Thousands of anti-racism demonstrators filled the streets of London and other cities to rally against a call for more anti-immigrant marches by far-right groups in the UK that have rioted in recent days.
Thousands of police officers were deployed to the British capital, London, the Metropolitan Police said.
In addition, around 1,300 specialist forces were on standby in case of serious trouble in London.
By Wednesday evening, anti-racism protesters filled the streets with messages welcoming immigrants, refugees and asylum-seekers.
There were also large and peaceful protests in the cities of Birmingham, Sheffield, Liverpool and Bristol, among others.
People banged drums and chanted “refugees welcome” and “London against racism” in London.
Outside an immigration center in the Walthamstow area of east London, which saw a large gathering, a counter-protest leader shouted, “fascists gone” to which a crowd of hundreds responded: “off our streets.”
Others held signs saying, “Stop the far right,” “Migration is not a crime” and “Finchley against fascism.”
Prime Minister Keir Starmer has described the previous disturbances as “far-right thuggery,” rejecting suggestions that the riots are about the government’s immigration policies.
Tensions were especially high in London after officers clashed with protesters during a demonstration last week. The disorder led to more than 100 arrests.
Hundreds more were arrested in other places in the UK following unrest in Liverpool, Bristol and the Northern Ireland capital of Belfast.
The head of London’s Metropolitan Police said Wednesday officers were focused on protecting immigration lawyers and services.
Source DW
