Photo credit: The Guardian
Two men and a teenage boy have arrested in Portsmouth at a far-right protest against immigration.
The Guardian reports that far-right activists gathered in Portsmouth for the second weekend after a small boat with 140 people seeking asylum was intercepted last Sunday heading towards the city.
They were greeted by counter-protesters as police warned they would not tolerate incitement of fear or violence.
One of the arrested, a 76-year-old man from Southampton, was detained on suspicion of concealing his identity at the Portsmouth protest. Hampshire and Isle of Wight constabulary had warned that protesters wearing face coverings could be arrested under powers in the Crime and Policing Act.
A 33-year-old man from Portsmouth was also arrested on suspicion of obstructing a highway and a 16-year-old boy, also from Portsmouth, was arrested on suspicion of violent disorder in relation to scenes last Sunday.
Donna Jones, the police and crime commissioner for Hampshire and Isle of Wight, said that they “thankfully didn’t see repeated scenes of Sunday night with assaults on police vehicles and people’s property” and that “with the exception of a few people, it was peaceful and conducted in accordance with the new law calling for their faces to be uncovered”.
He added: “The people of Portsmouth deserve to go about their business without fear or disruption.”
In Portsmouth city centre, there was a large police presence where demonstrators assembled to march on Saturday.
Some protesters held union flags while some wearing Portsmouth petriot branded clothing gathered outside All Saints Church on Commercial Road.
A man with a megaphone got the crowd chanting “stop the boats”. He said the protest was against “illegal men invading the shores”.
Hundreds of people also gathered in Glasgow for an anti-immigration rally and associated counter protest.
The Pink Ladies movement organized against their event at Glasgow Green, prompting opposing groups, including Stand Up to Racism (SUTR), to arrange a counter protest.
The two groups were contained in separate areas on the eastern side of the park, with the People’s Palace and a heavy police presence between them.
MSP Alison Thewliss, a Scottish government minister, and Iris Duane were at the SUTR rally, with Scottish Trades Union Congress general secretary Roz Foyer.
Prominent figures on the Scottish right, suce as Reform UK’s deputy leader in Scotland, Thomas Kerr, and the Reform councillor Audrey Dempsey, attended the Pink Ladies event.
Saturday’s protest came after hundreds of far-right activists descended on Portsmouth last Sunday after a small boat crossing the Channel approached the city. The demonstrators tried to stop those onboard from being processed.
