August 18th 2024.
A large number of people gathered in Bournemouth today for two opposing protests. The first, made up of around 700 members from far-right groups, were met by approximately 500 individuals from various organizations, such as Stand Up To Racism. The atmosphere was tense as these rival groups came face to face at 10:30 am.
The town center was filled with a sea of protesters, while riot officers and vans stood at the ready, prepared to intervene in case of any clashes. A designated area was marked off by the police between the town hall and Upper Gardens, creating a "no go" zone to prevent any violence.
The two groups held up signs with conflicting messages, with one side chanting "stop the boats" and "British lives matter" while waving the Union Jack and England flags. On the other side, signs reading "refugees are welcome here" and "no to racism" were held up as they sang, "say it loud, say it clear, refugees are welcome here."
As the tensions rose, the far-right group also chanted "save our kids" and "we want our country back," playing patriotic songs like Rule Britannia and Jerusalem through a loudspeaker. Meanwhile, the opposing group shouted "no to Nazi scum" and "where's your Tommy gone," referring to Tommy Robinson.
This protest comes in the aftermath of violent riots across the country following the Southport stabbings, resulting in over 1,000 arrests and 400 charges. Shockingly, some of those arrested were as young as 12, 13, and 15 years old. The Assistant Chief Constable for Dorset Police, Mark Callaghan, had issued a warning before the protest, stating that while they will allow for peaceful demonstrations, they will not tolerate any hate, violence, or disorder in the community. Those who engage in such behavior can expect to face legal consequences.
Despite the initial concerns, the protests remained relatively peaceful, with no reported disorder. The police had anticipated a "peaceful static protest" and had taken precautions by implementing a dispersal order and utilizing stop and search powers. By 2 pm, the anti-immigration protest had dispersed without any major incidents.
As the remaining far-right protesters were leaving, they were met with taunts from the opposing group, reminding them that there were more of them than their rivals. The police presence and measures taken seemed to have successfully prevented any significant clashes between the two groups.
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