Anti-racism, anti-refugee protesters clash in UK
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Anti-racism demonstrators hold up placards and chant slogans as a far right group marches through Dover, southern England, on April 2, 2016. (AFP photo)
Hundreds of anti-racism demonstrators have taken to the streets in southern England in a move aimed at blocking a march planned by far-right and anti-refugee protesters.
According to Press TV, on Saturday, anti-racism protesters chanted slogans and held placards in the county of Kent’s Dover port town.
The Kent Anti-Racism Network organized the demonstration to counter a gathering by a number of far-right groups, including the East Kent Alliance, protesting the arrival of refugees and asylum-seekers.
The town was brought to a standstill as police officers reportedly lined its streets in order to separate the different groups during the protests. According to Kent police, at least eight people were detained during the confrontation between the different groups.
The protesters called on the government to allow the arrival of refugees.
Conservative lawmaker for Dover, Charlie Elphicke, said the demonstrations disrupted the “haulage industry” at the port town, as well as the town’s local economy.
"It's too high a price to pay and it's not acceptable that people can come here, demonstrate, and cause this level of disruption to people going about their daily lives," the Dover MP said.
Similar clashes broke out between the same groups of protesters on January 30, where a number of people were detained and injured near Dover Priority station.
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