Thousands of anti-racism protesters gathered across England, forming human shields around asylum centres in response to police warnings of unrest from over 100 far-right-led rallies.
Carrying placards with messages like “Refugees Welcome” and “Reject Racism, Try Therapy,” people took to the streets in towns and cities the past week, after the fatal stabbing of three girls in Merseyside and the subsequent riots. However, there was little sign of the previous week's unrest.
Harrow had also prepared for potential anti-immigrant violence on August 7 amid concerns about possible attacks earlier in the week, but the anti-racist and anti-fascist groups helped avoid any tense situation. The next day, Harrow Council issued a statement, "Last night, a peaceful counter-protest took place in Harrow. We extend our gratitude to everyone, including the police, our partners, and council staff, for their efforts in keeping Harrow safe." Gareth Thomas, MP from Harrow West also thanked the police on behalf of the community.
Police undertook their largest mobilisation to counter potential disorder since the 2011 riots, as they anticipated that many of the planned far-right gatherings could turn violent. Lawyers’ offices were shuttered, high street shops boarded up, GP practices closed early, and MPs were advised to consider working from home as 41 out of the 43 local police force areas in England and Wales prepared for possible disorder.
Approximately 6,000 riot-trained officers were deployed to manage the expected rallies and around 30 counter-protests after immigration law firms and refugee centres were identified as potential targets in a far-right chat group on Telegram.
Instead of the expected violence, thousands of counter-protesters took to the streets in Liverpool, Birmingham, Bristol, Brighton, and London to protect their communities. In London, about 5,000 people rallied outside Reform UK’s headquarters in Victoria. The protest, organised by the Stand Up to Racism group, saw demonstrators chanting “Refugees are welcome here” and condemning Reform UK leader Nigel Farage for spreading “dangerous rhetoric.”
Similar scenes unfolded in Walthamstow, where thousands gathered for anti-racism protests against planned anti-immigration demonstrations. Support for refugees also surged in Cardiff, Edinburgh, and Glasgow, where hundreds joined rallies, while approximately 15,000 people attended an anti-racism rally in Belfast.
Political leaders share their fears
London Mayor Sadiq Khan voiced concerns about his safety as a Muslim politician, revealing that recent far-right riots across the UK have left him feeling "triggered." In an interview with the Guardian, Khan expressed alarm at the recent violence, drawing parallels to the racial tensions he experienced in the 1970s and 80s, the era of the National Front and the BNP.
He said, “Like many from my generation, I was deeply affected by what has happened in the past few weeks.” He lamented that his children’s generation, who had never faced such fears, are now experiencing them for the first time. “It breaks my heart that my children are scared simply because of who we are,” he added.
Regarding the anti-fascist demonstrations in London, Khan expressed pride in the counter-protests but also noted concerns within minority communities. He warned that the wider population might interpret these demonstrations as a sign that the fight against extremism is over. Many Muslims, he said, are still anxious about leaving their homes, wearing headscarves, or attending mosques.
Scotland’s first Muslim First Minister, Humza Yousaf, also expressed uncertainty about his family’s future in the UK following recent unrest. In an interview with The News Agents podcast, Yousaf described the violence on Britain’s streets, much of it targeting ethnic minorities, as “horrendous.”
He stated, “I’m as Scottish as you come, but the reality is, I’m unsure if the future for my wife, my three children, and myself will be here in Scotland or elsewhere in Europe and the West. I’ve been increasingly concerned about the rise of Islamophobia.”
While he expressed a desire to remain in the UK, Yousaf criticised the “language of the far-right” that has, in his view, become ingrained in politics. He particularly cited prominent politicians like Suella Braverman and Nigel Farage as contributors to this issue.
King Charles III applauded people who took to the streets of British towns and cities. In a telephone audiences with Prime Minister Keir Starmer and law enforcement officials, he offered his “heartfelt thanks” to police and other emergency workers for their efforts to restore order and help those affected by the violence, Buckingham Palace said in a statement.
“The king shared how he had been greatly encouraged by the many examples of community spirit that had countered the aggression and criminality from a few with the compassion and resilience of the many,” the palace said. “It remains his majesty’s hope that shared values of mutual respect and understanding will continue to strengthen and unite the nation.”
Jail terms for the guilty, violence continues
A total of 483 people have been arrested while 149 charges have been brought in far-right riots across the UK since July 30, the National Police Chiefs' Council (NPCC) said Thursday.
NPCC said in a statement that dozens of offenders have already been sentenced as cases have been fast-tracked through the criminal justice system, with many suspects remanded upon charge to face hearings. A childminder who called for hotels housing asylum seekers to be set on fire has been remanded in custody after appearing in court. Lucy Connolly, the wife of West Northamptonshire councillor Raymond Connolly, posted on X advocating for the mass deportation of asylum seekers, stating, "If that makes me racist, so be it."
Connolly, 41, faces charges of publishing threatening or abusive material with the intent to incite racial hatred. She did not enter a plea during her appearance at Northampton Crown Court and is scheduled to return on 2 September. Shockingly, a 13-year-old girl has pleaded guilty to using or threatening unlawful violence following a protest outside a hotel in Aldershot. This follows the convictions of two 12-year-old boys, who became the youngest to be convicted in connection with the riots after a series of court cases.
Far-right rallies scheduled for the weekend did not take place, largely due to a significant presence of anti-racist protesters and a warning from the director of public prosecutions about potential 10-year prison sentences for rioters.
While planned actions in Newcastle, Liverpool, Basildon, Wakefield, and Shrewsbury were cancelled, a few small rallies did occur, leading to prompt arrests. In Yeovil, police dispersed a small anti-immigration rally, making four arrests for offences such as racially aggravated public disorder and knife possession.
In much serious incidents, a mosque in Newtownards, County Down, was targeted in a vile overnight attack with a petrol bomb thrown at it and racist graffiti scrawled on its walls. Detectives are investigating the incident, which occurred in the early hours of the morning. Simultaneously, cars were set on fire 10km away in Belfast, and a restaurant was vandalised with racial slurs shouted at staff. The PSNI is treating these attacks as "racially motivated hate crimes."
