At the counterdemonstration, placards read "No to racism, no to hatred" and protesters proclaimed, "We won't be silent.”

Language has long played a major role in disputes between people worldwide, including in the United Kingdom between white Christians and people from other ethnic and religious backgrounds who rightly feel they should enjoy equal rights in the country to which they contribute their brains, brawn and energy.

For example, 10 years ago, someone reportedly posted a sign designating part of a London park as an “Islamic area” and ordering dog walkers to stay away, because “Muslims do not like dogs” (The Independent, 2014). However, dogs are family members for many British people, so the sign triggered negative sentiment against Muslims.

While it was not clear who posted the offensive sign, many Muslims in the UK said it did not represent them, even suspecting that the story about the dog sign was intended to stir up anti-Muslim sentiment.

Nevertheless, the language used 10 years ago has stuck in some people’s minds and was used again in March this year, when Ramadan messages were shown on departure boards at London King’s Cross Station. At the same time, racial slurs against athletes of color have for too long plagued sporting events in the UK while anti-Muslim hate speech has been all too common.

The divisive use of language escalated at the anti-immigration demonstration in London on July 2. Worse, inflammatory language polarizes and divides people over ethnic and religious identities.