'Protest turned to party' Stand against extremism sent out a powerful message

When thousands of anti-racism protesters gathered on streets in England on Wednesday they took a stand against extremism knowing more unrest was a realistic possibility.

- Emine Sinmaz

But after a night which came to be characterised by unity, rather than the division they sought to repel, those involved said they felt heartened by their decision to support their neighbours.

"Wednesday was a historic day," said Dr Badr Abdullah, chair of Al-Rahma mosque, in Liverpool, 10 days after the country was shaken by the fatal stabbing of three young girls in Merseyside and the rioting that followed.

"It was a really bad day in the morning before the protest, but afterwards we came back home feeling safe. I left feeling that there are people who are willing to come together in these difficult times to say no to racism."

He was one of 2,000 people who congregated around St Anne's in Liverpool, a church that hosts an immigration centre featured on a far-right "hitlist" of protest targets.

Abdullah said: "We thought we wanted to go in solidarity with the rest of Liverpool and those who are against racism and division in our in our city. People from different backgrounds, different religions, different ethnicities came together and it was brilliant to be a part of them."

He said the peaceful gathering had left Muslims in the community feeling hopeful, despite the violence and disorder in the city on Saturday.