"Last night was epic."
Thousands of anti-racism protestors mobilised across the UK, standing together as human shields, protecting towns and cities.
On August 7, 2024, tension and fear grew. Immigration law firms and refugee and migrant support centres were listed as potential targets in a far-right group chat.
Approximately 6,000 riot-trained officers were drafted in to tackle the expected rallies and violence.
Police staged their most extensive mobilisation to counter disorder since the 2011 London riots, saying many of the planned gatherings had the potential to turn violent.
Forty-one of the 43 local police force areas in England and Wales braced for potential violence.
The rumours led to businesses and places such as refugee and migrant centres being closed due to safety concerns.
Moreover, the rumours ensured another day of unease for many as plans were cancelled and re-evaluated.
Mo, a British Pakistani resident of Birmingham, told DESIblitz:
“Family and friends group chats and messages were going wild; they have been for days.
“Yesterday, family and friends’ messages and group chats were half stressed, scared and angry. And them thinking and asking, ‘What the f*** is happening to the country?’.
“A lot of my aunties and mum were saying don’t go into the city centre in the afternoon.”
Yet instead of thousands of rioters spreading far-right racism and hate, people filled the streets with a show of unity and solidarity.
People from diverse backgrounds came out in Liverpool, Birmingham, Bristol, Brighton, and London to show solidarity and take an anti-racism stance.
Posts across social media referred to the evening and night being a reflection of communities standing together against hate, islamophobia, fascism and racism.
Well over a thousand antifascists on the streets of #Liverpool @LiverpoolSutr #StandUptoRacism pic.twitter.com/wKxTQSTFpu
— Stand Up To Racism (@AntiRacismDay) August 7, 2024
In Birmingham, people held banners reading “Oppose Tommy Robinson”, “Bigots out of Brum”, and “Stamp out Islamophobia”.
Mo had friends and family attend the protest in Birmingham city centre:
“Some of my cousins went, talked before going, saying no matter what, they wouldn’t let them get them doing anything stupid.
“The game being played ain’t cool; people are being forced to put their lives on hold, change plans to be safe.
“These small groups of racists and Islamophobic haters won’t win, but they are disrupting lives and businesses.
“We’re all British there’s no logic. How is setting things on fire, stealing from shops, hate crimes and threatening to kill people protecting Britain?
“Last night was epic. It was great seeing people from different backgrounds come out and show that we can’t be messed with.
“I wish I had gone. No far-right came, and none of those being manipulated and rioting either, too scared.”
The violence and chaos expected did not manifest. However, there were some incidents.
Northamptonshire Police arrested three people for public order offences. No members of the public or police were injured.
The Metropolitan Police said 15 people were arrested across the capital, including 10 in Croydon, after about 50 people gathered “to cause disruption and fuel disorder”.
On X, the Met stated: “They’ve dragged and thrown objects down the road and thrown bottles at officers.
“This is not linked to protest, this appears to be pure anti-social behaviour.”
Those posting on social media to incite and encourage violence face arrest and possible criminal charges once identified.
West Midlands Police posted on X:
“We will not tolerate violence or tolerate those who use social media to encourage such violence.
“Please challenge what you see online, report where appropriate and consider the source of the posts.”
Acts of resistance reinforcing anti-racism and unity were seen across towns and cities and continue to manifest. Some acts are large and others small; both are powerful and matter.
Seen en route to the football in Birmingham tonight pic.twitter.com/s1499fTyAo
— Kieron (@Sewn_apart) August 7, 2024
British Indian Ritu Sharma, the founder of the non-profit Kaushalya UK, came to Britain in August 2004.
She told DESIblitz: “The riots have been scary but more than that I’ve felt deep sadness, that racism is causing division in 2024.
“As a human race, we should have learnt from everything that has happened before. We need to take steps forward not backwards.
“Multiculturalism is a key part of Britain, we all belong. The riots are being done by a very small minority.
“These small groups may believe what they are saying, but they are not very well informed. They need to get out of their bubble.
“The wider system we have here would not work if all the Brown, Black people would be removed. Many key systems that help run the country would crash.
“Misinformation needs to be stopped.”
“How I’m living through this is remembering that there is goodness in the world. We have seen this in our communities coming together.”
The fear of violence and disorder that would scar Britain did not manifest, but unease remains.
The last few days have already left scars, and uncertainty over what will happen next exists.
The government and communities continue to face challenges.
Challenges that raise questions about how to tackle the deeper roots of the race riots. Including addressing and dismantling narratives and the mainstreaming of far-right discourse and racism.
The majority of the British community’s determination to rally against racism, Islamophobia and division across the country is clear.
Loading ...