Sunday saw two very different marches through Southampton city centre (1/3/26).
Some 250-300 people gathered in Portswood for a “Unite Against the Far Right” demonstration, organised by a range of community and union organisations from the city, with a message of unity for the Southampton.
Meanwhile, an anti-asylum seeker protest of around 60 people gathered outside a nearby hotel housing asylum seekers awaiting their asylum applications, with a message of ‘stop the boats’, organised by “Southampton Patriots.”
The “Unite Against the Far Right” demonstration had initially been planned as a march to the Peace Fountain as a ‘celebration of the rich diversity of Southampton’s communities’.
But one of the organisers, Southampton Stand Up To Racism, said that the decision was made to change this to a counter-protest when “Southampton Patriots” announced plans for a march of their own on the same day.
The “Unite Against the Far Right demonstrators gathered at the top of Portswood high street, with the stated aim of blocking the anti-asylum seeker march from going through the diverse areas of Portswood and Bevois Valley, not through force but by numbers.
Whilst demonstrators were rallying in Portswood they heard from a number of speakers including event organisers, union representatives and even a former Apprentice contestant, Southampton businessman Sohail Chowdhary, who told the counter-demonstrators: “Southampton is diverse and we should be proud. Southampton is our home.”
One of the organisers told the gathering crowd: ““we are rooted in love, dignity and diversity. We walk with purpose. Let’s show the city who we are.”
Cllr Toqeer Katrina said: “Love not hate: we choose to understand one another, our cultures and our customs, and we choose not to discriminate and not to stereotype. This city has always been shaped by migration…all helping to build Southampton as we know today.”
He continued: “That is why Southampton is proud to call itself a City of Sanctuary – a city that believes people fleeing war, persecution of hardship should be met with compassion and not suspicion,” to applause from the crowd.
The “Southampton Patriots” march was routed along a residential road to The Avenue and London Road to Guildhall Square, chanting “stop the boats, send them back,” whilst the “Unite Against the Far Right” march went down Portswood High Street, Bevois Valley and onto the Peace Fountain, with chants including “this is what community looks like,” with some of those marching blowing bubbles.
Once the “Southampton Patriots” march had reached the Guildhall steps, on of the speakers told those present “we are the guardians of the British identity, we are the wall that the enemy can’t breach…and we will put this threat down permanently.”
Meanwhile, at the Peace Fountain, some of the crowd on the “Unite Against the Far Right” shared their reasons for attending the demonstration.
“I’m here because I don’t believe we should be judging people by their race, their religion, their culture or where they come from and I believe everyone has the right to a safe and secure life, and asylum seekers are trying to find somewhere they can live safely and securely. I believe they have the right to do that and there should be safe route to enable them to do that,” said one woman.
“It’s so nice to be surrounded by people who are enthusiastic and positive about supporting community and overcoming the barriers that the far right put in place – the idea that we have enemies and that we’re an island of strangers, and this absolutely proves that we’re not,” said another woman from Southampton. “The atmosphere is so inclusive and I hope that encourages more people to come along.”
Jess, from Southampton, summed up the feelings of many on the “Unite Against the Far Right” march.
She said: “This is our real city and I live not far away from Highfield House Hotel, and I’ve seen people yell abuse at very vulnerable people and it’s heart-breaking and I think it’s really important to show that’s not who we are as a city – that’s not Southampton, it never has been. The march was really joyful.
“We’re here to say everyone is welcome. That’s such an important message and it’s heart-breaking that you have to walk in the streets with flags and banners to say that but we will keep walking, we are the people and we will not be silenced.”
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