News / protest
Bristol vigil for Henry Nowak met with counter-protest
Two small demonstrations were held in Bristol on Thursday evening following the murder of Henry Nowak by Vickrum Digwain.
A vigil organised by “the Patriotic Bristolian” was staged against “two-tier policing where some communities appear to be protected at the expense of others”.
When police arrived at the scene in Southampton, Digwa falsely alleged that his 18-year-old victim had racially abused him and knocked his turban off, prompting police to handcuff the teenager before they discovered his fatal wounds.
In response to the vigil, Stand Up To Racism held counter-protest to challenge what it describes as attempts to spread “racist myth and bigotry” around the tragedy.
Police officers stepped in to attempt two diffuse tensions
Around a dozen protesters were present from each side which congregated a stone’s throw from each other at the Centre.
The vigil featured photos of Nowak and a Polish flag representing his nationality, while anti-racist protesters held placards reading ‘refugees are welcome here’.
The Bristol action was largely peaceful between the two groups bar some minor verbal scuffles.
Hours before, Digwa was found guilty of stabbing Nowak to death with a 21cm-long knife he claimed he was carrying for religious reasons.
All photos: Rob Browne
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