The community of Walton, Liverpool, has come together in the face of adversity after a group of up to 300 people set fire to the Spellow Lane Library Hub over the weekend. The library, which opened just last year to serve deprived communities, suffered severe fire damage to its ground floor during the riot.
Despite the destruction, the response from the community has been overwhelmingly positive. Alex McCormick, a resident of Liverpool, set up a fundraiser with the goal of raising £500 to buy new books for the library. However, within days, the GoFundMe page had raised over £134,000 and continues to climb.
Support for the library has poured in from all over the world, including donations from the US, Canada, and Dubai. TV chef Nigella Lawson and children’s laureate Frank Cottrell-Boyce have also shown their support for the cause.
Alex McCormick, who never expected the fundraiser to gain so much traction, has been working closely with library staff and Liverpool City Council to ensure that the funds will be used to rebuild and support the community hub.
Cousins Esme Mullen and Connie Brown, who live in Walton, have placed posters on the boarded-up library expressing their determination not to let hate win. They, along with other community members, are committed to rebuilding the library and ensuring that it remains a vital part of the neighborhood.
The riots in Walton followed earlier disorder during two rival protests, but the community has shown resilience and unity in the face of adversity. The generosity and support from both local residents and people around the world have demonstrated the best of humanity, and efforts are underway to rebuild and restore the beloved library hub.
