Thousands of Anti-Racism Protesters Counter Far-Right Threats Across Britain
Thousands of anti-racism protesters gathered across Britain to counter expected far-right groups following a week of violent racist attacks targeting Muslims and migrants. Learn more about the events and responses.
Bollywood Fever: Thousands of police officers and anti-racism protesters took to the streets across Britain on Wednesday to counter the anticipated appearance of far-right groups, which ultimately did not materialize. This followed a week of violent racist attacks targeting Muslims and migrants.
The unrest in Britain began last week after three young girls were killed in a knife attack in Southport, northwest England. False online messages wrongly identified the suspected killer as an Islamist migrant, sparking a wave of riots.
Online posts had suggested that far-right, anti-Muslim protesters would target various immigration centers, migrant support centers, and specialist law firms on Wednesday. In response, many businesses closed early and some shops boarded up their windows. Thousands of police officers were deployed, and large crowds of anti-racism protesters gathered in towns and cities including London, Bristol, Birmingham, Liverpool, and Hastings. They held banners with messages such as “Fight racism,” “Stop the far right,” and “Will trade racists for refugees.”
The protesters comprised a diverse group, including Muslims, anti-racist and anti-fascist organizations, trade unionists, left-wing groups, and local residents outraged by the recent riots.
By 9 p.m. (2000 GMT), there were no reports of serious disorder, though about 50 people in Croydon, south London, had thrown bottles and attempted to cause disruption.
Stetson Matthew, a 64-year-old waste collector, joined thousands of demonstrators in Walthamstow, northeast London. He emphasized the importance of peaceful protest, saying, “Everybody has the right to do what they need to do but what they must do is to put their voices across peacefully, amicably, without any stress or violence.”
Lucy, a 37-year-old flower grower who joined a counter-protest in Hastings, expressed relief at the large turnout. “I felt I absolutely had to be here tonight to take a stand, and it is much easier for me to come as a white woman than for some of my non-white friends, so I’m here in solidarity,” she said.
Last week’s riots saw groups of a few hundred mostly men clashing with police and vandalizing hotels housing asylum-seekers from Africa, Asia, and the Middle East. They chanted “get them out” and “stop the boats,” referring to migrants arriving in Britain via small dinghies. Mosques were also pelted with rocks, prompting Muslim organizations to issue community safety advice.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer, facing his first crisis since winning the July 4 election, warned rioters of severe legal consequences. On Wednesday, a 58-year-old man was sentenced to three years in jail for violent disorder, while two others, aged 41 and 29, received sentences of 20 and 30 months, respectively. “This is the swift action we’re taking. If you provoke violent disorder on our streets or online, you will face the full force of the law,” Starmer said.
Migration was a significant issue in Britain’s 2016 vote to leave the European Union and continued to be a contentious topic during the recent election. Nigel Farage’s Reform Party gained around 4 million votes with calls for stricter border controls. In 2022, Britain saw record net migration levels, with many arriving from Ukraine and Hong Kong, as well as through work and student visas. In 2023, net migration through legal means was approximately 685,000, while 29,000 people arrived on small boats across the Channel, many fleeing war zones.
In response to the recent violence, the government has assembled a “standing army” of 6,000 specialist police officers to address any future unrest. The National Police Chiefs’ Council reported that more than 120 people had been charged and 428 arrests made in connection with the recent disorder.
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