Misinformation and a tragic mass stabbing, which killed children in the English city of Stockport, sparked violent far-right disorder across England and Ireland from July 30 to Aug 5. Online misinformation falsely attributed the Stockport stabbings to a Muslim asylum seeker, fueling a frenzy of organized racist attacks across the country. Within days, multiple cities witnessed the worst unrest since the 2011 riots following the police shooting of Mark Duggan. The word ‘riot’ is being used frequently in the UK press at the moment. However, it would be more accurate and chilling to call this what it is: a violent pogrom against ethnic minorities in Britain.
The unrest has led to the resurrection of the ‘Muslim Defence League’ in places like Bolton. These groups, made up of brave locals, try to outnumber the fascist mobs in their communities and clash with them on the streets while defending their homes and mosques from attack. The Real News reports from London on the upsurge in violence, and speaks with local anti-fascist groups about how they are fighting to put out the fascist flame that has spread around England.
Videography, production and editing by Ross Domoney
Transcript
Ross Domoney, the narrator:
England has just suffered the worst far-right street violence in decades.
Local self-defence groups have sprung up across the country to protect their communities from racist attacks.
Protestors:
‘Racist scum – off our streets!’
Anika Zahir, protestor:
We have all watched the rise of the far-right that has been fed by our politicians,
our media and our corrupt police.
Ross Domoney, the narrator:
The unrest started after a tragic mass stabbing that targeted children in the English town of Southport.
Zoubida Ahmed, protestor:
Unfortunately, three innocent children were killed and rumours were circulating that it was done by a Muslim migrant which turned out not to be true.
After that, many people took it upon themselves to start attacking mosques, attacking
black and brown people.
Anika Zahir, protestor:
Our police force are stretched out thin across the whole country. They are not able to protect us.
So now, as communities, we are protecting each other.
Ross Domoney, the narrator:
Misinformation spread like wildfire that the killer was a Muslim migrant who’d come to the UK illegally by boat.
It turns out he was a British-born teenager from Wales with Rwandan parents.
The color of his skin was enough to keep the nationalist revolt burning, which had been brewing in England for a long time.
Nationalist protestors:
‘There were five Muslim bombers in the air!’
Ross Domoney, the narrator:
As a video journalist, one of my first political documentaries in the UK was about the far right.
Nationalist protestor:
England is our country and at last we want it fucking back!
Ross Domoney, the narrator:
For those of us filming on the streets at that time, in 2010, we could see that this time bomb
was waiting to explode.
Tommy Robinson, the leader of the ultra-nationalist street movement ‘The English Defense League’, has been found out to have close ties to the Israeli war machine.
Protestor:
‘Fascist scum – off our streets!’
Zoubida Ahmed, protestor:
People like Tommy Robinson has been the spearhead of these race riots.
He’s currently in Cypress, nowhere to be seen and newsflash, he’s also funded and aided
and abetted by Zionists.
It’s been proven that a lot of his sponsor and donors are coming from Zionist organizations.
So essentially when people talk about British patriotism, I don’t understand what Israel has to do
with British patriotism. Why are people like Tommy Robinson using, you know, the name of British patriotism whilst working for another foreign entity?
Now, think of it from the mind of a racist.
A racist is seeing brown people being slaughtered and they’re getting away with it.
So essentially, in their mind, it’s like, well, there’s a green light here.
You know, if Israel who we support, can commit genocide, murder over 40,000 people and there are no repercussions for that, then this is accepted, right?
You know, this is normal in society.
Protestor:
‘Fuck off fascists!’
Waleed, protestor:
So I’m here to show support to the Muslim community who is here.
To the immigrant who is like me.
I came as an immigrant like ten years ago.
And it’s not like what I’m hearing in the media about immigrants.
We live here and it’s not an easy life.
You know, I have a conditional on my visa
It’s called ‘No public funds’.
So I’m not allowed to get any public funds
from the government.
What you hear from these fascists is that we are here taking their money, taking benefits. It’s a condition that so many people like me have.
It’s called ‘No public funds’. That if I’m sick, I need to buy my medicine. I can’t take benefit. I can’t take free house.
I have to rent everything and I have to pay my tax. So here I’m not taking anything from any British man. If anything, I’m giving service. I’m paying tax.
And from this tax, you are living your benefit. You are living nicely out of it.
You know, the problem is not us coming here and taking jobs.
Ross Domoney, the narrator:
These recent anti-fascist demonstrations were called after the far-right anonymously leaked a list online, claiming they were going to attack locations housing asylum seekers across the country.
Protestor:
‘Where’s, where’s the EDL?’
Anika Zahir, protestor:
When we look at the list that has been released of all the different towns.
For many of us, it’s a reminder of history. It’s what our ancestors went through.
My father had to fight the racists on the street for liberation.
And this is how he’s making us feel again. We’ve gone back to the sixties.
We’ve gone back to the seventies. It’s Enoch Powell and the ‘Rivers of Blood’
speech all over again.
Protestor:
‘Where’s your army now huh?’
‘Fascist scum!’
Nationalist protestor:
‘Only one?’
‘We are many!’
Protestor:
‘There are many many more!’
‘many many more!’
Ross Domoney, the narrator:
Two days later, the many nationalists due to turn up to this hotel housing asylum seekers, didn’t come through.
They were in hiding as successful anti-fascist gatherings packed the streets across England.
Protestors:
‘Can you hear the fascists sing? I can’t hear a fucking thing!’
Rajia, protestor:
We’ve showed the fascists that they don’t have the edge that we do on the street.
These streets are ours. And it’s given us all a lot of hope.
Wherever hate and division is going to show, we’re going to come and oppose it.
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