Planned Far Right extremist events in London today - Please be vigilant

[SprinkleOfSunak]

Planned ‘demonstrations’ in London today by racists/Far Right.

I just caught up with the BBC news on the riots this morning, and the article states the Metropolitan Police are aware of planned ‘demonstrations’ by these extremists in at least 4 areas of London today. I clicked on the link, and found a list of areas they are aware of.

These areas have been listed as:

Finchley - specifically North Finchley
Walthamstow
Harrow
Hounslow

Sadiq Khan has asked that Londoners check in on our friends, neighbours and family members who are of ethnic minority heritage.

I am so saddened and disgusted that this is happening in my city, and I hope and pray that everyone will stay safe and strong.

Please also be vigilant on your journeys in and out of London, as some of this scum will no doubt travel from Greater London and other areas of the country to take part.

We live in Greater London, and are in a mixed heritage marriage with children and have really noticed since just before the general election onwards, that many people here have become angrier and more open and vocal with their racist views. Reform gained many votes here, and many here hate Labour with a passion. A couple of the Mums I was Facebook friends with from my children’s school posted numerous images of their attendance at the EDL and Tommy Robinson demonstration in London a couple of weeks ago, complete with words of support. Needless to say, they are no longer friends of mine - online or otherwise.

My Husband was racially abused a few weeks ago in our street when trying to park his car for the first time in nearly 20 years of living in London. I’m struggling to not see this is a coincidence after having written what I wrote above.

We live in Birmingham- are there any riots planned here tonight?

@samarrange

There were two main lists circulating yesterday. One with about 15 town names, no other more specific location specified, kick-off 7pm, and then one with about 20 immigration advice centres or lawyers, with full postcodes, kick-off 8pm.

As I’m sure you will know the problem with these “lists”, is it’s now possible for those with ill intent to create disruption, alarm and worse case divert the police from areas they might really be needed without doing much more than lifting a finger, let alone a brick.

I wouldn’t be surprised to see even more talk of clamping down on SM in the near future, and that might not just mean X or Telegraph.

Why isn't he arrested ? Nazi salutes only mean one things. He's an oppressed minority though some would have you believe.

I remember the Notting Hill riots where people asked to take off the jewellery in posh restaurants and a man described having to hold his door from thugs for hours.

Anyone with Muslims connections needs to warn the mosques to be vigilant:

hotpotlover - will be honest I don't know which locations will be potentially targeted. However, we're located in a town about an hour's drive south of you and it's been suggested those in DD's workplace that walk or get bus can leave at 4pm due to potential disruption.

I'd be wary of sharing social media messages, like the one above. Designed to spread panic.

Stop sharing unverified screenshots from a coward who has fled in Spain.

Why are you sharing this?

This whole thing has actually terrified me, my husband is black, born and bred in London and served his country in the military. In recent weeks he has experience more hostility than in his whole life. Being spat on told to go back home! It breaks me that it is happening to him. He already came home from his service a broken man, now he treated like this. It is heart breaking.

@VivaLasLondon That is so sad, frustrating and infuriating.

I hope this ends very soon. The fact remains that these horrid people will still walk amongst us. I can't get my head around that.

Hope your husband can take some time out.

It's been reported on Sky News.

news.sky.com/story/uk-riots-frightening-time-for-many-but-police-forces-move-to-reassure-communities-after-change-in-approach-13192389

This is from BBC website...

• Three men have been jailed for their role in unrest which has spread across the UK during the past week - the first Crown Court sentencings for serious offences related to the riots
• One was given a three-year sentence for violent disorder including punching a police officer in Southport
• Another was jailed for two years and five months for violent disorder and arson of a police vehicle, and a third man got 20 months for violent disorder and racially aggravated abusive behaviour
• Prime Minister Keir Starmer says "this is the swift action we're taking"

This is awful; I'm so sorry.

I'm mixed race and brown. I live in a predominantly white town and have always felt relatively safe. I'm not sure how I feel now.

This violence isn't okay.

I heard raised voices earlier today and for a moment I actually thought people were coming for my husband and sons. It's the first thought that sprung to mind. It flashed through my head maybe our neighbours have always secretly hated us and now they are outside.

I felt like my heart was going to burst out of my chest.

How can we live like this?

Dh and I were talking about the 2011 riots and he remembered that they stopped when there was a long downpour of rain. Can't see rain forecast (locally to me anyway) and wonder if that would work again this time? Not exactly impressive behaviour being stopped in your thuggery by rain.

The London riots calmed down when the Manchester police came down and showed the Met how to get a bloody grip.

Proud of all of those thousands of peaceful anti racist protestors out across England tonight. Amazing to see

It seems quiet. We have been out and about and saw massive police presence.

This was the counter-protest in Walthamstow last night. Completely peaceful gathering.
I'm so proud of my town.

Yes, was just on another thread saying I was so cheered by that. What were they thinking, taking on Walthamstow!

That is so good to see.

@MillshakePickle

I’m so sorry to hear about what happened to you. The aggression, and speed within which it was displayed towards you is really scary, and this is how is was for my Husband too - both of you innocently going about your business to be confronted with an angry, ignorant racist.

The first thing I asked my Husband was for the registration plate so we could report this, but he said the same as you, that he was so shocked by it that he didn’t, and instead he kind of froze. We checked our door camera footage, and a couple of neighbours who have them also checked with us stood there, but none of them had been angled correctly to pick up the registration sadly. My Husband felt totally humiliated, upset, confused and angry. He was also embarrassed that this had happened, and he felt there was nothing he could’ve said or done to diffuse the situation - I told him that’s on the other man and his ignorance, and not on you. He is still shaken by this weeks later too, and nothing usually phases him.

I’m trying hard to catch up with all the messages on here - thank you all so much for contributing to this chat.

I’m very pleased to say that the reason why I’m trying to catch up, is because my family and I enjoyed a wonderful day out in Central London yesterday and stayed until the early evening, followed by me still going to the cinema there in the evening and getting home at around 10pm. Yes, we decided to keep our plans. I must admit that I felt quite nervous and apprehensive, and every time there was a loud noise I startled and became kind of hyper vigilant at times, but for the most part, I just enjoyed myself, as did my Husband and children. I’m so pleased we didn’t cancel.

We didn’t witness anything untoward thankfully. I was very concerned we may see groups of racists travelling together to go to those areas, and that they may cause trouble on the way, but we didn’t see this either - that doesn’t mean to say this didn’t happen, but we were lucky we didn’t see them.

We instead saw London as we usually see her - as a place of diversity, harmony, and of new and interesting experiences. We ate a mixture of cuisines in one of the squares - Lebanese, Pakistani and Italian (not unusual for us!) and had been served and guided by people throughout the day of different heritage. My Daughters played in a playground and made friends with children who again represented a wide variety of heritage. We passed so many wonderful looking cafés and restaurants, representing many countries of the world, and regularly try food and drinks from a plethora of countries thanks to London having these to offer.

I fail to understand how these racists can find any of this threatening, sickening, disgusting - or whatever rubbish these people believe. They seem so afraid of anything that seems at all ‘different’ to their very narrow mindset - it must be incredibly boring being a racist!