Lancaster, United Kingdom – Sharon Mortlock remains undeterred by the rising far-right movement. As she enjoyed her coffee and read a book in a picturesque park in Lancaster, dozens of agitators gathered nearby. “This is my only outdoor space; it feels like my garden,” Mortlock said. “I wouldn’t move for anyone.”

The agitators in this northern English city are part of a movement that has shaken the nation with violent riots against immigrants, Muslims, and ethnic minorities. The unrest was triggered by misinformation circulating on social media following a fatal stabbing in Southport, a seaside town about 64 kilometers from Lancaster, where three girls were killed on July 29. Many posts falsely suggested that the perpetrator was a Muslim and an immigrant.

Despite the tensions in Lancaster, the far-right was unable to gain a foothold as counter-demonstrators outnumbered them. Mortlock observed, “They are concerned about the number of people coming in, and they see it as a bad thing rather than being more objective and open-minded about what immigrants can actually contribute to the country.”

While calm seems to have been restored in Lancaster, riots continue to plague cities in England and Northern Ireland, as online provocateurs exploit anger over tragic incidents in Southport. More than 400 people have been arrested in connection with the recent wave of violent far-right activity. Riots also erupted in Belfast, Darlington, and Plymouth.

International media has reported on the explicitly racist nature of the riots, prompting several countries, including Nigeria, Australia, Malaysia, India, and Indonesia, to issue warnings to their citizens about the potential risks of the violence in the UK. Figures such as Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, operating under the pseudonym Tommy Robinson, and Nigel Farage, a Member of Parliament and leader of the populist Reform Party, have been criticized for spreading conspiracy theories and misinformation that have fueled the unrest.

The disturbances have also created discontent towards the government and police. Both figures have perpetuated the myth that police employ a “two-tier” approach, allegedly favoring minority groups and leftist individuals while punishing white protesters more harshly.

Hassan, a 38-year-old man who fled Sudan in April 2023 and was subsequently captured by armed groups in Libya, expressed concern after arriving in Lancaster months ago. “I feel dissatisfied,” Hassan said through a translator. “I don’t know what to do if the locals do not accept me.”

However, in Lancaster, it does not seem that he will face resistance for now. The city appears to be thriving through community projects that welcome everyone. Two of the city’s music venues, Kanteena and Ye Olde John O’Gaunt pub, have announced that they will ban anyone participating in the planned far-right protests.

In nearby Preston and Blackburn, planned riots also fizzled in the face of local opposition. A similar protest scheduled for the traditional seaside town of Blackpool coincided with the city’s annual punk festival, Rebellion, where attendees were reportedly among the first to oppose the far-right demonstrators.

“In Lancaster, everyone has been lovely to us,” said Wael, who left Damascus six years ago to avoid conscription into the Syrian army. “I saw it yesterday,” he added about the resistance against the far-right protest. “It made me happy to see all these people supporting refugees.”

However, according to anti-racist groups, it appears that violence will continue in English cities in the coming days. In the wake of the successful counter-demonstration on Sunday, the local branch of Stand Up To Racism has stated that they are prepared.