Photo credit: Kent online
It was a battle of which group you belong to as counter-protesters and anti-immigration protesters confront each other in Dover’s Market Square.
KentOnline reports that the police were forced to step in as protesters in a small group surrounded a small group of anti-immigration demonstrators. The protesters started chanting “fascist scum.” There was a significant police presence, with large vans and up to twenty officers at the scene.
However, officers saved the day by forming a line between the two groups.
Over 100 people had gathered in the town center in anticipation of countering a planned demonstration by right-wing groups.
Members of organizations like Stand Up to Racism and the Socialist Party also marched in large numbers through the town and along the seafront.
However, only a small opposing group attended to protest against the number of migrants arriving in the UK.
Kay Marsh, the media and advocacy manager for migrant support charity Samphire, who helped the organizers organize the counter-protest, said, “The level of hate we’ve been seeing across the country is like nothing we’ve seen for such a long time, and it’s really inspired people and encouraged people to come out.”
The secretary of the South East Kent Trade Unions Council, Eric Segal who was also in attendance said, “I[‘m here to express solidarity with people that are angry at the riots that the far-right have caused up and down the country.”
Dean from Ashford, who is an anti-migrant demonstrator, said, “It’s people like me with families that are worried about illegal migrants, and it’s nothing to do with race or religion; it’s about the protection and safety of our children.”
