Glasgow braced for anti-immigration protest and counter-demonstration

Key Points

An anti-immigration rally is due to take place at Glasgow Green at noon on Saturday
A counter protest organised by campaign group Stand Up To Racism is set to start an hour earlier
The First Minister said ‘people going around spouting hateful messages will not be tolerated’
Police Scotland will conduct an operation at Glasgow Green to ‘minimise disruption’
It follows weeks of smaller scale protests across Scotland

Glasgow is braced for a major anti-immigration protest and a counter-demonstration on Saturday after weeks of smaller gatherings across the country.

A rally is due to take place at Glasgow Green at noon. It follows demonstrations in the Gorbals, Castlemilk, and Cranhill, as well as in Aberdeen.

The protest has been organised by a group called Unite the Clans, which previously operated under the name Aberdeen Against Illegal Migration, amid rising tensions across Scotland.

The demonstrations come in the wake of a spate of alleged sex attacks throughout the country. The organisers believe this is an opportunity for followers to voice their concerns regarding asylum seekers housed in Scotland.

The group is urging followers to “stand united” to “protect women and children”.

At the beginning of the month, it released a poster promoting the gathering that featured the logos of several other anti-immigration groups.

Britain First, a far-right and neo-fascist political party founded by Scottish man Jim Dowson, is among the emblems included.

The protest has also been promoted by a prominent member of the Patriotic Alternative (PA) in Scotland.

The white nationalist group was founded by former BNP youth leader Mark Collett. The far-right group opposes all immigration unless the individuals share the same ethnic background or can prove British ancestry.

According to PA, “white South Africans” would be among the groups granted asylum due to their “descent from European nations”.

The group attended a demonstration in Glasgow last month, which erupted into disorder. Two police officers and three members of the public, who were the victims of racist attacks, were injured during the march.

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‘Neo-Nazi’ group attended protest which descended into city centre disorder

Patriotic Alternative confirmed they attended a demonstration in Glasgow during which three people were injured in racist attacks

Other anti-immigration pages based in England and Northern Ireland have also shared Saturday’s event poster, encouraging followers to attend.

In recent weeks, a Merseyside man, Ryan Ferguson, was arrested and charged after travelling to attend demonstrations in the Cranhill and Castlemilk areas of Glasgow.

He is accused of stirring up racial hatred.

Glasgow & West

Merseyside man charged with shouting racist abuse during Glasgow anti-immigration protests

Ryan Ferguson, from Bootle, travelled 200 miles to attend demonstrations in the Cranhill and Castlemilk areas of the city

Patriotic Alternative has attended a number of protests, including in Falkirk STV News

Scottish First Minister John Swinney told STV News that everyone has the right to protest peacefully, but he “disapproves” of the marches’ “substance”.

He said: “I disagree with the far-right agenda, I disagree with the intolerance perpetuated.

“Obviously, Police Scotland is well prepared for the march that will take place at the weekend.

“It is essential that public safety is respected and that people respect the rule of law. That includes on hate crime.

“People going around spouting hateful messages will not be tolerated by Police Scotland or this country.”

Counter-protest

Stand Up To Racism Scotland has organised a counter-protest, starting an hour before the rally at Glasgow Green.

The organisation has called for a “national mobilisation” at the McLennan Arch in an effort to “reclaim our streets”.

Zamard Zahid, from Women Against Far-Right Scotland, told STV News that she has been “surprised” by the protests in Glasgow, which she described as a “friendly and welcoming” city.

The campaigner believes social media has played a “massive role” in the immigration debate.

She added: “I think people are underestimating the role social media is playing in this.

“Far-right agitators, that we know the history of, that are there for their specific agendas, their agendas are very much about dividing communities.

“Their agendas are very much about racism, Islamophobia, and xenophobia. These agitators are coming into communities with the guise of helping women and children.

“Weaponising women’s safety and violence against women.”

Zamard has described the Stand Up to Racism protest as “a brilliant opportunity” for the people of Scotland.

The campaigner said: “This is a national mobilisation.

“We do not want to see these streets being used and communities being targeted by far-right agitators.”

Policing operation in place to ‘minimise disruption’

Police Scotland will conduct an operation at Glasgow Green to “minimise disruption”.

During last month’s demonstration, which fell into disorder, officers and police vans blocked the streets leading into the city centre, while a helicopter monitored the situation from above.

Chief superintendent Emma Croft confirmed that the force is aware of the planned protest and officers will be in place to “support public safety”.

Chief Superintendent Emma Croft said: “People have the right to express their views lawfully and we will act to keep people safe, protect communities and reduce the impact within the City.

“We continue to engage with organisers and work with our partners as we plan for events. Our combined focus being on supporting lawful activity and maintaining public safety.

“Policing in Scotland has strong relationships with the public and we are grateful for the ongoing support of our communities.”