Hundreds at Glasgow Green anti-immigration demonstration and counter protests

Hundreds have gathered in Glasgow for an anti-immigration rally and associated counter protest.The Pink Ladies organised their event at Glasgow Green, prompting opposing groups, including Stand Up To Racism (SUTR), to arrange a counter protest.With a large police presence, the two gatherings concluded without any serious disorder on Saturday afternoon.The groups were contained in separate areas on the eastern side of the park near the People’s Palace.At one point, groups from the opposing sides started shouting at each other from either side of police lines.Some of those attending the Pink Ladies rally were dressed in black with their faces covered.A counter protest was organised (Steve Welsh/PA)PA WirePolice confirmed there was no violence around the rallies, though one person was arrested on a warrant relating to disorder at Glasgow Green on July 25.There have so far been more than 20 arrests following the chaotic scenes in the park at the end of July.MSPs Alison Thewliss, a Scottish Government minister, and Iris Duane were at the SUTR rally, with STUC general secretary Roz Foyer.Prominent figures on the Scottish right such as Reform UK deputy leader in Scotland Thomas Kerr, Reform councillor Audrey Dempsey and online personality Craig Houston attended the Pink Ladies event.Speaking to the Press Association, Ms Foyer said: “It just confounds belief that people are prepared to weaponise a really important issue like violence against women and girls and use it to create more hate, more division, and more fear in our communities and in our society.“That is exactly what’s happening right now.”Thomas Kerr said he was invited by organisers (Steve Welsh/PA)PA WireThe protesters, the union leader said, were “trying to stir up real trouble”, adding it was “really unfortunate” so many officers were required to police the events.She added: “I’m much more worried about the very angry people who are dressing in black, wearing masks and running about our city centre at the moment, trying to attack ordinary citizens who are just going about their daily business.“Much more worried and much more fearful of that than I am of any migrants coming into our country.”Speaking at the rally, Ms Thewliss said she had received correspondence from people who have come to Scotland and “don’t feel safe”.Read More“It’s so important that we reach out to each and every person we see on the street, whether that’s a smile or whether that’s a handshake, or whether that is standing next to them if we see that they feel afraid.“It is up to us all to make people feel safe and to stand up.”There was a substantial police presence at the park (Steve Welsh/PA)PA WireSpeaking to PA, Mr Kerr said he was invited by organisers to attend and had come to “hear what working class women in particular are saying”, adding that counter protesters were “extremists”.“There is nothing more extreme than the extremists at the other side of Glasgow Green,” he said.“The people who are there are trying to shout down working class people who finally have a voice.“They’re really, really angry about what’s happening in our city and rather than listening to these working class women, what this mob over there are doing is lecturing them, telling them what they must feel.“I think that’s ridiculous.“I think the extremists in this argument are the people trying to silence other people rather than allowing people to have their democratic right and the freedoms to say what they need to say.”Orla Minihane, who founded the Pink Ladies network, spoke at the anti-immigration rally in Glasgow.She denied her supporters were racist or divisive, saying: “The only division that has been caused is by your government allowing men to sexually assault your girls.”Chief Superintendent Stevie Dolan of Police Scotland said: “We did warn that there would be no tolerance for violence and disorder and that any criminality would get a strong response.“People have a right to peaceful protest and today’s policing operation was focused on ensuring the safety of the public, preventing crime and disorder, and minimising disruption.“I would like to thank the public for their patience and for those who positively engaged with the police during the protest.”