By Lenny Osler, News Reporter and Dana Datu, News Reporter
75 anti-immigrant protesters were met by a 350-strong counter-protest in front of the Mercure Bristol Grand Hotel on Redcliff Hill, who were mostly Bristol residents.
Among them were the Socialist Worker Student Society and several trade unions.
Five individuals were arrested, one of whom has since been released, and four have been released on conditional bail.
By 1:40 pm, both counter-protesters and protesters were opposite each other in front of the hotel.
Clashes broke out between police and a group of ‘black bloc’ counter-protesters. By 3:40 pm on Commercial Road, mounted police and officers with dogs and truncheons drove the ‘black bloc’ eastward back towards the Bedminster Bridge roundabout.
The ‘luxury’ Mercure Hotel was converted into an accommodation centre for asylum seekers in August 2023.
There was a heavy police presence of around 200 officers during Saturday's protest, along with police vans and horses lining the street.
In a statement, Avon and Somerset Police said that it was necessary to use ‘pre-authorised enhanced powers’ to manage a group of 20-30 counter protesters.
A member of the police appears to use force against an unknown protester/counter-protester | Epigram / Dana Datu
One officer was hospitalised due to injuries resulting from the protest, who was discharged later that night.
From the outset, the police kettled the anti-immigration demonstration into a fenced-off area, blocked off from the road by a line of police vans.
Faces peered out of the hotel windows as tensions mounted between the two sides - a child inside held up a ‘Thank You’ sign directed at the counter-protest.
The chant ‘refugees are welcome here’ could be heard to the sound of drums.
Aimee Anderson
Arthur Clinton
Jack, from the Socialist Worker Student Society, told Epigram that the Bristol Patriots ‘should be directing their anger at the ruling class, not refugees’, adding ‘The fascist mob has immense police protection.’
Epigram spoke to an individual protesting against the hotel, who said he was there because ‘I love England. I’m a Polish immigrant, I moved here four years ago’, later adding, ‘If you move here, learn the language, learn the culture.’
Another woman claimed to be protesting against the ‘boatloads of fighting-age men crossing the channel.’
A man beside her interjected, ‘Young violent men… all those people coming over, are rapists, terrorists, and murderers.’
However, one female counter-protester claimed the Bristol Patriots ignore violence against women perpetrated by British men, and instead scapegoat refugees.
‘No one chooses to leave their home unless there is no better alternative,’ said Jenny from the National Education Union.
Epigram spoke to one ‘black bloc’ counter-protester who claimed that a fresh bruise on his leg was from a police truncheon.
Sofia Lambis
Ch Insp Keith Smith said:
‘It is disappointing a group within the counter protest has seemingly been intent on causing disorder. We’ve made several arrests and ordered a number of counter-protesters to leave central Bristol.
Aimee Anderson
Ellen Landale
‘I want to thank the officers who have worked tirelessly today to enable both protests to be kept separate, but it is totally unacceptable that officers have been assaulted. Criminal investigations will be carried out into each incident as we seek to bring those responsible to justice.’
Featured image: Epigram / Suzanne Célérier
