Thousands of people took to the streets of many cities in England and Wales last night for peaceful demonstrations against racism, reported PA Media/DPA, quoted by BTA.
Police were preparing to respond to more than 100 planned anti-migrant protests and around 30 counter-protests against racism yesterday. Shops were closed early in many cities amid fears of further unrest following a week of clashes that began in Southport, Merseyside, on July 30, but in most places planned anti-immigration protests did not take place.
The largest number of participants in counter-protests gathered in Walthamstow, East London, Bristol, Brighton, Liverpool and Sheffield. According to the organization “Stand Up Against Racism” (Stand Up to Racism) a total of about 25,000 people took to the streets to oppose racism and violence.
Among them - about 8,000 people in Walthamstow, 7,000 people in Bristol and 2,000 people in Liverpool. A similar number of people took to the streets in Brighton and Newcastle, the group said.
Police said tensions were higher in Croydon, where protesters threw objects and bottles at police. Ten people were detained, four of them for violence and violation of public order, and one for assaulting an emergency worker.
London Police Deputy Commissioner Andy Valentine said more than 1,000 law enforcement officers were deployed in the British capital and anti-racism protests in Walthamstow and Finchley had passed "without serious incident or disorder".
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Dozens of police in Aldershot stepped in to separate hostile groups of protesters and counter-protesters after riots broke out on Wednesday night. Avon and Somerset Police said officers made an arrest after a "largely peaceful" protest in Bristol a brick was thrown at a police car.
Last night's counter-protests took place as those arrested for last week's riots continue to appear in court.
The sentences of four men in Liverpool and three others in Plymouth will be known today after they pleaded guilty to taking part in collisions.