Thousands of anti-racism demonstrators filled the streets of London and other cities to rally against a call for more anti-immigrant marches by far-right groups in the UK that have rioted in recent days.

Thousands of police officers were deployed to the British capital, London, the Metropolitan Police said.

In addition, around 1,300 specialist forces were on standby in case of serious trouble in London.

By Wednesday (August 7) evening, anti-racism protesters filled the streets with messages welcoming immigrants, refugees and asylum-seekers.

There were also large and peaceful protests in the cities of Birmingham, Sheffield, Liverpool and Bristol, among others.

‘Refugees welcome’ and ‘London against racism’

People banged drums and chanted “refugees welcome” and “London against racism” in London.

Outside an immigration centre in the Walthamstow area of east London, which saw a large gathering, a counter-protest leader shouted, “fascists gone” to which a crowd of hundreds responded: “off our streets”.

Others held signs saying, “Stop the far right”, “Migration is not a crime” and “Finchley against fascism”.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer has described the previous disturbances as “far-right thuggery”, rejecting suggestions that the riots are about the government's immigration policies.

This article was originally published on DW.

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