On Wednesday, thousands of anti-racist counter-protesters took to the streets across England in support of ethnic minorities targeted by violent anti-immigrant riots, a leading publication reported. The day started with high tension and fears of violence, but calm was restored in major cities like Liverpool and London as the counter-protesters turned out in large numbers.
As the counter-protesters gathered, the far-right demonstrators became increasingly subdued, according to Al Jazeera. In Northampton, police requested the counter-protesters to disperse as the far-right protests lost momentum. “Protest Update- One hour since planned protest was due to start and there has been no disorder tonight. Police are now asking the crowd of counter-protesters to disperse peacefully for the evening. Kettering Road still partially closed for now #Northampton,” Northants Police posted on X.
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In London, hundreds of protesters showed solidarity with immigrants, rallying against far-right groups with chants like “refugees welcome,” “London against racism,” “Migration is not a crime,” and “stop the far right.” In Walthamstow, where violent far-right protests had been anticipated, the scene was marked by anti-fascist groups, Palestinian and LGBT flags, and immigration-friendly signs, surprising many observers, Al Jazeera reported.
A police officer mentioned that while there were a few arrests, the atmosphere shifted positively with drummers playing and giant bubbles drifting across the sky, according to Al Jazeera.
The UK has been grappling with significant social unrest following a knife attack at a Taylor Swift-themed dance and yoga class in Southport. Rioters had set fire to and broken into hotels housing asylum seekers in northern England on Sunday. The far-right was accused of inciting anti-Muslim and anti-immigration sentiments by spreading misinformation, including the false claim that the attacker was a Muslim immigrant. However, the police confirmed that the suspect was born in Britain.
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