Far-right activists have managed to raise nearly £15,000 to support the families of individuals who were imprisoned for their involvement in the anti-immigration riots that occurred across the UK during the summer. Patriotic Alternative spearheaded the fundraising campaign online with the aim of assisting the relatives of the convicts during their time behind bars.
The funds were raised in response to the arrest and imprisonment of at least 388 individuals for various offences committed during the unrest, which was sparked by the tragic death of three young girls in a knife attack at a dance studio in Southport on 29th July. Describing those incarcerated as “political prisoners,” Patriotic Alternative condemned what they perceive as severe clampdowns on freedom of expression and protest by the current Labour government.
Patriotic Alternative, a far-right white nationalist group established five years ago by Mark Collett, a former director of publicity for the BNP, has garnered over 16,000 supporters, according to their website. The group launched the fundraiser on GiveSendGo, a Christian crowdfunding platform, stating that the families of the recent political prisoners were struggling financially due to their loved ones’ incarceration, with a specific mention of a mother of five and full-time carers amongst those affected.
By the 10th of October, a total of 351 individuals had contributed £14,670 towards the cause. The funds are intended to be distributed to the families of those imprisoned, with initial support of £2,000 being provided to the family of a 31-year-old man jailed for his involvement in a protest in Hull. This initiative by Patriotic Alternative follows a previous fundraiser for Dominic Capaldi, who was imprisoned for throwing objects at police in Bristol, which was shut down by Crowdfunder.
Patriotic Alternative is not only facilitating financial support but is also encouraging supporters to write to the incarcerated individuals and highlight the perceived injustices of their cases to the Prison Reform Trust. They argue that the response to these individuals has been disproportionately severe, especially when compared to the reaction to the Black Lives Matter (BLM) protests in 2020 following the murder of George Floyd by a US police officer.
The summer’s anti-immigration riots in the UK, which occurred between 30th July and 5th August, were marked by violent incidents fuelled by Islamophobic and racist sentiments. Far-right extremists targeted Black, Asian, and Muslim individuals on the streets, vandalising mosques and even attempting to set fire to hotels housing asylum seekers. These violent outbursts were triggered by false online claims linking the Southport tragedy to a Muslim asylum seeker.
When approached for a statement, Patriotic Alternative responded to The Independent by inviting further awareness of their fundraising efforts. In contrast, a Ministry of Justice spokesperson emphasised the government’s commitment to maintaining public safety and taking decisive action against individuals fostering hate and disorder. The Prison Reform Trust has yet to comment on the matter.
As tensions continue to simmer, the aftermath of the summer riots serves as a stark reminder of the deep-rooted societal issues that persist in the UK, prompting soul-searching conversations around race, justice, and community cohesion.