News / protest
14 people arrested as protesters clash on Bristol streets
A human shield made up of dozens of people heroically held back anti-immigration protesters who had made their way to a hotel housing asylum seekers.
For a few heart-stopping minutes on Saturday evening, there was a surprising lack of police at the Mercure which protesters had said was their intention to walk to following their initial meeting point in Castle Park.
Punches were thrown before police intervened and helped reinforce numbers outside the hotel on Redcliff Hill.
is needed now More than ever
Anti-fascist protesters arrived first in Castle Park from 6pm to hear speeches near Edna’s Falafel Kitchen.
The several hundred-strong counter rally outnumbered the anti-immigrants by an estimated four to one.
They were addressed by a series of speakers including Green councillor Lorraine Francis, Jon Reddiford from the National Education Union and Kai Charles from Queers for Palestine, who reiterated that “racists won’t divide us”.
Counter-protesters listened to speeches ahead of the anti-immigration rally – photo: Rob Browne
When dozens of anti-immigration protesters began to walk into Castle Park at an event alternately billed as a ‘stop the boats’ and ‘save our kids’ rally, police officers including with dogs and on horseback attempted to get between the two opposing sides.
They were not always successful, however, with fist fights breaking out near the former Norwich Union building in Castle Park, at the junction with St Nicholas Street and on Welsh Back.
Anti-immigration protesters, many of who carried the flag of St George and regularly chanted the name of Tommy Robinson, were then pushed by police back down Bristol Bridge.
“They call us right wing but we’re not,” one anti-immigration protester told Bristol24/7. “We just love our country.”
“They call us right wing but we’re not,” one anti-immigration protester told Bristol24/7. “We just love our country.” – photo: Rob Browne
After leaving Bristol Bridge, the anti-immigration protesters walked down Redcliff Street towards their intended destination of the Mercure.
At the hotel, they were confronted by the protective ring of counter-protesters and – at first – only six police officers on bicycles.
One of those outside the hotel was Charles, who said that several people were assaulted before more police arrived at the scene.
Police reinforcements did eventually make it to Redcliff Hill to once again separate the two groups and they remained separated until both sets of protesters dispersed by around 10.30pm.
“Go home and take your hate away,” sung the human shield as anti-immigrant protesters attempted to taunt them from the other side of the road.
Among the crowd of anti-fascists was Rana Basharat Ali Khan, who said that anti-immigration rallies like this “do not represent Bristol”.
He said: “These are a few troublemakers sowing the seeds of hatred and division. And the city’s people robustly countered it.”
Protesters from both sides were arrested – photo: Rob Browne
Avon & Somerset Police neighbourhood chief inspector, Vicks Hayward-Melen, said that “some of the scenes we saw in Bristol tonight were completely unacceptable”.
She said: “We will always facilitate peaceful and lawful protests, however the behaviour from a minority of people tonight crossed the line.
“Fourteen people have been arrested for various offences and there will be further arrests over the coming days as we work to identify those responsible for this disorder.
“Make no mistake – they will face the full force of the law for their thuggery.
“I’d like to thank officers, including those who have come from other forces, for their commitment to protecting the public and also our partners for all their support.”
‘Spaniels against fascism’ – photo: Rob Browne
Main photo: Rob Browne
Read next:
Our top newsletters emailed directly to you
