Amidst a week of riots and disorder in England and Northern Ireland after the murder of three young girls in Southport, there have been uplifting moments of solidarity and kindness. From the collective clean up after the Southport riot to an ice-cream seller handing out free cones to police officers in Sunderland amid sustained attacks on them, here are some of the best acts of kindness that revealed the best of Britain.
When Adam Kelwick, an imam at the oldest mosque in Liverpool, learned of a planned protest by the far right, he knew he had to act. Kelwick’s Abdullah Quilliam mosque was on the target list of agitators provoked by misinformation about the identity of the suspect in the Southport stabbings. Anti-racism activists organised a counter-protest to defend the mosque, but Kelwick had a slightly different plan. He armed himself with around 200 burgers, chips and cold drinks, and went to the gates of the mosque with the hope of engaging with those from the far right. Kelwick managed to speak to right-wing activists who shared their stories and concerns, and they later hugged and exchanged numbers.
Mohammed Idris, the owner of Belfast café Bash, was left questioning whether he had a future in the city after far-right unrest in Belfast during which his café was attacked. In the aftermath, a fundraiser was set up by loyal customers to help with the repairs. The crowdfunder, which has since raised over £26,000, and the outpouring of support convinced Idris to remain in Belfast and reopen his beloved business.
As police warned of over 100 rallies on Wednesday, thousands of counter-protesters gathered to make a stand against fascism, racism and hate. Many created human shields outside potential targets such as asylum seeker centres and migration lawyers’ firms. One of the anti-racist activists who made a statement was Pat, 71, who arrived to protect a mosque in Liverpool on Friday. Holding a “Nans against Nazis” sign, she said it was important to show they were not afraid
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