The shocking exploitation of the tragic deaths of three young kids in Southport by the fascist far right to incite their thugs to attack immigrants, asylum seekers and ethnic minorities, sent a shockwave through our society.

Politicians promised tough punishment. Elon Musk posted on X that Britain was on the verge of civil war (most people suggested he sticks to electric cars and not politics).

But the racists hadn’t bargained for one thing – their hate united hundreds of communities.

Thousands took to the street to defend their communities, sending a clear message of solidarity and resistance against hate and division. No surprise the racists stayed away.

More than 3,000 people gathered outside Newcastle’s Beacon Community Centre to stand united against a planned demonstration by far-right thugs who had threatened to attack it. Seven thousand in Bristol, 5,000 in Walthamstow and 3,000 in near by Finchley.

The speed of connectivity was amazing.

This wasn’t a government-managed activation, but hundreds of like-minded people within communities who all spontaneously came together around one cause – defending their community against far-right racists. The hashtags #StandUptoRacism and #FarRightFail were all over social media.

Chris Arnold says that communities united around a cause are a force to be reckoned withChris Arnold says that communities united around a cause are a force to be reckoned with (Image: Chris Arnold)

“The show of force of unity from communities defeated the challenges that we’ve seen,” commented Mark Rowley, commissioner of London’s Metropolitan Police.

Ninety-three per cent of us see ourselves as part of a local community (connect2-uk.com/insights/) and in times of trouble we like to unite. Community gives us both support and strength. United we stand! Seventy-three per cent say community is an important part of their life.

Community is defined as UNITY through a COMMonality, which can be a cause, belief, passion, geography, shared experience - in fact there are over 25 key types.

When Haringey was being pressurised into cutting down trees to stop insurance companies talking legal action against them, it brought together the community on mass.

What started as a few locals, with a passion to save trees, grew to hundreds. And when communities unite around a cause, they are a force to be reckoned with! Even the mighty can fall.

It's a human instinct to group together, we are essentially pack animals, and communities provide a platform to meet others with common interests.

During the pandemic we saw a massive increase in community awareness and sense of togetherness.

Government, councils and companies are now all taking community more seriously seeking to engage with them, knowing that communities are powerful things.

Research even suggests that we are more influenced by our communities than by our individual desires, I agree, I see that every day.

  • Chris Arnold is co-founder and director of the Crouch End Festival (crouchendfestival.org).