Following the far-right riots across the UK after the tragic murder of three girls in Southport, anti-racist demonstrations have now brought an uneasy calm.

The riots subsided due to a strong police response, swift legal action, government condemnations and the debunking of false social media narratives about the murderer being a migrant.

Last but not least, a counter-reaction blossomed in the shape of community clean-ups, fundraisers, human shields protecting businesses related to asylum seekers and refugees, street carnivals, peaceful gatherings and anti-racist demonstrations, some of them numbering in the thousands. A life-long activist carried a banner proclaiming "Nans against Nazis". Although the anti-racist demonstration had less coverage, over 25,000 people attended the counter-protests on Wednesday 7th August, far outnumbering the "far-right thugs". 

British authorities, however, need to act beyond citizen-led initiatives and ramp up efforts to address racism, Islamophobia and anti-immigration sentiments at a systemic level.