News / protest
Clashes as counter-protesters confront march through Bristol
A group of protesters took more than two hours to march roughly a mile through our city on Saturday as a large counter-demonstration repeatedly confronted them along the route.
Multiple scuffles broke out as police attempted to hold around 200 anti-racist and anti-fascist counter-protesters back from the so-called ‘March for Unity’.
Officers used batons and police horses to push counter-protesters away in order to allow the demonstration – involving around 40 members of the “Bristol Patriots” – to continue.
Six people were arrested as Avon and Somerset Police used enhanced powers and 200 officers to keep the groups apart.
Neighbour policing inspector John Shaddicke said there were “periods of disruption caused by a small number of individuals” and that when behaviour “crossed the line into disorder”, officers “acted proportionately and used appropriate force to quickly regain control and prevent further harm”.
The small number of Bristol Patriots were effectively penned in at a number of points, making it as far as Penn Street before the rival sides and police came to a standstill.
Counter-protesters chanted slogans including “Bristol is anti-fascist” and “refugees are welcome here”.
Police formed a human wall across Union Street as rival groups faced off and items were thrown at officers
The Bristol Patriots had planned to follow a circular route through Broadmead, Cabot Circus and Castle Park.
However, as tensions escalated, police eventually redirected the march back towards the Cenotaph on St Augustine’s Parade just before 3pm.
The lengthy stand-offs took many shoppers by surprise and some people inside nearby stores, including Poundland, were temporarily prevented from leaving while the protest passed by.
Escorted by police, the march began just after midday and moved through Broadmead and the city centre before returning to the Cenotaph by roughly 3pm
The Bristol Patriots have been holding rallies in our city since August 2025.
A neo-Nazi group calling itself Aryan Front had been expected to join the ‘United Against Extremism’ march but withdrew at the last minute.
Ahead of the event, anti-racist groups urged people to attend the counter-demonstration, while a Bristol MP described the Bristol Patriots march as Islamophobic.
‘Immigrants welcome in Bristol’ read one placard
The Bristol Patriots cast their protest as against “extremism in any form”.
“We are taking a stand to make it clear: extremism is not welcome on UK soil, in our city, or anywhere else in the world,” the group said.
“We stand for community cohesion and peaceful streets.”
Counter-protesters have always outnumbered Bristol Patriots at their rallies in the city centre
Ahead of the event, Bristol Palestine Solidarity called on supporters to attend the counter-protest.
“We must stand together to defend our communities, support each other, and show that hate and division have no place here,” the group said.
“Bristol has always stood against racism and fascism. When we come together in numbers, we send a clear message that our city stands for solidarity, equality and justice.”
All photos: Rob Browne
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