UK: Thousands of anti-racism protesters face down far-right threat

Thousands of police and anti-racism protesters gathered on streets in towns and cities across the UK on Wednesday evening. They were there to face far-right groups after more than a week of violent racist attacks targeting Muslims and migrants - but the far-right turnout was minimal, if present at all.

The UK has been hit by a series of riots that erupted early last week after three young girls were killed in a knife attack in Southport, northwest England, triggering a wave of false messaging online that wrongly identified the suspected killer as an Islamist migrant.

Posts online had said far-right, anti-Muslim protesters would target a list of immigration centers, migrant support centers and specialist law firms on Wednesday, prompting many businesses to close early and some shops to board up windows.

'Will trade racists for refugees'

The reports prompted the deployment of 6,000 extra police officers, while crowds of protesters massed in towns and cities including London, Bristol, Birmingham, Liverpool and Hastings, holding banners saying "Fight racism," "Stop the far right" and "Will trade racists for refugees."

The protesters were made up of a diverse collection of Muslims, anti-racist and anti-fascist groups, trade unionists, left-wing organizations, and locals appalled at the riots that had hit the country.

By 9 p.m. (20:00 GMT) there were no reports of any serious disorder. Police said around 50 people in the south London suburb of Croydon, had thrown bottles and were trying to cause disruption.

Waste collector Stetson Matthew, 64, who joined thousands of demonstrators in Walthamstow, northeast London, said people had the right to protest but that the targeting of ethnic minorities had put the country on edge.

"Everybody has the right to do what they need to do but what they must do is to put their voices across peacefully, amicably, without any stress or violence," he said.

One woman who joined a counter-protest in Hastings, southeast England, said she was relieved to see a large turnout.

"I felt I absolutely had to be here tonight to take a stand, and it is much easier for me to come as a white woman then for some of my non-white friends, so I'm here in solidarity," said 37-year-old Lucy, a flower grower, who declined to give her last name.

Riots started last week when groups of a few hundred mostly men clashed with police and smashed windows of hotels housing asylum-seekers from Africa, Asia and the Middle East, chanting "get them out" and "stop the boats" - a reference to those arriving in the UK in small dinghies.

They have also pelted mosques with rocks, prompting Muslim organizations to issue community safety advice.

'We're here for each other'

"I live in the borough and we don't want these people on our streets... they don't represent us," Sara Tresilian, 58, told reporters as she joined the throngs in Walthamstow, an ethnically diverse, working-class district.

"You have to turn out to give that message... I think it's important that you show up for your friends and neighbors."

Maz, 40, who declined to give his last name, had come down with his Palestinian flag along with hundreds of other Muslims from the surrounding area.

"We're local, we're here for each other because these racists declared they were going to destroy our community," he said. "So we're here to keep the peace."

In Walthamstow, the crowds chanted "Whose streets? Our streets!" and other slogans, holding banners saying "Smash fascism & racism" and "Racists not welcome here". 

Several pro-Palestinian attendees held the Palestinian flag aloft, climbing atop bus stops and other vantage points. 

"It's good to see," local restaurant owner Assad, who declined to give his last name, said of the collective turnout, from behind the counter of his Asian street food outlet.

Strong community

"There was some concern," he admitted regarding whether far-right agitators would show up. "It's one of those things you don't expect in London. We're a restaurant run by immigrants, Muslims as well. The silver lining is the community here is very strong," he added.

Hours earlier, around the corner, a bakery store owner was closing early in case trouble erupted. 

"It's crazy," he said of the recent riots. "I understand why they're mad but this ain't the way," he said of protesters, who turned violent in the aftermath of the tragedy. 

"Blaming a whole culture for the actions of one man - what they're doing is wrong. What I just want is for them to do protests without attacking." 

Muhammed Noman, an immigrant from Pakistan who moved to the UK 13 years ago and who now owns several cafes in northeast London, was handing out bottled water from outside one on Wednesday. He was not planning to board up his store, as several neighboring businesses had done ahead of that evening's gatherings. 

"I came myself to look after the store," he said, adding friends and family had told him to shutter the place temporarily. 

Welcoming the heavy police presence, Noman added he wanted "peace" - in Walthamstow and across England.

London's Metropolitan Police Commissioner Mark Rowley said the night had gone "very peacefully" apart from a few criminal incidents.

"I think the show of force from the police, and frankly, the show of unity from communities, together defeated the challenges that we've seen," Rowley told reporters.

While anti-racism protesters marched carrying banners with slogans like "Refugees Welcome" and "No to Hate", no large far-right gatherings were reported, only smaller groups.

Subscribe to Storyboard: A weekly newsletter bringing you the best of CGTN every Friday