Protesters came out in Birmingham yesterday (Sunday 4 August) defiant against a planned visit to the city by far-right thugs, following national riots over the weekend.
As lawlessness spread across parts of the country with violence resulting in multiple physical attacks on individuals and acts of arson on vehicles and private property, anti-racism activists have called for unity in the face of hate.
More than 140 people have been arrested so far across the country as racist groups have banded together to attack mosques, immigration centres and local businesses.
The rioting began in Southport and spread to cities including Liverpool, Leeds, Manchester, Sunderland and Belfast over the last few days. In the West Midlands, the thuggery resulted in a hotel housing migrants being set on fire in Tamworth and a far-right march in Solihull.
In Birmingham, residents are bracing themselves for similar rioting after far-right groups announced action planned in the city for 17 August, with online chatter also suggesting earlier gatherings.
Congregating outside the Bullring in High Street yesterday, anti-racism protesters joined local residents to speak out against anti-Islam activist Tommy Robinson who, alongside his former EDL factions, has been identified as a primary instigator of the latest UK riots.
Chanting slogans against hate and division, the Stand Up To Racism campaigners stood together with placards displaying messages including ‘Oppose fascist Tommy Robinson’ and ‘Smash racism by any means necessary”.
“I say to EDL, you’re not welcome in Birmingham and the reason is because the hatred that you preach doesn’t work here because in Birmingham,” veteran activist Mohammed Suleiman told the crowd.
“All the communities, different ethnic backgrounds, different religious backgrounds, we all live in harmony so we don’t need you here.”
Suleiman said it was vital to learn from current events and recent history to prevent further divisions.
“Look at the Second World War, what did Hitler preach? Hatred. Hatred towards the Jews. Did he bring prosperity to Germany? No, he brought destruction. So I say to the British people, EDL is just a fascist Nazi organisation, and they shouldn’t be let loose in our cities.
“You want to see the result of hatred then look at Gaza, that’s what hatred does. When you hate each other, you kill children, you kill women, you destroy city after city, this is what hate does. So if EDL is coming here to preach hatred, we say you are not welcome.”
The latest wave of rioting began after the killing of three young girls at a Taylor Swift-themed holiday club in Southport, Merseyside, last Monday.
Axel Muganwa Rudakubana, 17, from Lancashire, is accused carrying out the attack, but false claims sparked by Islamophobic and racist sentiments have spread online claiming that the suspect was a Muslim asylum seeker who had arrived in the UK by small boat in 2023.
Several rioters have targeted mosques and other Muslim religious buildings, pelted bricks, chairs and bottles at officers, looted shops and ransacked community facilities, including a library and Citizens Advice Bureau building, which was set ablaze in the violence.
Birmingham Stop the War Coalition secretary Rob Horsfield spoke about a rise in Islamophobia and said racists were being “emboldened” by the riots.
“Today we’re here against the racism that’s been espoused by Tommy Robinson, the EDL and others. Ever since the tragic events in Southport, we’ve seen attacks on people and buildings in Southport, Sunderland and Liverpool.
“A library was burned down in Liverpool today, absolutely disgraceful, and we’re here as Stop the War to show solidarity with those who called this demonstration today because we’re not going to have it in Birmingham.
“If Tommy Robinson feels comfortable marching in Birmingham, then nobody’s safe in Birmingham from these thugs, and we really need to encourage a unified opposition.”
University of Birmingham academic Professor Kamel Hawwash, originally from Palestine, said it was important to defend diversity in his home city.
“I came to this country in 1977 at the age of 15. My parents put me on a plane and said ‘go get an education’. I’ve stayed until now and I stayed out of choice.
“So when people ask me about this country, I say when I came, and even now, it is the most tolerant country in Europe. I don’t think there’s any other description you could give to this country because if you don’t think it is, go to France, go to Germany, go to Poland and try and practise your rights as we do here.
“However, there is undoubtedly a group of people who want to divide us. They want it to be less tolerant, but particularly, less tolerant of Islam and less tolerant of Muslims. We saw that over the last few days, I didn’t think it would become so explicit but every single video I’ve seen from people who have been on the marches of the far-right have reduced it to the issue of Islam.
“They have no idea about what Islam is, they have no idea what Islam is; because Islam is a religion – and I’m a Muslim – that teaches tolerance and acceptance of the other. So we have to be clear that this is about dividing us further.”
Muslims performed open prayers during the protest in Birmingham city centre before marching to New Street Station, inside which student activist Belal Stitan called for justice in the wake of race riots gripping the country.
“I might look different from you, I may have a different name, my parents may follow a different religion and yet, I am a human who wishes to contribute to the very same society and very same ideals that we here hold dear,” he said.
“I want to have the hope that my future, my little sister’s, my children one day, will be able to live in peace and not be thrown aside like the rest of my family.
“I’m sick and tired of constantly having to raise our voices for the sake of what? What are we asking for? What do we need? And what do we want? Justice!”
“Let’s continue to link arms, let’s continue to stand together, we are the hope, we are the future and we will stand united because the people united will never be defeated.”
Sabby Dhalu, co-convenor of Stand up to Racism added: “What we’re seeing in Liverpool, Hull, Sunderland, Hartlepool, Southport and elsewhere, is not just violent disorder and thuggery. They are racist, Islamophobic, fascist riots, with targeted attacks on mosques, asylum seekers and anyone not white.
“Tommy Robinson is deliberately stoking up racism and Islamophobia, whilst on the run. It’s no accident that the riots took place days after Robinson mobilised 15,000 in Trafalgar Square last week. Fascists are emboldened.
“However this did not emerge from a vacuum. It’s a product of politicians stirring up Islamophobia and racism, whilst making people worse off. The only way to defeat this movement is to unite, mobilise against fascism and stand up to racism, Islamophobia and antisemitism.”
Far-right groups including the English Defence League (EDL), Patriotic Alternative, British Movement and the National Front (NF) have been circulating material on social media promoting a gathering outside the Bullring Birmingham, planned for Saturday 17 August 2024.
Birmingham Stand Up to Racism are mobilising to stage a large counter protest in response, supported by Stop the War Coalition, Unite Against Fascism (UAF), LGBT+ Against Islamophobia, Birmingham United Against Islamophobia, local trade unions, community and interfaith groups.
