Anti-racism protesters rally in support of immigrants amid anti-immigrant demonstrations across the UK
A “show of unity” by the public helped prevent widespread unrest across the UK, police reported on Thursday. Thousands of anti-racism demonstrators took to the streets of London and other cities on Wednesday, August 7, to counter far-right groups calling for more anti-immigrant marches.
Far-right groups have incited riots over several days, demanding the expulsion of immigrants from the UK.
In response, anti-racism demonstrators have now taken to the streets, declaring support for refugees and immigrants. In Liverpool, some gathered outside an asylum center to protect it from a planned anti-immigrant rally.
“The show of force from the police and, frankly, the show of unity from communities together defeated the challenges that we faced,” said Commissioner Mark Rowley, head of London’s Metropolitan Police Service, on Thursday, August 8.
“It went off very peacefully last night, and the fears of extreme right disorder were abated.”
Thousands of police officers were deployed in London, with around 1,300 specialist forces on standby in case of serious trouble.
By Wednesday evening, anti-racism protesters had filled the streets, displaying messages of welcome for immigrants, refugees, and asylum seekers.
Large, peaceful protests also took place in cities like Birmingham, Sheffield, Liverpool, and Bristol.
“Refugees welcome” and “London against racism” were common chants in London, where people banged drums and voiced their support.
Outside an immigration center in the Walthamstow area of east London, where a significant gathering took place, a counter-protest leader shouted, “fascists gone,” to which a crowd of hundreds responded: “off our streets.”
Protesters also held signs reading, “Stop the far right,” “Migration is not a crime,” and “Finchley against fascism.”
Prime Minister Keir Starmer condemned the earlier disturbances as “far-right thuggery,” rejecting any suggestion that the riots were related to the government’s immigration policies.