2.0.
Explore Further
- Dealing with Far-Right Interventions in Left-Wing and Progressive Movements
- Authoritarianism: How You Know It When You See It
- The Authoritarian Playbook: How Reporters can Contextualize and Cover Authoritarian Threats as Distinct from Politics-as-Usual
- Speaking Out Against Bigoted, Dehumanizing Rhetoric: What We Can Do
- Organizing against the Far Right
- Writing a Solidarity Statement: Considerations and Process Questions
- Golden Dawn: Lessons From Greece in Tackling Extremism
- Democracy Resource Hub
- Social Identity and Group Norms