Current:Home > MyKing Charles III applauds people who stood against racism during recent unrest in the UK-VaTradeCoin
King Charles III applauds people who stood against racism during recent unrest in the UK
lotradecoin strategy View Date:2024-12-25 23:09:44
LONDON (AP) — King Charles III applauded people who took to the streets of British towns and cities earlier this week to help blunt days of unrest fueled by far-right activists and misinformation about a stabbing attack that killed three girls.
Charles on Friday held telephone audiences with Prime Minister Keir Starmer and law enforcement officials during which he offered his “heartfelt thanks” to police and other emergency workers for their efforts to restore order and help those affected by the violence, Buckingham Palace said in a statement.
“The king shared how he had been greatly encouraged by the many examples of community spirit that had countered the aggression and criminality from a few with the compassion and resilience of the many,” the palace said. “It remains his majesty’s hope that shared values of mutual respect and understanding will continue to strengthen and unite the nation.”
Thousands of anti-racism campaigners turned out in communities throughout Britain to counter any resurgence of violence on Saturday. Police remained on alert for further unrest after the nation was convulsed by rioting for more than a week as crowds spouting anti-immigrant and Islamophobic slogans attacked mosques, looted shops and clashed with police.
The disturbances have been fueled by right-wing activists using social media to spread misinformation about the July 29 knife attack in which three girls between the ages of 6 and 9 were killed during a Taylor Swift-themed dance event in Southport, a seaside town north of Liverpool.
Police detained a 17-year-old suspect. Rumors, later debunked, quickly circulated on social media that the suspect was an asylum-seeker, or a Muslim immigrant.
On Saturday, the family of one of the Southport victims, Bebe King, 6, thanked their community, friends and even strangers who had offered the family solace in their grief.
“The outpouring of love and support from our community and beyond has been a source of incredible comfort during this unimaginably difficult time,’' they wrote. ”From the pink lights illuminating Sefton and Liverpool, to the pink bows, flowers, balloons, cards, and candles left in her memory, we have been overwhelmed by the kindness and compassion shown to our family.’'
The unrest has largely dissipated since Wednesday night, when a wave of expected far-right demonstrations failed to materialize after thousands of peaceful protesters flocked to locations around the U.K. to show their support for immigrants and asylum-seekers.
Police had prepared for confrontations at more than 100 locations after right-wing groups circulated lists of potential targets on social media. While anti-racism groups planned counterprotests in response, in most places they reclaimed the streets with nothing to oppose.
Starmer has insisted the police will remain on high alert this weekend, which marks the beginning of the professional soccer season. Authorities have been studying whether there is a link between the rioters and groups of “football hooligans” known to incite trouble at soccer matches.
“My message to the police and all of those that are charged with responding to disorder is maintain that high alert,” Starmer said on Friday while visiting the special operations room of London’s Metropolitan Police Service.
The National Police Chiefs’ Council said some 741 people have been arrested in connection with the violence, including 304 who have been charged with criminal offenses.
Courts around the country have already begun hearing the cases of those charged in relation to the unrest, with some receiving sentences of three years in prison.
Starmer has said he is convinced that the “swift justice that has been dispensed in our courts” will discourage rioters from returning to the streets this weekend.
veryGood! (39488)
Related
- Mega Millions winning numbers for Tuesday, Dec. 10 drawing: $619 million lottery jackpot
- Inside Clean Energy: In a Week of Sobering Climate News, Let’s Talk About Batteries
- UPS workers poised for biggest U.S. strike in 60 years. Here's what to know.
- Taylor Swift, Keke Palmer, Austin Butler and More Invited to Join the Oscars’ Prestigious Academy
- Oregon lawmakers to hold special session on emergency wildfire funding
- Why Do Environmental Justice Advocates Oppose Carbon Markets? Look at California, They Say
- Biden names CIA Director William Burns to his cabinet
- Inside Clean Energy: Three Charts that Show the Energy Transition in 50 States
- Supreme Court allows investors’ class action to proceed against microchip company Nvidia
- Earthjustice Is Suing EPA Over Coal Ash Dumps, Which Leak Toxins Into Groundwater
Ranking
- Stock market today: Asian stocks are mixed ahead of key US inflation data
- The Fed's radical new bank band-aid
- Video: Aerial Detectives Dive Deep Into North Carolina’s Hog and Poultry Waste Problem
- A Florida Chemical Plant Has Fallen Behind in Its Pledge to Cut Emissions of a Potent Greenhouse Gas
- China's new tactic against Taiwan: drills 'that dare not speak their name'
- Volkswagen recalls 143,000 Atlas SUVs due to problems with the front passenger airbag
- Margot Robbie Channels OG Barbie With Sexy Vintage Look
- California Regulators Banned Fracking Wastewater for Irrigation, but Allow Wastewater From Oil Drilling. Scientists Say There’s Little Difference
Recommendation
-
When does 'No Good Deed' come out? How to watch Ray Romano, Lisa Kudrow's new dark comedy
-
Corn-Based Ethanol May Be Worse For the Climate Than Gasoline, a New Study Finds
-
Naomi Campbell Welcomes Baby No. 2
-
In the Democrats’ Budget Package, a Billion Tons of Carbon Cuts at Stake
-
Trump taps immigration hard
-
Earth Has a 50-50 Chance of Hitting a Grim Global Warming Milestone in the Next Five Years
-
Gallaudet University holds graduation ceremony for segregated Black deaf students and teachers
-
See Bre Tiesi’s Shoutout to “Daddy” Nick Cannon on Their Son Legendary Love’s First Birthday