Raise the Colours, a group protesting against immigration in Brighton, said they had urine and poo thrown at them and were trapped in a pub for hours as counter protesters surrounded them. More than 4,000 people protested in Brighton City Centre yesterday.
Protest Details
Three hundred people took part in the 'Stop The Boats' protest, while 4,000 joined a counter protest called 'Carnival Against Fascism', which included Fatboy Slim performing outside the city train station. One of the anti-immigration groups, Raise The Colours, posted footage on social media showing the hostile clash between both sides. In one video, a woman is seen with a bloody scratch on her cheek.
Statements from Protesters
One of the protesters said they were 'smashed in the face'. Raise The Colours said in a statement: 'How is this okay? Urine thrown on us, punched, kicked, scratched, thrown to the floor and cornered by the “everyone’s welcome” left. The violence and aggression from the left today was on another level. Enough is enough. The police today were non-existent in protecting the right. Two tier at its finest.'
Some anti-fascist protesters had warned the group that they were preparing urine-filled water balloons for their arrival. Sussex Police arrested eight people for crimes ranging from public order offences to assaults against emergency workers.
Trapped in Pub
Anti-immigration protesters said there were around 20 of them trapped in the Sussex Yeoman pub in Guildford Road, which the police then guarded. After two and a half hours they were escorted outside by the police. Together For Children said on X: 'What I witnessed from the far left today was absolutely vile. People pissing in bottles, shitting on the floor and then throwing it. It was filthy, degrading and completely unacceptable behaviour. We were locked inside a pub for two and a half hours, surrounded by these individuals, because the police appeared to have absolutely no control over the situation.'
The Sussex Yeoman later put out a statement on social media stating it does 'not have any affiliations to any political party'. It added: 'We feel stupid now, but a marcher looks much like a regular fella out for a lunchtime beer, everything happened too quickly by the time we’d poured two pints boom there were 10 anti-immigration protesters in the pub and the eyes of the counter protesters was laser focused on the pub. And then what can you do? We just had to wait for the police to escort them off the premises.'
Police Response
Chief Superintendent Adam Hays, Brighton and Hove divisional commander said: 'Public order policing is complex, and while we understand this can be frustrating, we always balance the rights of all protest groups and the wider community. Public safety is always our priority. I’d like to thank the public for their patience while we worked hard in ensuring that all of those attending the city, for whatever reason, were able to do so safely.'
Political Reaction
Before the protests, Brighton & Hove City leader Bella Sankey said the far right had been 'stirring up division'. Sankey said: 'Brighton and Hove is a proudly diverse city, where white residents, black residents, Muslims, Jews, Christians, Hindus, Sikhs, people of no faith, gay residents, trans residents, feminists, refugees and mixed race people like me, live side by side peacefully.'
