to think these people in Sunderland are not "protesting".

Absolute rot, there’s been plenty demonstrations in the Toon before and as mentioned it’s planned for next weekend. I hope for everyone’s sake it’s calmed down by then.

I would be very wary of minimising what is happening right now. The scale of apparent orchestration and political commentary coming out speaks to more than seasonal rioting for shits and giggles, even if some of those on the ground do fit that bill.

There were allegedly between 25 and 30 scheduled "peaceful protests" this weekend and I think only a handful have made the news. They have indeed been targeted in areas where policing is under strain already. While Northern areas are over represented Weymouth and Bristol have also seen disorder.

Until today, the media was keeping things rather more low key than we've seen before, but Sky is now running a live feed and has been all afternoon. While it is tempting to use the "ignore them till they get bored" approach, that might in fact be counter productive and cause them to double down because their main complaint is that they are being ignored.

While the majority quite rightly stand in condemnation of what is going on and hopefully will stand together to protect and rebuild where they can, there is also a risk that well meant counter protest could also add fuel to the fire and complicate policing further.

Another consideration is that it is the beginning of the school holidays, and middle teens could easily be co-opted and swept up in this without fully understanding the ramifications.

The whole thing is like a 5000 piece puzzle without a picture to follow and the corners are missing.

And it breaks my heart to read the concerns of posters for themselves and their children who are both directly and indirectly affected. Their fears must be heard and they must be supported

Elon Musk has used us as a warning of impending Civil War in the US, which yes, makes the eyes roll, but if international agencies with a vested interest in capitalising on our instability get involved, we're in more trouble than we can imagine.

While "keep calm and carry on" is somewhat laudable, I also think it would be shortsighted to underestimate the risks of all this, which could include further curtailment of civil liberties for everyone and then any sort of "greater good" mission creep to suit various agendas.

I stand in solidarity with those feeling the fear of victimisation for simply existing right now and I condemn the rioters absolutely.

I don't feel scared, I feel fucking angry that my country is being destroyed by a bunch of facists. The parallels with the 1930s is concerning, but we stopped Mosleys lot then, and there are enough good people to stop them now.

I'm sorry but you're wrong. When talking about Zionists, people (David Miller included) mean Jews. They may be totally secular, many are, but they are Jewish. I'm not going to get in to a debate about the current horrible situation there and the way the Israeli government have behaved which is in no way beyond criticism, but I wouldn't be taking David Miller as a reliable source of objective fact free of antisemitism.

Yes of course they hate Jews!

These comments by David and the other comment are talking about Zionists. There are Zionists of all different faiths and none! Their talking about zionists not Jewish people

Unfortunately, the riots seem to have let nasty thugs feel ok to commit racist crime - I've seen a few instances of single folk minding their own business outside rioting areas being attacked just as they're non white (mainly women obviously as the 'patriots' are such big hard folk) - this is abhorrent and very scary. However, it isn't everywhere though it looks like it on the media, and I do feel more were turning out for the anti protests which gives some hope.

It is a dreadful situation and I don't blame anyone for being scared (although I'm very sad that they are) but in reality, the riots are confined to certain areas which have been chosen as targets by the Right as the best places to foment hate. Most of the country is actually appalled by it all, I'm sure most people in those areas are appalled by it also, but they are less visible.

I've said elsewhere that although they are noisy, aggressive and hate filled they do not speak for the majority of this country and the more they demonstrate what they are, the less impact they will have because despite many opportunities and appearances to the contrary, the English do not actually embrace the extreme Right.

I hope that this makes sense.

It may be best to avoid Newcastle city centre at the weekend. It's only a 20 minute walk from Fenham, where the riots are planned and to be honest, there's plenty of form for pissed idiots smashing up the town.

There was violent disorder, with more than a dozen jailed, over lockdown; that was at the Monument. Skinheads throwing beer cans at the Police etc.

@absquatulize “unaffected” is an interesting word. As a woman of colour I’m pretty terrified. I asked my sister today if it was just me. She said no, it’s definitely the most scary it’s ever been for us. She doesn’t do social media and couldn’t make sense of my sleeper cell theory but is also terrified. And incredibly depressed. I think we all knew this was coming but I’m not sure that makes it any better.

In reality the size of the areas that are getting smashed up is really quite small, devasting for those who live in those areas, but the vast majority of the country is unaffected.

I’ve been following this from abroad and due to fly home this week. It’s disgusting and shameful. I don’t really want to come back to the UK if it’s as bad as it looks abroad.

All we can see are beer swilling thugs fighting the police. Clearly the majority are jobless or working cash in hand, to be out daily causing mayhem, contributing nothing but costing us millions in policing. Parasites rather than patriots. I hope the sentences are longer than the JSO lot. They are so dumb that they don’t seem to realise that with modern technology, will be caught.

Attacking a migrant hotel won't help save any cash for 'Brits' as the gov't will have to re-hotel them and pay for the damages, so well done you who want more cash in your pockets and deprived areas.
Trashing your area won't make it better and won't reduce bills either - just moronic.
It won't also remove anyone. I wonder what is hoped for - just pile everyone on planes and 'send them back'? Is that seriously what people think can happen? Is that seriously what humans want to happen to other humans with valid risk of death/torture/persecution claims if they really stop and think about it? And where does their desire to remove stop? It's a confusing mix of hatred against 'small boats', Islam and any non white.
The rhetoric from some MPs over recent years has helped lead to this - 'invaders' 'illegal migration' - no facts or education, deliberately let asylum claims pile high. Can't blame Keir, who has picked up this deliberately planned hot potato.
I definitely think whoever is driving this had plans in place for the right moment - new gov't, hot days, a 'useful' incident, and light the starting torch. It's most certainly at least got some cash and influence behind it - the nice swastika guy in Sunderland actually came from Stoke and seems to be of NFA so would he have the train and beer money? Having said that obviously chose to be a moron and thug and deserves any punishment.
I'm angry but mostly so sad for all of us and this country.

@Stormwalker don't delude yourself for one moment that the British Far Right like Jews any more than they like Muslims. The Southport Hebrew Congregation sent a message of solidarity to the mosque. That way we go forward.

Don't be so utterly ridiculous. The Newcastle protest isn't planned until Saturday 10th. Let's hope for Newcastle's sake that the country has calmed down by then.

@Scirocco

I'm so, so sorry. This is your country and I'll stand up-lots of us will stand up- to anyone who says otherwise

It's fascinating how on Facebook news article where this is been reported that because no one has filmed the carnage it must be made up..m

And this whole "ooo can't get a job because of them" erm no! moments like this is why you can't get a job! Doubt these people are squeaky clean and all.

Protest could under but this is beyond that and I suspect some don't give a crap what it's about now but are just there to cause violence and distruction. Sad especially for people who are effected by this

Using the term MSM also. It’s the far-right’s equivalent of Hitler’s “Lügenpresse” - the lying press - which he used to discredit trusted national media in order to allow disinformation to spread.

I do too. It's why I'm so sweary. I thought the far right racism would get better with a change of government and less inflammatory rhetoric from politicians but it appears some people can't deal with living in a democracy and have decided to kick off

@Scirocco

It's so wrong you are being impacted in this way, so very very wrong. All I can offer is solidarity and a virtual hug to you and yours.

Seemingly Saturday was safe & peaceful just like all other Saturdays ….geordies are a completely different & peaceful breed compared to mackems.

Thanks. I'm meant to be delivering training down in England in a few weeks, but I'm considering cancelling it. Not so much for myself, but for DC, who'd be coming with me if I go. If all this kicked off while we were there, DC would be terrified.

Bloody hell. I'm so sorry. And what the PP said.

Sky News are showing a live feed of the stand off outside the Holiday Inn in Rotherham. The police have managed to get the mob back down the road using their "wall" tactic or whatever the official term is thankfully.

It strikes me that "the mob" don't actually give a shit about children potentially in that hotel who are probably terrified right now. Any one of them who publicly tries to claim they're "defending kiddies" deserves a smack in the lying mouth (and I'm really not a violent person). Likewise with regard to ALL the children living in areas where they've had to witness all this, especially Southport obviously.

Much as I'm trying to control my anger about "things I can't control" I'm definitely simmering. There's fuck all I can do obviously because thank fully I'm out of any affected area, and even if I were able to join a counter protest, I wonder if it would really help?

Honestly I'm just feeling very helpless and angry, so I'm posting here just to vent. Apologies if it's not appropriate.

Some of the shouts on the live streams are terrifying 'get them' 'kill them' - I have no clue where this is going to end. The amount of kids there with parents, the women screaming and spitting at police - it's disgusting.

What the hell it will be like teaching in September I have no clue!