Thousands of anti-racism protesters took to the streets across the United Kingdom on Wednesday, effectively countering a series of far-right rallies that had been planned to target immigration centers. The massive turnout of counter-protesters appeared to thwart what many feared could have been another day of rioting.
Following days of violence fueled by the deadly stabbing attack that left 3 children dead at a dance class celebrating the US singer Taylor Swift's music in Southport, police had prepared for potential unrest. Far-right groups took to the streets over unconfirmed reports speculating that the attacker was Muslim. On social media, they had called for protests at more than 100 visa processing centers and immigration lawyers' offices around the country at 8 pm local time.
However, by early evening, thousands of counter-protesters had assembled in over a dozen cities to protect the immigration centers from potential far-right targeting. Chants of "There are many, many more of us than you" echoed through the anti-racism demonstrations across the country.
The counter-protests were bolstered by a significantly stronger police presence compared to the weekend, with virtually no sign of far-right supporters. While it's unclear if this represents a turning point, fears of another night of unrest have subsided for now.
In Walthamstow, east London, the immigration center was entirely boarded up and protected by a heavy police presence. Approximately 3,000 to 4,000 counter-protesters surrounded the site.
An organizer addressed the hastily assembled crowd through a megaphone, saying, "We today have got such brilliant numbers in our community. We have shown them whose streets these really are. These are our streets."
The worst of the past week's violence was concentrated in northern England. In Rotherham on Sunday, rioters set fire to a hotel used to house asylum seekers, with more than 200 people inside. Large crowds shouting "Enough is enough" and "Get 'em out" were seen clashing with police in several other cities.
Unlike last week's protests that escalated into racist violence, Wednesday's demonstrations were overseen by a substantial police presence separating protesters and counter-protesters. At least three right-wing demonstrators were arrested during altercations between the two groups.
Anti-immigration protesters have often accused police of double standards in responding to their demonstrations, claiming unfair treatment and giving prime minister Keir Starmer the nickname "two-tier Keir."
The nickname has gained traction on social media, with Elon Musk echoing it in a post on X, the platform he owns. Musk claimed that "civil war is inevitable" in response to a post blaming the violent demonstrations on the effects of "mass migration and open borders."
The fizzling out of the planned far-right protests comes as a relief for the new Labour government and for communities that had braced for another night of rioting. It may also indicate that many have been deterred from taking to the streets after previous far-right protests turned violent, resulting in hundreds of arrests and some immediate prison sentences.
