Hundreds of Britain First protesters faced off against a large anti-fascist crowd in a tense Manchester city center standoff.
Manchester, United Kingdom – Chants of “send them back” echoed through damp underpasses as hundreds of far-right anti-Islam protesters prepared to march through the streets.
Union Jacks fluttered in the wind as demonstrators – some who appeared to be under the influence of alcohol – made a series of anti-immigration slogans and mocking remarks about British Prime Minister Keir Starr.
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In response to a demonstration organized by Britain firstA far-right political party calling for mass deportations and the removal of migrants and Muslims from the UK was also scheduled for midnight on Saturday.
This created a large crowd of anti-fascist demonstrators who gathered on some streets, carrying anti-racist banners and waving several flags, including the Palestinian flag.
Ruby, 20, a student from south London, made the five-hour coach ride to show her support for the protest and told Al Jazeera it was a “no-brainer” to attend. She asked not to have her last name published for fear of repercussions.
‘A Master Race’
Ruby said her grandparents, originally from Montserrat, were part of it Windrush formation – immigrants from Caribbean countries invited to the UK between 1948 and 1971 – and despite having given so much to their adopted country, are now increasingly unwelcome.
She said her grandfather had told her they were returning to the level of racism they experienced when they arrived in the country in the 1950s.
It was a sentiment echoed by 16-year-old Loughelyn, a counter-protester from Wales, who said her father, who is British Guyanese, has received more verbal abuse based on his race than at any other point in the past few years.
Tensions were palpable before the two marches began, with far-right protesters broadcasting live to their followers as they entered the area designated for the counter-demonstration.
John – a strong, tough counter-protester from Wales – tackled the police officers with outstretched arms as they looked on.
“They come here to make a mess and make money online from it, but I’m here to protect the left. These people (far-right protesters) try and bully … minorities because they think they’re a master race”, he told Al Jazeera.
As the Britain First march began, the festive mood quickly turned violent as counter-protesters arrived in the city centre, flanked by police and led by Paul Golding, a flamboyant, combative, far-right activist who had previously been jailed for religiously motivated persecution.
“Lefty scum,” shouted one member of the Britain First crowd as they harassed three young men, who surrounded the riot police and dragged them to safety.
‘Divisive, racist positions’
The two fronts eventually clashed in a skirmish as police battled for position.
Britain First demonstrators provoked counter-demonstrators with flagpoles and slipped through porous police lines as some shouted anti-immigration and anti-Palestine slogans.
Many protesters and onlookers expressed disappointment that the police allowed the march to proceed.
Pia Feig of Jewish Action for Palestine told Al Jazeera, “We, as Jews and internationalists, must confront Britain first, the fascists organizing in the streets, who are allowed to market their separatist, racist, authoritarian positions on our streets.
Audrey, a teacher and counterprotester who was pushed away by police after a Britain First protester was pushed, said the police always “protected” far-right groups.
A police official told Al Jazeera that extensive planning was required that day and that it was a particularly difficult operation, as the two groups kept changing their planned routes.
He said on condition of anonymity that the local police force had been stretched thin dealing with two conflicting protests, a rally in support of Ukraine and crowd management at a major football match this weekend.