By Lenny Osler, News Editor & Dana Datu, News Deputy Editor
Around 15 police were present on Woodland Road this afternoon, as a group of around 100 students and activists protested the presence of right-wing political commentator Montgomery Toms - eventually causing him to leave.
Surrounded by over 250 onlookers, protesters included University of Bristol students and activists from Bristol SWSS (Socialist Worker Student Society) and Stand Up to Racism.
Toms set up a gazebo on a public pavement on Woodland Road around 11 AM, prompting a few students and passers by to engage with him in debate.
From midday, protesters arrived and stood in front of Toms’ gazebo, attempting to prevent students from interacting with him and obscure the commentator’s cameras.
Protesters with megaphones and placards addressed Toms with chants including ‘refugees are welcome here’ and ‘Nazi scum, off our streets’.
The demonstration quickly escalated at 12:30 PM as Ben Pinker, formerly of Bristol Patriots and member of the new anti-migrant group Bristol Rises, engaged in confrontation with protesters and appeared to lunge at one.
A physical altercation broke out, with police having to separate Pinker from the protesters.
Ben Pinker, an anti-migrant activist, appeared to lunge at a protester | The Concrete Chronicle / Ryan Cox
At 1:30 PM, protesters closed in on the gazebo and took it down, after which Toms appeared to leave the premises in the direction of the Queens Building.
Shortly afterwards, Toms returned to heavy protest and chants of ‘w*nker’. Flanked by police, he left the premises by car.
Toms left campus at 2:15 PM after heavy student protest | The Concrete Chronicle / Ryan Cox
Toms, 21, is the founder of Freedom Watch UK, a far-right campaign group, and is associated with the political party Restore Britain.
He is known to campaign against immigration and LGBTQIA+ rights. He claimed ‘mass migration’ was ‘destroying’ the UK, and denied that holding a British passport was evidence of being British.
Tom, a student protester, said he had come out to ‘show the right they’re not welcome to bully people on campus and make people feel unwelcome in Bristol.’
Lenny Osler
Avon and Somerset Police said in a statement:
‘An incident broke out when a man was grabbed, resulting in a physical altercation involving a small number of people.
‘A man reported being assaulted by members of the counter-protest and officers have taken his details to take a fuller account at a later date.’
A University of Bristol spokesperson said:
‘We affirm the vital importance of the right of all to speak openly without fear of censorship or limitation, provided that this right is exercised responsibly, within the law, and with respect for others who may have differing views.
‘In this instance the police were called after an incident occurred during a demonstration. The University takes this very seriously and if any students are found to have been involved, we will take appropriate action.’
A Bristol SU spokesperson said:
‘The views and activities present at today's demonstration do not represent Bristol SU, our values or commitment to diversity and inclusion.
‘If anyone has been impacted by events outside of Senate House today, we encourage them to reach out to support available.’
Featured image: Epigram / Emilia Ibarguen Donoso
