In the multicultural neighborhood of Edge Hill in southeast Liverpool, residents spent Wednesday bracing for potential unrest. With a wave of anti-immigrant violence sweeping across the country following a deadly stabbing in nearby Southport — falsely attributed to a migrant — the community prepared for the worst.
Parents collected their children early from nursery school, shop owners shuttered their storefronts, and residents drew their curtains as night approached. However, instead of the feared violence, the evening transformed into a gathering of solidarity, with locals rallying against the racism and anti-immigrant sentiments that had fueled riots across Britain over the past week.
Liverpool, a city known for its multicultural fabric and working-class pride, was particularly on edge after a list of potential far-right protest targets circulated online. This list included a local charity, Asylum Link Merseyside, which supports asylum seekers. In response, neighbors mobilized to protect their community, with messages spreading quickly to counter any possible racist demonstrations. Local unions, mosque leaders, and the national group “Stand Up to Racism” also encouraged people to take a stand.
As helicopters hovered overhead and police on horseback patrolled the streets, residents gathered peacefully. Volunteers handed out snacks and water, set up a first aid station, and played peace songs through a megaphone. Signs reading “Not in our city” and “Will trade racists for refugees” were prominently displayed.
Ewan Roberts, manager of Asylum Link Merseyside, was moved by the diverse turnout. “They all had one thing in mind; it was to not let this hate get a foothold,” he said. Despite fears of violence, the far-right protestors did not appear, and the evening remained peaceful.
This show of unity was not limited to Liverpool; similar demonstrations occurred across England as communities voiced their opposition to the recent violence. In Liverpool, residents were particularly incensed that the violence had been sparked by false rumors surrounding a tragic stabbing incident. The suspect, a Welsh-born teenager with Rwandan heritage, was not a migrant as some online agitators had claimed.
The solidarity displayed on Wednesday night highlighted the city’s strong sense of community. Residents of all backgrounds, from mosque members to university students, stood together to reject hate and affirm the city’s multicultural identity. As one participant, Matty Delaney, put it, “We’ve got more in common with an Indian nurse, with a Black bricklayer than we do with the Elon Musks, the Nigel Farages, the Tommy Robinsons, of the world — all these people who are stoking violence.”
By Thursday morning, normal life resumed in Edge Hill, but the impact of the previous night’s gathering lingered. The staff at Asylum Link Merseyside began planning their next steps, grateful for the support but remaining cautious about the future. As Roberts noted, the rioters aimed to erode trust between the community and new arrivals, but the strong show of solidarity had reaffirmed the community’s commitment to unity.
For now, the charity plans to thank the community while keeping the protective boards on their windows, just in case tensions flare again.
