By Tim Nailsea
The so-called ‘Bristol Patriots’ called for a march on a hotel that houses asylum seekers on Saturday 23 August. On the day only around 20 turned up, and they were stopped by over 200 counter-demonstrators, organised by Bristol Anti-Racist Action (BARA), Stand Up to Racism and Bristol Anti-Fascists.
The racists started at Castle Park, and were quickly surrounded by counter-protestors. If it hadn’t been for the intervention of the police, they would have got no further than that. However, the police were determined to escort the racists in their march to terrorise asylum seekers and attempted to physically force their way through the counter-protestors, assaulting many of them. There was a running confrontation as the police attempted to push on towards the hotel, with the racists huddled behind them, while the anti-racists put up a determined resistance.
With their path blocked by well-organised counter-demonstrators, and other anti-racists defending the front of the hotel, the police gave in, and the racists fled.
Before the demonstration, BARA activists had discussed the importance of making the experience as demoralising for the racists as possible, and aimed to achieve this by surrounding them and preventing them from marching. In this we were wholly successful.
One thing we may have under-estimated was the determination of the police to make sure their march happened. The police, in fighting so hard, revealed that their sympathies lay with the racists. That they were also unsuccessful was wholly to the credit of the spirit and organisation of the anti-racists on the day.
