News / protest
Anti-migrant ‘patriots’ and anti-racism counter-protesters kept apart by police
Wrapped in Union Jack and St George flags, a group only a few dozen strong made their way from Castle Park to Welsh Back.
But they could only get as far as Baldwin Street thanks to hundreds of anti-racist counter-protesters standing outside the Mercure hotel and two lines of police.
So their cries of “send them home” directed at people seeking asylum staying at the hotel were drowned out by the noise made by counter-protesters.
is needed now More than ever
The anti-immigration protesters numbered around 50 people – photo: Rob Browne
Green councillor Sibusiso Tshabalala at the counter-protest – photo: Rob Browne
Each side shouted. One side played the national anthem and Jerusalem via a speaker, and sung Rule, Britannia. Another side had an acoustic guitar. One side chanted the name of Tommy Robinson. The other side chanted “Nazi scum, off our streets”.
And so it continued from around 12.45pm to 2.30pm when the anti-immigration protesters departed, with counter-protesters continuing to then mingle outside the hotel, and men draped in the flag of St George drinking and posing for photographs in the Old Fish Market.
Counter-protesters protected the Mercure hotel on Welsh Back where asylum seekers are currently living – photo: Rob Browne
Josh from Bristol Anti-Racist Action said that one reason why counter-protesters gathered outside the hotel was to avoid a repeat of the events in August 2024 which saw police “confused” and a small group of people heroically defending the Mercure hotel on Redcliff Hill from a violent racist mob.
“It’s heart-warming to see again and again, every time the far right turns up in Bristol, so many people turn out to ensure that it does never happen again…
“Our hope is that the sheer weight of people here will keep them away and scare them off.
“And if nothing happens today, they go home, once again we have won a great victory and that’s what we should all be hoping for…
“They leave and they get the message to never come to Bristol again.”
Many anti-immigration protesters came draped in flags – photo: Rob Browne
Main photo: Rob Browne
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