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Police separate ‘strikers’ from counter-protesters
“Gammons!” shouted one man on his e-scooter as he sped through Castle Park on Saturday afternoon.
His shout was directed at dozens of people, some holding Union Jack and St George’s flags, one dressed as a crusader, taking part in the Great British National Strike.
It was one of a several similar protests across the UK by a group with just fewer than 100,000 followers on Facebook who oppose illegal immigration, net zero and ‘two-tier justice’.
is needed now More than ever
The ‘strikers’ first gathered close to the Normandy Garden of Peace – photo: Rob Browne
“I was here today holding my Union Jack. I attended a national strike, against the establishment!” one of those taking part wrote on Bristol24/7’s Instagram page.
“The majority of us who were there today have had enough. Knife crime, hospitals, dr’s (sic), schools, tax, *illegal*! immigrants coming in numbers. The list goes on!
“If you are left, you will soon realise that we have similar views. If you don’t like children being killed, let’s start with the problem in our own country first and get together to stop killing here!
“If you’d rather put a different country first, you’re more than welcome to go and live there. No one is stopping you.”
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Many people see the Great British National Strike as far-right agitators and around 100 counter-protesters were also in Castle Park before midday on Saturday where they faced off against the ‘strikers’.
“This is not a strike in any way,” one man said on the microphone. “They want to build a racist and fascist movement.”
As Green councillor Lorraine Francis sang Redemption Song by Bob Marley, the opposing group started to sing the national anthem.
A double line of police separated the two opposing groups.
The strikers had positioned themselves close to the Normandy Garden of Peace while the counter-protesters looked down on them from the Galleries side of the park.
Police have put themselves in the middle of two opposing groups in Castle Park. Around 100 counter-protesters are facing off against dozens of people gathered for ‘the Great British National Strike’ who oppose illegal immigration, net zero and ‘two-tier justice’. pic.twitter.com/NDwcej6kYr
— Martin Booth (@beardedjourno) May 24, 2025
“Fascist scum, off our streets” and “fuck Starmer, welcome migrants” were two of the chants from the counter-protesters.
Closer to the Floating Harbour, the Great British National Strike was less organised.
“Those sad little pricks,” one man said referring too the counter-protesters. “You get idiots like that. They can’t even fight.
“We are all in the same boat. What can’t people understand about that? Where are the grownups?”
Counter-protesters outnumbered those gathered for the Great British National Strike – photo: Rob Browne
“The very small group we can see over there has the audacity to call themselves the Great British Strike,” said a counter-protester.
“But as you can see there is nothing great about it.
“Those people on the other side have been spreading lies, hatred and vitriol. They are so caught up in their hatred.”
Yes, that is a man in Castle Park dressed as a crusader – photo: Rob Browne
Main photo: Rob Browne
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