“We are Belfast” – thousands out in Belfast today
The racist riots that swept Belfast and Southampton in recent days have galvanised the anti-fascist movement across Britain. Thousands took to the streets today in the biggest, most impressive show of anti-racist strength since the disorders of 2024.
From Belfast to Brighton, Glasgow to Sheffield, counter-demonstrators outnumbered and outmanoeuvred far-right marchers, sending a clear message that the violence and intimidation of recent days will not go unanswered.
Thousands of anti-racism protesters gathered in Belfast city centre, at a rally organised by United Against Racism, the trade union movement and End Deportations Belfast.
Participants assembled in Writers’ Square at noon before marching to City Hall.
Thousands turn out in Belfast after this weeks far-right Loyalist pogrom (Photo: SUTR)
Organisers claimed around 15,000 attended, with more than 120 groups taking part.
United Against Racism chair Fiona Doran said: “These are our streets, and we will not concede them to the racist forces who want to divide us.”
The anti-fascist march is the week’s hugely positive response to days of far-right pogrom-style violence.
Thousand gathered
The fight back actually began last night, when around a thousand people gathered in Belfast for a counter-protest against several hundred anti-immigration demonstrators at Belfast City Hall.
Trade union banners and anti-racism signs were prominent, with chants of “When migrant lives are under attack, what do we do? Stand up, fight back” and “Belfast is anti-fascist.”
Belfast on Friday night.
Sinn Féin MLAs Gerry Kelly and Caral Ní Chuilín were among the counter-protesters.
Twenty-seven people had been made homeless after their homes were attacked by rioters, including a Ugandan carer family, a Ukrainian family and a Romani family whose house was set alight for the third time.
The PSNI confirmed during today’s rally that it is also investigating an attempted petrol bombing of a mosque in Newtownards.
Racist rampage
In Glasgow a large anti-racism protest organised by SUTR Scotland took place at Buchanan Steps challenging a much smaller anti-immigration gathering.
Thousands turn out in Glasgow
Police worked hard to keep the two groups apart and protect the fascists.
On Tuesday, a violent racist mob of over 400 went on a racist rampage in Glasgow city centre, injuring two police officers and forcing Glasgow Central Mosque to lock worshippers inside.
A statement from SUTR said: “A violent mob of over 400 racists followed far-right and fascist activists through the city centre of Glasgow, violently attacking people of colour to try and say that the streets belong to them.
“They claim to be the majority, but we know that’s not true.
A massive anti-racist demonstration outnumbered and disrupted an attempted fascist UKIP in Brighton.
South East Patriots, with UKIP’s Nick Tenconi and Raise the Colours co-founder Ryan Bridge as announced speakers, attempted a “march for mass deportations” through the city.
Huge mobilisation
They were met by a huge mobilisation by the Carnival Against Fascism coalition and a separate SUTR counter-demonstration.
The first arrest was made before either demonstration had formally begun.
A fight subsequently broke out on Queen’s Road, broken up by police, with at least two arrests confirmed by Sussex Police by midday. The far-right marchers came off distinctly the worst, with anti-fascists throwing water and drinks at them.
At one point the fascists were jammed in between police vans for their own protection and at the end of the day were boxed in under a railway bridge, surrounded by laughing, jeering anti-fascists singing “You’re stuck in a tunnel”.
Ryan Bridge bloodied in Brighton
Ryan Bridge loses it and gets arrested in Brighton
Later, some of their supporters were trapped in a pub as crowds gathered outside.
Harassed by opponents, Ryan Bridge, who had been bloodied soon after he arrived in Brighton, lost it completely and ended up getting himself arrested. Again.
Hooligans
In Sheffield city centre, an overwhelming opposition was on display: at least 600 anti-fascists harassed, blocked, outnumbered, and outwitted a smaller group of hooligans.
The Sheffield demonstration, organised by the far-right ‘Raise the Colours’ group, was met by a fierce counter-protest led by Sheffield Communities Against Racism and Fascism (SCARF).
Sheffield anti-fascists blocked far-right marchers
These so-called “patriots” were largely identifiable as football hooligans seeking trouble, with a dangerous, fascist minority hoping to encourage fire bomb attacks on refugee properties and local mosques.
Despite a heavy police presence, including officers from multiple forces, scuffles broke out. Scores of right-wing marchers were contained by the scale of the opposition.
Police confirmed six arrests during the operation, including for public order offences and assault on an emergency worker.
Corralled
A similar picture unfolded in Liverpool, where a well-organised anti-fascist effort halted a gang of football hooligans.
Many of these hooligans, wearing black and trying to evade police, were corralled outside local pubs and rendered unable to move due to the immense anti-fascist presence.
Following confrontations on County Road in Walton, Merseyside Police confirmed eight arrests.
Ryan Ferguson gets himself arrested. Again.
The counter-protesters were so numerous they overwhelmed the anti-immigration group, with chants supporting Liverpool’s refugee community exchanged across the police lines.
The area remains under a dispersal zone and Section 60 order to prevent further unrest.
Merseyside nazi Ryan Ferguson was there, as expected. And, as expected, he was arrested. But not before he’d received a slap for his troubles.
The anti-immigration march in Maidstone, Harry Hilden’s latest outing, was a rather entertaining event.
The feud between Britain First leader Paul Golding and the juvenile nazis of White Vanguard did indeed surface again, as we predicted.
Accosted
Golding was accosted by a masked White Vanguard supporter who yelled abuse at him on behalf of the white race.
“Take your mask off, you fanny” retorted Golding.
White Vanguard yells abuse
Paul Golding takes a swing
It degenerated quickly into the politics of the playground: “You’re a traitor!” “No, you’re a traitor” before Golding, bravely from behind his team of security goons, took a swing at the chap.
Police then moved in to break it up and lead the frothing WV nazi away.
Spreading fear
The pogrom in Belfast and the riot in Southampton were intended to spread fear. Instead, they filled the streets, not with rioters, but with thousands of people who refuse to let racism go unanswered.
From Belfast to Brighton, Glasgow to Sheffield, today showed a movement that is organised, experienced and read to turn out in numbers when called upon.
It will need to be. The far right is not beaten, the provocations will not stop, and the streets will have to be contested repeatedly.
But they shall not pass!