- Thousands protest against the right in England
Thousands of people in the UK have protested against far-right riots. On Wednesday evening, people took to the streets in several cities across the country, including London, Sheffield, Bristol, and Brighton, to stand against racism and hatred. In Liverpool, hundreds gathered to protect an asylum center, according to the UK news agency PA.
Far-right riots have been happening in the UK for over a week now. Vandals have attacked security forces, asylum accommodations, and mosques in recent days. Cars and buildings have been set on fire. Prime Minister Keir Starmer has threatened to use the full force of the law.
Windows boarded up
The police had braced for more violence overnight and feared that law firms and advisory centers supporting asylum seekers could also be targeted. In some places, windows were boarded up 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 Birmingham, people gathered outside an advisory center to protest against Islamophobia, PA reported.
King Charles is being kept informed of the situation
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper thanked the police for their efforts, deploying thousands of officers. King Charles III is also reportedly being regularly updated on the developments. Authorities had expected around 100 incidents of rioting nationwide, but the numbers were lower than anticipated.
In Brighton, police had to help some far-right protesters leave the crowd of counter-protesters, PA reported. Some chanted "Shame on you". There were also some arrests on Wednesday evening.
Authorities are aiming for deterrence
The riots followed a stabbing incident in the town of Southport on 29 July, where three girls were killed and several children and two adults were injured. False rumors spread online that a Muslim migrant was the attacker. Influential accounts on X and Telegram shared these false narratives. The police clarified that the suspect is a 17-year-old born in the UK to Rwandan parents, and the motive is unknown.
More than 400 rioters have been arrested, with around 120 charged so far. A court in Liverpool sentenced three men to jail terms of 20 months to three years. Justice Minister Heidi Alexander has announced that over 560 additional prison places will be created from next week.
A sociologist's view on the riots
Sociologist Aaron Winter from Lancaster University doesn't attribute the riots to the new social democratic Labour government or a protest against a perceived left-wing progressive movement. He says Starmer's party is not left-wing and campaigned on patriotism and "small boat" rhetoric, positioning itself tougher than the Conservatives. Parties have outdone each other in statements about who is tougher on migration, creating a hostile atmosphere.
Winter points out that the former conservative government, with its austerity policies, has exacerbated inequality in the country. He criticized Starmer's recent remarks, in which he referred to the rioters as "thugs," effectively marginalizing them and portraying them as outside of society. However, such an argument ignores the deeper causes, Winter warned.
The far-right protesters in Brighton attempted to rally support but were forced to leave by the police. Some counter-protesters in response chanted, "Shame on you."
During the tense situation, authorities in several cities, including Brighton, had windows boarded up as a precaution, anticipating potential attacks on law firms and advisory centers supporting asylum seekers.
