Jackson MediaA Glasgow Reform councillor spoke at an anti-immigration rally alongside a prominent member of a “neo-Nazi” group and a self-proclaimed white nationalist.
Councillor Audrey Dempsey attended the “Unite the Clans” protest in Glasgow Green on Saturday, where she told the crowd that the city was “very, very close to the point of no return”.
Police made 15 arrests after the anti-immigration rally was met by anti-racism counter-protesters and there were violent clashes.
During her speech, Dempsey asked for the “violence to stop” and for demonstrators to remain peaceful.
TikTokFollowing criticism for her attandance, Dempsey said she was there to speak about one thing, “the safety of women and girls” and she would take that message to “anyone willing to listen”.
She said she didn’t see anyone “even remotely resembling a Nazi”.
Far-right speakers
On the same spot where Dempsey delivered this message, Josh Fernie also spoke. He is a self-proclaimed white nationalist and member of the Homeland Party – a splinter group of the neo-Nazi-founded group Patriotic Alternative.
Fernie said that “we are at war for our very existence” and used rhetoric linked to the Great Replacement conspiracy, which suggests white people are being replaced by non-white immigrants, and is popular among far-right groups.
Fernie has previously denied the existence of gas chambers at Nazi concentration camps and praised Adolf Hitler for ordering the burning of books.
After the Aberdonian finished his speech, Richard McFarlane was introduced as a “very smart man” by an organiser.
He is a member of the neo-Nazi group Patriotic Alternative (PA), which was founded by former BNP youth leader Mark Collett.
The far-right group opposes all immigration unless they 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”.
During his speech, McFarlane claimed that counter-protesters “hate white people” whilst wearing a t-shirt with the slogan “white unity”.
‘Appropriate’ for councillor to attend rally, says Reform
Deputy leader of the Reform party in Scotland Thomas Kerr MSP told STV News it was “appropriate” for Councillor Dempsey to speak at the rally and it was “right” for her to attend.
He added that politicians on either side of the divide should not be held accountable for the views held by other speakers.
Kerr said: “There were people who were there, who I would call out and I would say we do not want anything to do with them whatsoever.
STV News“Those people should be condemned 100%, but a small minority does not take up the hundreds of people who peacefully protested in Glasgow Green this weekend.
“The same as the small minority on the other side who were calling for people to be hung, they should not represent the entire mob that were there to oppose those (at the anti-immigration rally).”
‘Holocaust deniers and self-declared racists’
Glasgow City Council leader Susan Aitken has slammed Dempsey for appearing at the rally. Accusing her of being happy to “share the platform” with “holocaust deniers and self-declared racists”.
She said: “This has to be taken seriously. There were people on our streets on Saturday who came with the sole intention of engaging in violence and intimidation, while targeting minorities.
“Cllr Dempsey shares responsibility for fomenting that hatred and their violent extremism – and if Thomas Kerr can’t bring himself to denounce actual living, breathing fascists; then everyone in this city and up and down the country is entitled to draw their own conclusions.”
Dempsey has been contacted for comment.
Rally descends into chaos as demonstrations clash
Police made 15 arrests after the anti-immigration rally was met by anti-racism counter-protesters.
Officers responded to “significant disorder from disparate groups” in the city centre on Saturday afternoon following the planned demonstrations at Glasgow Green.
Police chased and held back Unite the Clans demonstrators who ran towards an anti-fascist group, with many on both sides wearing masks.
Punches were thrown as the anti-immigration group approached anti-racism campaigners, while projectiles were thrown into the anti-racism crowd.
Helicopters circled the park, one of the city’s busiest, as police managed to separate the groups.
Disorder then moved into the city centre, and officers sealed off Oswald Street.
Arrests were made in relation to a variety of offences, including assault, possession of offensive weapons, breach of the peace, obstruction and resisting arrest.
Extensive enquiries are under way to identify other individuals involved and further arrests will be made, Police Scotland said.
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