Hope in the face of hate

After a weekend marked by violence and unrest, the situation across England is increasingly volatile. Misinformation has spread like wildfire, exacerbating fears and stoking divisions across communities. Social media platforms have been breeding grounds for virulent disinformation peddled by far-right groups seeking to harm asylum seekers and migrants.

In Leicester, there were 50 or so thugs – some who brandished Nazi salutes – who gathered at Gallowtree Gate on Saturday evening. They were seen off by twice as many counter-protestors from Stand Up to Racism, and a quick police response. Five people have been arrested so far.

The role of independent, public interest media has never been more crucial. Many newspapers, like our own, strive to provide accurate reporting and context, countering the harmful effects of fake news. In stark contrast to the wild west of social media, local journalism can, and must, serve as a vital resource for communities seeking to navigate the complexities of the current climate. Whether it’s fact-checking claims online, investigating hate and discrimination, or shining a light in the dark when everything else seems so bleak. We are here to make sure our readers have what they need to be active and informed citizens in our society.

Leicester knows the far-right well. In 2010, the English Defence League (EDL) – a far-right, Islamophobic group – marched through the city and was met by a sizable counter-protest of anti-fascists. More than a decade later, in 2022, the Hindutva-fuelled unrest in east Leicester saw faith groups and local people come together to repair extensive damaged caused in our streets.

A common thread between 2022 and today is the impact of social media on our information ecosystem. Misinformation, and to an extent, deliberate disinformation, has spiralled out of control. Big tech has lost the reins on moderation and pushed public interest media off their platforms with changing policies and algorithms. Fake news publishers, which pushed falsehoods about Southport, are unregulated and owned by shady entities and state actors. Yet at first glance, they appear to be genuine newsrooms. In this new world, it is almost impossible to offer a counter-balance on social media to fake news.

If you see something online that promotes hate or incites violence, please report it to the police and pass on your findings to our editor at news@greatcentralgazette.org so we can better monitor hate and extremism in our community.

Above all else, we are calling on local charities, faith groups, local authorities and community groups to come together to resist the surge of the far-right in Leicester, should it continue to rear its ugly head. We stand in solidarity with all those being targeted and those on the front line countering hate on our streets.

Even in these dark times, there is hope in the face of hate.

Dorothy Francis, reader director

Lucy Faire, reader director

Robin Cafferata, reader director

Rhys Everquill, employee director and community lead

Emma Guy, employee director and editor

Megan Lupton, employee director and communications lead