imageTo counter ‘the vicious anti-immigrant discourse of mainstream politics’.

A new campaign has been set up to combat racism against migrants in the UK.

The Movement Against Xenophobia (MAX), was launched at a conference in London last weekend to counter what supporters call ‘the vicious anti-immigrant discourse of mainstream politics’.

MAX aims to build a coalition of organisations and prominent individuals to combat the ‘increasing hostility, discrimination and intolerance towards immigrants.’

Its supporters want to raise public awareness in the run-up to the European Elections in May and the General Election in 2015.

The conference featured sessions on the Immigration Bill, reporting immigration and migration and climate change.

A steering committee was elected and the conference adopted a Policy Statement pledging support to migrants and calling on the media and UK government to ditch sensationalist rhetoric and adopt immigration policies based on human rights and need.

MAX is supported by human rights lawyer Louise Christian, MPs Caroline Lucas and Jeremy Corbyn and journalist John Pilger. Over 80 organisations have already become affiliated.

Saira Grant, legal and policy director of the Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants said the event had been a resounding success, and around 150 people had attended.

“It was a much needed forum for a discussion about immigration, rather than the sad xenophobic discussion we have seen though our media.”

She said the main aim of the campaign between now and the General Election was to try and change the tone of the public debate to make it more fact based.

“We don’t want immigrants to be made the scapegoats.

“We will be actively opposing the Immigration Bill and working really hard to show how it will negatively impact society.

“We want ordinary people to engage with the facts on immigration and not the myths,” she said.

Grant said MAX was keen to broaden its coalition. It has published a model resolution for trade union branches to affiliate. It is also seeking support from faith, student and community groups.

Grant said the media would also be a big part of MAX’s work. The campaign is already working with the NUJ to try to improve the way journalists report immigration.

“Everyone is doing amazing work in disparate ways, but we need an organisation that can pull it all together so we can work more effectively,” she said.

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