By Andrew Brown Stand Up For Southport
The aftermath of last week’s tragedy in Southport has shown how social media can be a force for GOOD – and we’d love you to help that continue.
The horrific events of last Monday (29th July 2024) saw three beautiful young girls killed and several children and adults wounded as they enjoyed a Taylor Swift themed yoga and dance event at the Hart Space.
That day saw social media at its worst. Rumours spread fast online with a fake name and background of the attacker, which subsequently fuelled riots in Southport and then around the country. It was malicious, false news at its worst.
Some tried to share that ‘news’ through our Stand Up For Southport Facebook group; and promote the disorder which took place in Southport on Tuesday night. All were blocked; all banned.
The past few days in Southport however have seen social media at its very best.
One act of extreme horror has been followed by a thousand acts of random kindness.
Southoport has responded with kindness after the Hart Street tragedy. Photo by Andrew Briown Stand Up For Siouthport
Our Stand Up For Southport Facebook group in particular, which has over 40,000 local followers, has become a place of community, togetherness, kindness and empathy.
We have 60,000 in our Stand Up For Southport family overall, with others joining us through Instagram, X, TikTok and Linked In.
They are much needed platforms in a town which has become a media desert in recent years – the free Midweek Visiter newspaper, the free Southport Champion newspaper and the Southport Visiter website have all been closed. Only the paid-for Southport Visiter weekly newspaper remains.
Southoport has responded with kindness after the Hart Street tragedy. Photo by Andrew Brown Stand Up For Siouthport
We have tried to fill the gap with positive news about the amazing seaside town we all know and love.
People have shown immense kindness in using Stand Up For Southport as a community platform.
We helped the organisers of last Tuesday’s vigil to put together a superb and much-needed gathering in the Town Hall Gardens, which saw thousands of families coming together to share their grief and pay their respects to the families who have lost loved ones.
We helped those organising the moving Swifties Bubble Blow – Tears In Heaven event on Monday.
Now we’re promoting the Southport Community Day which will see families get together this Thursday.
A tree in a house on Hart Street in Southport has been lit up pink by IllumiDex in memory of the girls who died in the Hart Street tragedy in Southport
After the horrendous riots in Southport last Tuesday, I was shocked to see the extent of the damage to people’s homes, cars, businesses and a place of worship, with Southport Mosque sadly targeted. Pictures and video at the scene showed how much destruction there had been.
It led to one of the proudest days in Southport’s history. So many people turned up to repair the damage caused.
We are one community in Southport. Attack one, and you attack us all. The damage to the mosque was repaired the same day as Kingswood Homes got to work. Rimmer’s Windows replaced people’s windows for free. Cake Corner brought cakes for people working. Triviso ice Cream brought their ice cream van to hand out free ice cream. Scott Landscapes were repairing what damage they could. Dowhigh Civil Engineering were out in force from 3am.
Senior police, fire and council figures visited Southport to applaud clean up efforts following the riot on Tuesday
Southport Hesketh Round Table volunteers came down to clear up.
I saw one friend head down with a wheelie bin and a broom. “Where can I start?” he said.
It was the modern version of the blitz spirit.
We enjoy co-organising the annual Grand Pride Of Sefton awards every year – the 2025 event is going to have some incredible nominees.
Tributes in the Town Hall Gardens Southport to the girls killed and those injured in the Hart Street tragedy. Photo by Andrew Brown Stand Up For Southport
All those families impacted by last week’s tragedy will need financial support for so many things. Fundraising appeals have been launched, including one by Southport Hesketh Round Table – which has raised over £40,000 already – and the Southport Strong Together Appeal, among others. Being able to share these appeals has seen huge generosity from people.
A new appeal has been set up to thank our incredible emergency services workers who have done and faced so much, including our police officers – over 50 of whom needed medical care after the Southport riot – our fire and rescue service officers, our doctors and nurses, our first responders who were first on the scene of the tragedy.
The football match between Southport FC and FC United of Manchester saw £5,000 raised in honour of the victims of the Hart Street tragedy in Southport
Southport Football Club have shown their support.
The players and staff have been to Hart Street to pay their respects.
Their match against FC United of Manchester saw them raise £5,000 for Alder Hey Children’s Hospital in Liverpool, as players from both sides led a minute’s silence for the victims.
We have loved seeing all the beautiful posts shared by people through our Stand Up For Southport Facebook group.
Thousands of families filled the Town Hall Gardens in Southport as they took part in the towns biggest ever bubble blowing event and blew kisses to heaven in memory of the three young girls killed in a tragedy this time last week. Photo by Zack Downey of Zed Photography for Stand Up For Southport
They’ve included pictures of the many thousands of floral tributes in the Town Hall Gardens, at Hart Street and outside the three Southport primary schools where the three girls who died had attended; moving poems; beautiful artwork; and messages of support not just from Southport but from around the world.
Love, not hate. Kindness, not anger. Community, not division.
Southport Together.
Southoport has responded with kindness after the Hart Street tragedy. Photo by Andrew Briown Stand Up For Siouthport
At a time like this we need empathy and kindness.
People in Southport have used social media as a way of connecting with each other and showing the world that we have the kindest town in Britain.
Stand Up For Southport is your platform. Please keep the kindness going.
If you see someone deserving praise; please post. If you snap a picture of Southport looking good; please post. If you visit somewhere in Southport that you feel the world needs to know about; please post.
Together, Southport is stronger.
Do you have a story for Stand Up For Southport? Please message Andrew Brown via Facebook here or email me at: mediaandrewbrownn@gmail.com
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