Thousands of Britons take up arms against right-wing extremists
Right-wing extremists have been wreaking havoc in British cities for over a week, threatening asylum seekers, attacking mosques, and looting shops. Police prepared for further unrest tonight, but resistance is forming on England's streets.
Thousands of people have protested against right-wing violence in the UK. Demonstrators took to the streets in several cities, including London, Sheffield, Bristol, and Brighton, to stand against racism and hate. In Liverpool, hundreds gathered to protect an asylum center, according to the British news agency PA.
Right-wing riots have been ongoing in the UK for over a week. Vandals have attacked security forces, asylum accommodations, and mosques in recent days. Cars and buildings have been set on fire. Police expected more trouble tonight and deployed 6,000 officers in specialist units. They feared that law firms and advisory centers supporting asylum seekers could also be targeted. Windows were boarded up in some places as a precaution.
However, the evening saw mainly peaceful counter-protests. Placards and signs called for "No Place for Hate" and "Stop the far Right". In London, chants of "Whose streets? Our streets" were heard. In Birmingham, people gathered outside an advisory center to protest against Islamophobia, PA reported.
Swift charges after arrests
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper thanked the police for their efforts. King Charles III is also regularly briefed on developments. Investigators expected around 100 incidents of rioting nationwide, but the actual number was lower. In Brighton, police had to escort some right-wing protesters out of the crowd of counter-protesters, PA reported. Some shouted "Shame on you". There were also arrests on Wednesday evening.
The riots followed a stabbing incident in the town of Southport. Three girls were killed and several children and two adults were injured on July 29. False rumors spread online that a Muslim migrant was the attacker. Influential accounts on X and Telegram shared these misinformation. Police stressed that the suspect is a 17-year-old born in the UK to Rwandan parents. The motive is unknown.
More than 400 rioters have been arrested, with around 120 already charged. A court in Liverpool sentenced three men to jail terms of 20 months to three years. Justice minister Heidi Alexander said that more than 560 additional prison places will be created from next week.
Sociologist: Labour's course plays no role
Sociologist Aaron Winter from Lancaster University says the riots are not a protest against the new Labour government's supposedly left-wing progressive movement. Starmer's party is not left-wing, he says. "They campaigned with flags and 'small boat' rhetoric and positioned themselves to the right of the Conservatives". Parties have outdone each other in tough talk on migration, creating a hostile atmosphere.
Winter points out that the former conservative government, with its austerity policies, has increased inequality in the country. He criticized Starmer's recent remarks, where he labeled the rioters as "thugs," effectively marginalizing them and portraying them as outside of society. Winter warns that such arguments ignore the deeper underlying causes.
The Commission released a statement condemning the violence and hate crimes, expressing their solidarity with the affected communities. Recognizing the role of misinformation in fueling the unrest, The Commission launched an initiative to educate the public about the importance of fact-checking and promoting unity.
