Anti-racism protests hit UK streets after days of far-right riots
4 Min Read
In an effort to prevent further unrest, courts have begun to impose jail sentences on offenders connected to the riots.
-
Counter-protesters gather in Liverpool, UK, Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2024, ahead of anti-immigration groups planning to target dozens of locations throughout the country (AP)
Thousands of anti-racism demonstrators took to the streets in various English cities on Wednesday following days of far-right violence that have put UK police on high alert. Still, counter-protesters against racism and fascism turned out in larger numbers on Wednesday, staging protests in cities like London, Birmingham, Bristol, Liverpool, and Newcastle.
Police in Brighton said that some 2,000 people participated in a peaceful protest, while hundreds of anti-racism demonstrators gathered outside a migrant help center in Birmingham.
Protesters chanted, "Whose streets? Our streets!" in Walthamstow, northeast London, where some carried banners, saying, "Stop the far right".
Sara Tresilian told AFP, referring to the far-right, "I live in the borough and we don't want these people on our streets... they don't represent us," adding, "You have to turn out (and) give that message... I think it's important that you show up for your friends and neighbours."
The Met Police's deputy assistant commissioner, Andy Valentine, thanked "communities for coming together across the capital and for showing community spirit this evening."
Read more: UK police officers sustain injuries as violent protests expand
In Sheffield, activists chanted, "Say it loud, say it clear, refugees are welcome here" around police.
There was some conflict, too, as the PA noted in the southern town of Aldershot, where police were called upon to mediate a dispute between anti-racism demonstrators and a group of individuals yelling "Stop the boats"—a reference to immigrants who enter the UK by way of the English Channel.
To handle the roughly 100 advertised protests by far-right groups and counter-protesters, the government had placed 6,000 specialized police officers on standby. Meanwhile, Home Secretary Yvette Cooper thanked "all the police officers working tonight to protect & support local communities" over social media.
Dive deeper
In an effort to prevent further unrest, courts have begun to impose jail sentences on offenders connected to the riots.
A man who entered a guilty plea to charges of violent disorder and attacking a police officer in Southport was sentenced to three years in prison on Wednesday. Two additional men in Liverpool were given terms of 20 months and 30 months.
Prosecutor Jonathan Egan said, "The three men sentenced today are the tip of the iceberg, and just the start of what will be a very painful process for many who foolishly chose to involve themselves in violent unrest."
Authorities have charged Tommy Robinson, the founder of the EDL, with inciting unrest, and on Wednesday, police in Cyprus, where he was reportedly on vacation, declared they were prepared to support UK law enforcement should the need arise.
Robinson responded on social media by saying, "Lucky I'm not in Cyprus then".
Far-right protesters have rallied against the influx of migrants, spurred by unconfirmed reports that the suspect in a deadly stabbing attack on July 29 at a children's dance club in Southport was a refugee.
The stabbing incident resulted in the death of three children and the injury of several others. The attacker was later identified as a 17-year-old Welsh-born boy of Rwandan descent. He was charged with three counts of murder and ten counts of attempted murder. The attack is not being treated as terrorism-related.
The violent protests initially broke out in Southport after extremist far-right social media users falsely reported that the assailant in the knife attack that killed three young girls and wounded multiple children at dance class was a Muslim immigrant.
Clashes between the demonstrators and the police were incited by members of an anti-Muslim xenophobic fascist group known as the English Defense League (EDL), who provoked protesters by attacking a local mosque with projectiles.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer described the violent riots as "thuggery", pledging that the assailants will face "the full force of the law."
UK counter-terrorism police are currently investigating potential terror-related crimes.
Starmer is due to hold an emergency meeting with police on Monday.
