"There is no room for hate in this beautiful city."
Amid an anti-immigration and counter protest in Brighton on June 13, footage showed a group of far-right protesters being run off the streets by citizens.
An estimated 300 people joined a Stop The Boats protest organised by South East Patriots, while around 4,000 attended a counter demonstration organised by Carnival Against Fascism.
A TikTok video showed the far-right group trying to carry out their march.
However, Brighton locals showed solidarity and prevented the group from doing so.
The far-right group ended up being driven away.
In the comments section, many praised the unity shown by the locals.
One wrote: “Actually made me cry because there’s more good than bad in this world; we’ve just all got to stick together.”
Another said: “I left Brighton about a year ago… but still so proud of you all. There is no room for hate in this beautiful city.”
A third added: “Brighton is a city of unity and will always remain so. This is the greatest city in the country, Brighton the great.”
Sussex Police said eight people were arrested for offences including assaulting a police officer, breach of the peace, possession of a pyrotechnic item and breaching a public order offence.
Riot police were deployed after items were thrown at officers, with police describing disruption near Brighton station and surrounding roads.
Chief Superintendent Adam Hays said:
“We understand that there was some disruption near the railway station and surrounding roads.
“Public order policing is complex, and while we understand this can be frustrating, we always balance the rights of all protest groups and the wider community.
“Public safety is always our priority.”
@thatshot2020 I love this city ?? a tiny group of far right prostestors tried to march in Brighton and were run off the streets by the people of this city. Well done Brighton #brighton #protest #love #pride #proud ? original sound – Tom
Ahead of the protests, Brighton & Hove City leader Bella Sankey warned that “far right agitators” were “stirring up division”.
She added: “Brighton and Hove is a proudly diverse city, where white residents, black residents, Muslims, Jews, Christians, Hindus, Sikhs, people of no faith, gay residents, trans residents, feminists, refugees and mixed race people like me, live side by side peacefully.
“We know better than to blame whole communities for the actions of individuals.”
“This is our home, and in Brighton and Hove, difference is famously our strength.”
A Home Office spokesperson said the government was “bearing down” on illegal small boat crossings and people smuggling.
They said: “Nearly 70,000 illegal migrants and foreign criminals returned since this government took office, a 41% increase on the 21 months prior.
“The Home Secretary’s landmark new deal with France also includes a number of measures to further improve our joint law enforcement efforts to put people smugglers behind bars, building on joint work which has stopped over 42,000 migrants attempting to cross the channel since the election.”
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