A far-right group, Patriotic Alternative, has raised almost £15,000 to support the families of individuals imprisoned for their involvement in anti-immigration riots across the UK this summer.
The group, which described those convicted as "political prisoners," launched an online fundraiser to assist the families of those serving prison sentences.
The riots, sparked by the murder of three girls in a knife attack at a Southport dance studio on July 29, led to the conviction of at least 388 people for racially aggravated crimes and inciting racial hatred. Patriotic Alternative claims the Labour government has imposed a "draconian crackdown" on free speech and the right to protest, using this narrative to justify their fundraiser.
Founded by former British National Party (BNP) member Mark Collett, Patriotic Alternative is a white nationalist group with over 16,000 supporters. The fundraiser, hosted on the Christian crowdfunding platform GiveSendGo, states: "Due to the recent wave of protestors being sent to prison for protests and social media posts, many families are struggling to make ends meet."
By October 10, a total of 351 donations had raised £14,670. Patriotic Alternative has begun distributing the funds, including £2,000 to the family of a man jailed for participating in a protest in Hull. The group is also encouraging supporters to write to prisoners and voice concerns to the Prison Reform Trust about the perceived "inequality" in sentencing, comparing the treatment of these rioters to that of the Black Lives Matter protests in 2020.
This summer’s riots, which took place between July 30 and August 5, were fueled by Islamophobic and racist sentiments, as far-right groups attacked minority communities and defaced mosques across cities like Liverpool, Leeds, and Belfast. The unrest was triggered by false claims online that the Southport attacker was a Muslim asylum seeker.
When contacted by The Independent, Patriotic Alternative responded, "If you want to spread awareness of our fundraiser, then be our guest."
A spokesperson for the Ministry of Justice emphasized that public safety is a priority, stating: "We will always take the strongest possible action against thugs who sow hate and disorder, attack police officers, and intimidate communities."