Immigration protesters waving Union flags faced off with anti-racism demonstrators in Portsmouth city centre on Friday. Police monitored the situation as opposing groups gathered on the steps outside the council offices in the Hampshire city.
One protester attached a large St George's flag to the balcony bearing the words "Born in England, Live in England, Die in England". Counter-protesters responded by displaying their own banner reading "Refugees Welcome, Celebrate Diversity".
Protesters voice immigration concerns
Mat Silva, a 66-year-old retired car sprayer from Fareham, expressed frustration about immigration policy. "I am fed up seeing those who come into our country illegally being housed better than our veterans and our OAPs," he said. "They get free accommodation, gas, electricity, four meals a day, while our veterans are on the street."
Silva emphasised his stance was not about race but legal entry. "Look how many millions it's costing each day - if they are genuine asylum seekers or refugees coming in the right way with passports, then fair enough, it's nothing to do with racism, it's about people entering illegally," he added.
An unnamed woman cited personal experiences driving her participation. "Family homes are being turned into houses of multiple occupancy. We have to live in an area where there are more and more new immigrants," she said. "Also, my husband was attacked by a Muslim who hated Christians, and this is where I take a stand."
Counter-protesters defend human rights
Rita from Portsmouth, who joined the Stand Up To Racism counter-protest, defended her position despite facing hostility. "I am sick and tired of being someone who defends rapists and paedophiles, what I defend is human rights," she said. "I feel ashamed (at the protest) and I say this as a white British elderly lady who has been spat upon, verbally abused and things thrown at, just for being on this side of the road."
She criticised the use of religion in the protests. "I am angry that my Christianity is being used as a weapon by the right and to be used in the name of fascism," Rita added.
Mary from Portsmouth stressed universal human dignity in her counter-protest. "I believe in dignity, equality and giving people a fair chance," she said. "We have all come from somewhere originally, I am from Northern Ireland and we all came from Africa originally."
She condemned the intimidation tactics used against refugees. "I am really upset at the violent way in which these other people are intimidating people who have fled intimidation all of their lives and are facing it here again, it's completely wrong," Mary said.
Police maintained a physical separation between the two groups as tensions rose. The anti-immigration group chanted "Send them home" while counter-protesters responded with "Refugees are welcome here".
Sources used: "PA Media" Note: This article has been edited with the help of Artificial Intelligence.
