Walthamstow, London: Thousands turn out for anti-racism rally to deter far-right plot

An estimated 10,000 people gathered in the London area of Walthamstow on Wednesday night as anti-fascist, anti-racist demonstrations swept the UK to counter far-right riots and threats.

The community response came after a far-right Telegram group with 13,000 members shared a list of 39 immigration-related charities, advice centres, and solicitors as targets for arson attacks on Wednesday night. 

The “Terrorgram” group, which started after the Southport attack, also included calls to attack ethnic minorities, anti-fascists, and government ministers, including the founding executive of UK charity Hope not Hate Nick Lowles. 

But anti-migrant riots failed to materialise across the country - with disturbances reported mainly in Aldershot and Brighton - as thousands of counter-protestors gathered to protect their communities across the United Kingdom. 

In Walthamstow, one in four London locations listed in the group, protestors and protectors alike showed their solidarity in light of the past week's violence incited by far-right agitators.

Protestors from all backgrounds gathered outside the immigration centre, holding shouted slogans, including “Refugees are welcome here. Nazis are not.”

At one point, crowds were so large that two police vans had to move to give way to protestors. 

Although there was a significant police presence, with 1,300 deployed across London and 41 of the 43 police force areas in England and Wales set to be sites for one of over 100 planned counter-protests, many community members in Walthamstow resorted to alternative forms of community policing, braced to de-escalate any violence and support one another.  

Local anti-violence engagement team Street Fathers, a Walthamstow-based community force of fathers and father figures, kept watch amidst the protests, acting as a protective force. 

“We’re here to de-escalate. We’re peacekeepers. We’re here to make sure the public feels safe,” Street Father founder Colin James told The New Arab.

“We just want to make sure that this event is safe...that all the people who come out to protest are safe," he added. "We’ve been watching the videos of them burning other areas and we don't want nothing like that to happen here.”

Colin, who has been active in the Walthamstow community for 15 years since the 2011 riots in London, explained “There are gaps in policing. There are things that police don't know. That they can't do. That they can never find out. People don't trust the police. But they trust us.”

There was some tension initially, with shops boarded up. Police patrolled the area, handcuffing several youths suspected of making trouble as counter-protestors gathered, expecting rioters to arrive. 

Local resident Aslan told The New Arab that he had been poised in the area since 2 pm, handing out water to those gathered to stop any threat from the far right. “If we don’t even show our presence, it’s only a matter of time before it [fascism] comes to our doorsteps.”

“We’re not trusting the police.” He said. “It’s not that we don't trust their intentions... It’s just that they’re outnumbered. There’s not that much they can do.” 

London Mayor Sadiq Khan stated last night, “I know the shocking scenes have left many Muslims and minority ethnic communities scared and fearful, so I ask my fellow Londoners to check on their friends and neighbours and show them that care and compassion is what Londoners are all about.”

Imam Muhammad Shoyaib from a local mosque in Walthamstow told The New Arab that they circulated messages around the community in the days leading up to the intended far-right attacks. 

“The message was: come to the mosque. Remain inside. If these people turn up, then don't go to confront them. Let the police deal with them… Because where our children are concerned, I do not want any child getting a criminal record”

Shoyaib, who has been resident in Walthamstow for 34 years, explained that local MP Stella Creasy had been very helpful, as had regular check-ins from the police throughout the day. “Walthamstow is a very tight-knit community.”

This wasn’t the first time that Walthamstow had faced fascist threats. Famously, in 2012, 4,000 local people came out in the community to stop around 200 EDL members from marching in one of London’s most proudly multicultural areas.

“We come out, we stand together and we defend our community. We just needed to remind people.” One of the organisers of the 2012 antifascist demonstrations, secondary school teacher and local activist Ulrike, told The New Arab.

“We stand together, all religions, all ethnic backgrounds. We are proud of our wonderful borough. People of all sorts of backgrounds are living in harmony".

Across the UK, far-right suspects have continued to appear in court, with around 100 people charged and more than 400 arrested in connection with public disorder offences.