Changes

Among the first violent responses by "anti-racist" counter protesters happened in Leeds, West Riding of Yorkshire on 3 August. A 17-strong gang, of which 2, Sameer Ali and Adnan Ghafoor, were sentenced for their crimes, attacked a small number of peaceful protesters (who, according to the mainstream media, were "pro-[[English Defence League]]") wearing Union Jacks.<ref>[https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/news/crime/counter-protestors-who-clashed-with-far-right-edl-in-leeds-jailed-4735635 Counter protestors who clashed with far-right 'EDL' in Leeds are jailed]</ref>

Among the first violent responses by "anti-racist" counter protesters happened in Leeds, West Riding of Yorkshire on 3 August. A 17-strong gang, of which 2, Sameer Ali and Adnan Ghafoor, were sentenced for their crimes, attacked a small number of peaceful protesters (who, according to the mainstream media, were "pro-[[English Defence League]]") wearing Union Jacks.<ref>[https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/news/crime/counter-protestors-who-clashed-with-far-right-edl-in-leeds-jailed-4735635 Counter protestors who clashed with far-right 'EDL' in Leeds are jailed]</ref>

In early August 2024, there was a mass media disinformation campaign in the UK which claimed that "over 100 far-right protests" would occur on 7 August in the UK (a fraction of which materialised). This baseless [[fake news]] has been described as "[[Soviet]]-style" [[propaganda]]. In response to these claims, around 25,000 (according to the media) far-left communists and socialists, many associated with the divisive [[Hope Not Hate]] group, held demonstrations at various locations in the UK in what the biased media and political establishment labelled as "anti-racist counter-protests".

In early August 2024, there was a mass media disinformation campaign in the UK which claimed that "over 100 far-right protests" would occur on 7 August in the UK (a fraction of which materialised). This baseless [[fake news]] has been described as "[[Soviet]]-style" [[propaganda]]. In response to these claims, around 25,000 (according to the media) far-left communists and socialists, many associated with the divisive [[Hope Not Hate]] group (who spread disinformation about prior "far-right" protests in Middlesbrough), held demonstrations at various locations in the UK in what the biased media and political establishment labelled as "anti-racist counter-protests".

On 7 August, multiple [[far-left]] "anti-racist" demonstrations took place across the UK. At one such event in Liverpool, numerous commentators noted, including [[Heritage Party]] leader [[David Kurten]], that the police guided the far-left protesters towards those protesting against immigration.<ref>[https://twitter.com/davidkurten/status/1821162749763654001 David Kurten on X: "SET UP: Police guide a far-left 'counter-protest' into a citizens' demonstration against mass immigration, migrant crime and two-tier policing in Liverpool."]</ref>

On 7 August, multiple [[far-left]] "anti-racist" demonstrations took place across the UK. At one such event in Liverpool, numerous commentators noted, including [[Heritage Party]] leader [[David Kurten]], that the police guided the far-left protesters towards those protesting against immigration.<ref>[https://twitter.com/davidkurten/status/1821162749763654001 David Kurten on X: "SET UP: Police guide a far-left 'counter-protest' into a citizens' demonstration against mass immigration, migrant crime and two-tier policing in Liverpool."]</ref>