Hundreds of anti-illegal immigration protestors gathered peacefully outside the Highfield Hotel in Southampton on Sunday, voicing frustration at what they describe as the government’s failure to control Britain’s borders and protect the local community. The demonstration was well organised, with participants carrying signs reading “Protect children from rape gangs,” singing songs, and playing music, creating a generally good-natured atmosphere.
This was the largest protest of its kind in Southampton to date. Attendees included men, women, and children, with some whole families turning out together. Almost all cited concerns for the safety of women and children in the city as their main motivation. “We want our children to be safe, and having illegal, undocumented migrants walking freely in the centre of our community can only be a threat to that,” said one protestor, who attended with her two daughters. “We just want the local council to listen. We don’t want this here, and we’re just ordinary people worried about women and children in the community. That doesn’t make us racist. We’re not against legal refugees—just not housed in our area.”
A smaller group of counter-protestors assembled nearby under the banner of Stand Up To Racism, a campaign group known for supporting pro-migrant causes. This contingent was largely made up of employees from CLEAR, a Southampton-based charity that assists both legal and undocumented migrants with issues ranging from immigration rights to benefits applications and housing. Bystanders noted the presence of teachers from local schools and lecturers from Solent University and the University of Southampton—something they found noteworthy. Local schools, the universities, and CLEAR all receive government funding for their services.
Another resident, who has observed the protests for the past two weeks, commented: “It seems like the counter-protestors just get paid for a couple of hours—they stand for two hours and then leave, whereas the real protestors stay much longer.”
Counter-protestors held Socialist Party placards calling for measures such as “£15 per hour minimum wage. No exemptions” and “Jobs and homes, not racism.” Copies of the Socialist Worker newspaper were also left scattered on the street by anti-racism campaigners.
Police maintained what was perhaps their most visible presence yet during weeks of protests, with significantly more officers on display. There were reports that ANTIFA—a left-wing, anti-fascist, and anti-racist movement originating in the United States—had attacked protestors earlier in the day while they were meeting away from the Highfield House Hotel.
Residents of Avondale Court, the building adjacent to the Highfield Hotel, watched the protest unfold from their windows. One resident said: “We absolutely support the protestors. We feel intimidated and under attack. The front door of our building has been kicked in. Every time we come home late at night, there are migrants urinating against our building or sitting in out car park drinking whiskey. The CCTV provided by the council doesn’t work, perhaps on purpose and we don’t feel safe. They are constantly trying to break in and, although we report it to the police and council, nothing happens.”
Protests against the use of hotels for asylum seekers show no signs of slowing down across the UK. The largest demonstration yet at the Highfield Hotel comes as similar protests continue to gain momentum nationwide. It appears that much of the British public has simply had enough. How will the government act on this?
Socialist party signs carried by ‘anti racism’ protestors
