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Joe Mulhall, Director of Research at HOPE not hate:
“We are shocked by the senseless attack in Southport on Monday on a group of children and their parents simply enjoying their school holiday.
Whilst many gathered tonight for a peaceful vigil, others were intent on stoking division and committing acts of violence. Since the attack, misinformation has spread like wildfire online, feeding unverified narratives about the culprit, their background and their motivations.
Last night, we saw the consequences of far right antagonisation, with groups of protestors attacking police with fireworks and rocks as well as taking part in islamophobic chanting.
Right now, Southport needs the support of the whole nation, not the far right capitalising on their grief for their own hateful agenda.”
Joe Mulhall, Director of Research at HOPE not hate:
“Community cohesion and resilience has been downgraded over a number of years as a consequence of spending cuts and the depriortisation of this area under Michael Gove.
It is imperative that the new Government develops a new strategy that supports stronger communities and sets out how to respond to incidents like these”
Were these people bused into the area by the organised far right or were they local people?
Most of the people are locals riled up by the far right on social media but we cannot say that they are members of the organised far right. It’s clear these people were motivated by anger at the attack. This riot comes after 20,000 people attended a demonstration Trafalgar Square on Saturday led by Tommy Robinson.
Last night in Southport, rioters were chanting Tommy Robinson’s name and “Who the fuck is Allah?” – these are chants regularly heard at far right demonstrations.
Are there other demonstrations planned?
We have picked up several other demonstrations planned for today and throughout this weekend – with details being shared in far right and football hooligan groups:
Wednesday 31st July:
Friday 2nd August
Saturday 3rd August:
Is this the EDL?
The EDL no longer exists and Tommy Robinson quit the organisation in 2013. Those attending yesterday’s riot are best described as supporters of Tommy Robinson.
What did the far right say in the run up to last night?
The far right were stoking divisions on social media almost immediately after the Southport attack
Tommy Robinson has been regularly tweeting calling Islam a mental health issue, sharing videos of disorder and encouraging to join future demonstrations.
Andrew Tate has had at least one tweet removed for misinformation concerning the culprit of Monday’s attack.
Nigel Farage said – ‘I wonder whether the truth is being withheld from us’
‘Something is going horribly wrong in our once beautiful country.’
Calvin Robinson said: “In Southport, local residents are understandably upset and angry.
The mainstream media and Merseyside Police are spreading disinformation, blaming the EDL. Fake news!
The English Defence League has not existed for over a decade.
Perhaps it is time they made a comeback?”
Why do riots like this begin and how do the far right and misinformation play a role?
Clearly there is anger about the horrific attack in Southport on Monday.
Since then, misinformation has spread like wildfire online, feeding unverified narratives about the culprit, their history and their motivations.
Despite limited information about the attacker being made public, there are a range of unevidenced narratives and outright falsities being spread online by far right accounts.
These include:
Nigel Farage has said, “I wonder whether the truth is being withheld from us” and that “Something is going horribly wrong in our once beautiful country.” While, Andrew Tate implied that the attacker was an ‘illegal migrant’ and Tommy Robinson has been regularly tweeting calling Islam a mental health issue, sharing videos of disorder and encouraging people to join future demonstrations.
What can we do to respond to events like these?
The community of Southport has come together to challenge the hateful riots.
While the far right claim to be defending the UK, the real heroes are young girls who have been making friendship bracelets and selling them to raise funds for the victims, and the locals who have stepped in to clean up the aftermath on the streets.
Community cohesion and resilience has been downgraded over a number of years as a consequence of spending cuts and the depriortisation of this area under Michael Gove.
It is imperative that the new Government develops a new strategy that supports stronger communities and sets out how to respond to incidents like these.