In the face of hatred and intolerance, Greater Manchester's show of defiance and solidarity

manchestereveningnews.co.uk:

Greater Manchester was braced for the worst. Protests had been planned across the region, and the rest of the UK. Police had been preparing to respond to more than 100 planned demonstrations and potentially around 30 more counter protests tonight (August 7).

Unrest was widely expected. Patrols were increased in Bolton, Oldham, Wigan and Cheadle. Shops and businesses closed early, boards were hammered to the outside of supermarkets.

As the planned start time of 8pm drew nearer, the tension increased. But then something unexpected happened. READ MORE 'Wigan against muppets': Counter-protesters defiantly turn out amid fears of disorder Braced for the possibility of violent disorder, hundred-strong crowds of defiant counter-protesters turned out to send a bold statement to all those spreading hate.

And there was one simple message that rippled through the boroughs of Greater Manchester on Wednesday night. It was the moving words of one Oldh am resident, who stood among the crowds calling for an end to racism, that summed up their message: "We all breathe the same air." There had been far-right protests planned across Greater Manchester, at immigration offices in Bolton, Cheadle, Wigan and Oldham, as well as false speculation of 'riots' in the city centre, forcing businesses to close early.