Were the UK Riots a Dry Run for What Could Happen in the US?

Matt Bernardini looks at just who is laying the groundwork of a right-wing ecosystem based on hate and lies.

Riot Police in Liverpool in Liverpool 3 August 2024. Photo: Luke Hall/Alamy

A false story about a supposed immigrant stabbing children at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class led to race riots in multiple cities. You would be mistaken for thinking that this could be a lead from a variety of US newspapers, but this recently occurred in the UK, and the manner with which the misinformation and hate against immigrants spread, sends an ominous sign to those in the US. 

The backstory of the riots bore a striking similarity to the pattern of false stories and hate that has permeated the right-wing community in the US. Many of those who participated were white men full of grievances both real and imagined, but directed at some of those most vulnerable members of society. 

“So no, I won’t shy away from calling it what it is: Far-right thuggery,” newly elected Prime Minister Keir Starmer said.

In Tamworth and Rotherham, rioters broke into two hotels that were housing asylum seekers, and set them on fire. Hundreds of people have been arrested for participating in the riots, which started out as anti-immigrant protests, organized mainly on… you guessed it, X. 

It could be a sign of things to come as an ultra polarized America heads into an election, where one candidate has gone scorched earth against anyone who does not share his far-right views. Those views are aided by Elon Musk, the owner of X, formerly known as Twitter, who has made it his mission to make the platform a safe space for racist views and hate speech. 

As Nafeez Ahmed documented earlier this month, many of the racist riots were supercharged from content produced by big tech companies. Essentially social media served as gasoline being poured on an already lit fire.