'All Lives Matter' vs 'White Lives Matter': UK counter-protesters argue over racism

The counterprotesters were fighting amounst each other over their phrases.
The counterprotesters were fighting amounst each other over their phrases. Photo credit: Twitter/ Ed Clowes

All Lives Matter and White Lives Matter protesters have clashed in the United Kingdom appearing to fight over "who is more racist".

Thousands of people have rallied against police brutality and racism at protests and marches all over the world after the death of George Floyd.

Protests are now turning their attention to focus on the bigotry within their own countries, including denouncing statues and place names memorialising colonial figures with controversial pasts.

But on Saturday (UK Time) far-right groups and counter-protesters took to the streets of London to push back.

The New York Times reported the situation grew tense and the counter-protesters clashed with police near Waterloo station.

Telegraph journalist Ed Clowes captured a "bizarre" fight between counter-protesters on Saturday.

In a video posted to his Twitter page, the counter-protesters can be seen arguing for and against "All Lives Matter" and "White Lives Matter".

"Wow. A huge argument has broken out between two men," Clowes tweeted. "'You're a f***ing racist', shouts the All Lives Matter man."

He said they found contention over "whether people had come to demonstrate over the erosion of white culture, or to defend the statue of Winston Churchill".

But commenters have taken to social media to ridicule both men for arguing about the phrases, which are both considered racist.

"This is just racists arguing over who is more racist?" one said.

"So who's going to tell them that they are two of the same peas in one pod?" another person wrote.

Some commenters have considered the "All Lives Matter" protester didn't realise the racist connotations that come with the saying, rather he may have taken it at face value.

Other protesters in London were seen fighting with police on Saturday.

Al Jazeera reported brawls outside Waterloo train station and counter-protesters lobbying stones at police from the top of nearby bridges.

Commenting on the incident, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said in a Tweet: "Racist thuggery has no place on our streets. Anyone attacking our police will be met with the full force of the law".

The Metropolitan Police said in a statement that more than 100 people had been arrested by day's end for offences that included "breach of the peace, violent disorder, assault on officers, possession of an offensive weapon, possession of class A drugs, and drunk and disorder".