Community Solidarity Stroud District exists to build community led solidarity in the Stroud district to oppose the hatred of minorities and oppressed people arising from false and harmful information.
It was formed in January 2022 to challenge distribution of “The Light” newspaper in the area, following a defence in the paper of a man convicted of “inciting racial hatred”. The group has challenged The Light’s support for antisemitism, Holocaust denial and racist hate speech – as well as for denial of climate change, promotion of homophobia and transphobia, and patriarchal values. In October 2023, the group held a public meeting to discuss ways to tackle the growth of “Conspiracy Theories, the Far Right, and The Light” in Stroud.
It has also opposed talks organised by “Stroud Info Hub”, “Stroud Freedom Group” or “The Beacon”. In September 2023, Community Solidarity Stroud District organised opposition to a “comedy show” by Katie Hopkins – because of her history of promoting racism and associations with far right groups. In October 2022, the group sent an open letter signed by 228 people asking organisers to withdraw the invitation to James Delingpole to speak in Stroud, because of his history of climate denial and associations with the far right. They have also written about the antisemitism on Sandi Adams’ website, and why she should never have been invited to Stroud.
Learn more more about our work and perspectives at: communitysolidaritystrouddistrict.org/articles
Community Solidarity Stroud District 