Counter-protestors gathered in Manchester city centre on February 21 as Britain First supporters marched through the city.
Demonstrators opposing the group’s views on immigration and asylum seekers called for them to “get off our streets”.
Multiple counter-protests took place around the city including a Stand Up to Racism rally at Piccadilly Gardens, where ex-labour leader Jeremy Corbyn spoke, and at Sackville Gardens, where the majority of counter protesters congregated to ‘Resist Britain First’.
The crowd was overwhelmingly young people and students who felt strongly about the issue. Speaking to The Mancunion, one counter-protester said “Manchester is one of the most diverse cities you can get” and that it’s an “atrocity that we’re making immigrants who are coming to use for safety feel unsafe”.
Another protester noted that “history has shown us that fascism has to be challenged on the ground, in the streets, as well as in elections”. They carried onto say that they “really want to be part of the push back against Britain First so they know they’re not welcome in Manchester”.
At around 12:15pm, the rally mobilised from Sackville Gardens, singing chants such as “The people, united, we’ll never be defeated” and “Whose city? Our city”.
Councillor Bev Craig released a statement earlier in the week, promising that Manchester is “a welcoming and friendly city” that has “no time for racism or hatred”. She added: “Manchester does not welcome Britain First to our city because they seek to divide our communities and spread hatred”.
Police isolated counter-protesters in a four-way intersection along Portland and Princess street, but the crowd remained undeterred; dancing to drum beats, waving signs and flags depicting anti-fascist and anti-racist rhetoric.
Speaking to a student among the crowd, they said that the protest is important to them because they believed “true patriotism is not wanting your country to be fascist”.
Once Britain First was sighted, the rally was quick to break free from the square, despite police attempts to block them in, with counter-protestors at one point pushing the police line back down Portland Street.
The protest moved to Oxford Road where, for the first time, Britain First and counter-protesters met eye-to-eye, even with the police’s best efforts to keep the groups separate.
A Section 34 dispersal order was placed over the city centre which gave police extra authority to remove protesters from the area if their behaviour was deemed to be anti-social or alarming.
Speeches from prominent Britain First members happened at Castlefield bowl, where counter-protesters were also in attendance, chanting and heckling. Almost immediately, the rain started and it didn’t take too long for the crowd to die down on both sides.
Demonstrations wrapped up at around 4pm with Greater Manchester Police making 11 arrests throughout the day.
