Today marks the 46th anniversary of the murder of Altab Ali, a 25-year-old Bangladeshi Sylheti textile worker, who was killed in a racially motivated attack on 4 May 1978 in East London, as he walked home from work.

This was not an isolated incident. Two weeks before Altab Ali’s murder, 10-year-old Kennith Singh was stabbed to death by racists in Canning Town. And two months later, in June 1978, Ishaque Ali died of heart failure after a vicious attack by racists in Hackney.

My parents, who are originally from Bangladesh, told me about 1970s racist attacks in our area: from bricks thrown through windows, excrement smeared over doors and rubbish pushed through letterboxes. My mother informed me that every time she left home alone, each journey was carefully planned, and how it was normal to avoid some streets known for the National Front to congregate to target Asians, and how wearing a saree made her and other Asian women a visible target.

Far-right skinheads terrorised our local communities, as the National Front moved its headquarters from the suburbs in September 1978. Racism was so widespread that Asian and Black people were frequently attacked and going out alone was a problem — families often felt too intimidated to leave their homes.

The murder of Altab Ali inspired our communities to organise resistance. So much so that, ten days later, about 7,000 people marched to Downing Street behind Altab Ali’s coffin, calling on the Government to act. There was a dynamic grassroots mobilisation – giving voice to communities and organising practical support for people who were victims of racial attacks on housing estates and on streets.

Local people held slogans at protests such as: ‘enough is enough’, ‘here to stay, here to fight’ and ‘come what may, we’re here to stay. A number of Bangladeshi youth groups formed to prevent stalls by the National Front from gaining traction. Often, they were putting their lives and their safety at risk.

All of this features in new Channel 4 series Defiance which looks at the murder of Altab Ali, along with other examples across the UK, exploring how the British Asian community stood up to racism and fought for their right to live with dignity. I was delighted to attend the launch of the series and catch up with some of the people who were involved at the time. Quite honestly, I found it very moving.

Sadly, the struggle continues today. Racist hate crime has skyrocketed in recent months as politicians and many in the press demonise our communities. The far-right are targeting East London more and more — with the co-leader of Britain First targeting Whitechapel, and East London Mosque receiving at least two bomb threats in recent months.

Unfortunately, I myself am facing greater risks to my safety — with death threats and abuse. At the same time, we have seen politicians inciting racism and putting all of us at risk — including the use of the term ‘no-go areas’ — a well-known racist trope.

The Tories are moving increasingly to the right – with an array of anti-migrant legislation such as the Illegal Migration Act and the Safety of Rwanda (Asylum and Immigration) Act. They continue to ramp up their ‘stop the boats’ rhetoric. There is no doubt that the explicit targeting of migrants, refugees and asylum seekers, and the organisations that support them, by the political mainstream has not just pandered to racism, it has fostered it.

This is despite the fact that migrants are just people who invariably have been forced by poverty, wars, and persecution to flee their homes and that this often can be traced back to imperialism that has established, entrenched, and continues to exploit global inequality.

As the first hijab-wearing MP, I am clear as to the shoulders on which I stand and the footsteps in which I tread. I am very conscious of those who have gone before me – their struggles for justice, their bravery, and their hope. Which is why I am so proud to represent a diverse constituency that has demonstrated time and time again that we will stand together against injustice. Just as we have in opposing the scale and horror of what is happening in Gaza.

East End has a proud anti-racist and anti-fascist tradition. 87 years ago, our Jewish community and allies stood up against the far-right in the Battle of Cable Street. It is this tradition of solidarity that teaches us that hardship can be overcome collectively.

As we commemorate Altab Ali and all the victims of racism, we must also send a message to those that try to divide society with fear, bigotry, and intolerance — not on our streets, not in our communities, not anywhere.