Altab Ali Day is a commemoration of the death of Altab Ali who was murdered on 4 May 1978 by three racist teenagers as he walked home from work. The reaction among the Tower Hamlets community and across London played a key part in the defeat of the National Front in the late 1970s.

Rushanara Ali said:

“Today we pay a special tribute to the late Altab Ali who 38 years ago was victim of a senseless murder by three racists. It is an important and poignant opportunity to reflect on the struggle against racism and discrimination and it’s a testament to the East End that a powerful anti-racist movement was built in his wake.

“Altab Ali’s death reminds us all that whether it’s racism, islamophobia, anti-semitism, or other forms of prejudice and intolerance, the battle against racism and discrimination is one we must prioritise, as such actions and language should have no place in the 21st century.