Southampton Stand Up to Racism has announced two emergency counter protests taking place on consecutive Fridays – August 1st and 8th.
In a statement on social media, they said: “The far-right is organising weekly protests to harass and intimidate refugees in our city. They’re targeting some of the most vulnerable people in society – those without a voice, without power, and without the ability to defend themselves.
We say: Enough.
Southampton has a proud history of welcoming people from around the world. It’s time to show once again that Southampton is a WELCOMING CITY. This peaceful counter-protest is called by Stand Up To Racism Southampton and Southampton Trades Council to show friendship and solidarity with refugees.”
These counter protests come after local anti-racist and refugee action groups held an unannounced counter protest last month (June 25).
Southampton Action, which supports refugees and asylum seekers in the area, said in a social media post at the time:
“Today we are sad. Sad because protesters who blame refugees for all the problems in the UK came and tried to cause chaos outside asylum accommodation in Southampton. Sad because people in this city who are our friends and our community were made to feel unsafe.
We are also proud that a core group of people turned up to counter protest even with zero time to organise anything.
However this is disappointingly likely just the start. These protesters have said they will keep coming back over and over again, making the people we support feel intimidated and scared in their accommodation.
We won’t stand for this. We know that so many of you won’t either.
The people we work with, many of them currently don’t even have a pair of shoes and some pants to wear. They aren’t living it up in 5 star luxury at anyone’s expense no matter what the papers say. People like you are donating to organisations like us just so that they can have the very basics. A far cry from the story these protesters tell.
We know many of you stand with us. And that you stand with the people we support. We hope we can count on that support in what could be a long summer of discontent.”
The counter protests will be taking place outside Highfield House Hotel at 5.30pm.
For more information, including meeting points, visit the SSUTR Facebook page.
For more information about Southampton Action, including how to make a donation to support refugees in the city, visit the Southampton Action Facebook page.
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