Town turns out in force against Far Right hatred

‘We are many, you are few’ turned out to be an accurate chant as racists failed to show up for a planned protest on Wednesday. HOT’s Chris Connelley joined the counter protestors at a lively rally.

Hastings was on high alert during the early part of this week following concerns that a solicitor’s home and office in the town centre was on a target list for far right protesters. The list, which identified a number of sites across the country was shared at the weekend, prompting calls for counter action by anti-racism campaigners.

In the event, the expected far right protest on Wednesday failed to materialise. Despite reports of sightings of ‘a few far right thugs’, there was no sign of any organised action on Cambridge Gardens, where the office is located. The counter protest, however, generated a huge turnout, with an estimated 500 people taking part over the course of the evening.

This was despite a call issued on Wednesday afternoon, just hours before the advertised protest, by Hastings and Rye MP Helena Dollimore, (Labour), and Hastings Borough Council Leader, Julia Hilton (Green), appealing to residents to stay at home.

“Let them watch the Pram Race”

The statement generated some intense discussion on and offline, but did not deter large numbers of people taking to the streets to demonstrate against the far right. I arrived on Robertson Street just after 6.30pm, having cycled through an eerily quiet town centre. Most bars and restaurants were closed, with just a couple of businesses trading on empty streets.

A group of 10 to 12 stewards, including Borough Councillors Paul Barnett and Nigel Sinden (Hastings Independents), and Yunnis Smith (Green), were running through  a final safety briefing outside the library before heading up the Brassey Steps to the meeting point at Cambridge Gardens.

Protesters began congregating around 6.45pm, in advance of the advertised 7pm start time, arriving singly, in pairs and and in larger groups, quickly filling the paved area outside ESK, the traffic island and the pavement opposite. Many came with hand made banners, including the ones shown in the accompanying photographs.

As numbers continued to swell, the counter protest stretched back to the Observer Building in one direction and down into the town centre in the other.

Simon Hester, from Stand up to Racism, addressed the crowd by megaphone. He noted the ramping up of rhetoric against refugees and migrant groups over recent years and established a “connection between scapegoating from the top and actions at the bottom” at the end of a week that has seen rioting, violent disorder and damage in many urban centres initiated by far right groups.

He also indicated that there was ambiguity about what was going to happen during the evening, admitting he was unconvinced that anything would, whilst sharing details of counter-protests happening across the country, and namechecking large events in Brighton, Rotherham and Finchley.

Mr Hester went on to take issue with the call to stay at home from community leaders, claiming “they are very, very wrong”. He said the call to stay at home had come so late it was impossible to call things off as people who hadn’t seen the statement and turned up anyway would be put at risk if the counter event was called off but the far right rally went ahead. He also stated that minority groups are currently living with a climate of acute threat, and that it is imperative for the majority to turn out in force to make clear this is intolerable. “We are here as a peaceful protest to show Hastings is united against racism and fascism. We are going to hold the ground here.”

After the speeches, protestors joined in communal singing and chanting, creating a wall of sound audible from the town centre. Chants included “We are many, you are few, we are Hastings, who are you?”, “Hastings supports refugees” and “We are the people”.

The protest was loud, diverse and good natured, with many attendees reporting the need to make public their support for a united community. Nathalie, from St Leonards, identified as part of the local LGBTQI community, said she knows what it feels like to be on the receiving end of prejudice and hate and was present to stand up for other groups experiencing that.

Reuben Ramsay echoed this sentiment, saying “love is outnumbering hate. As it normally does in Hastings.”

Not everyone was supportive. One man, on his way to hear some music over a half of shandy in the Old Town, took issue with the street protest, arguing that “it’s holding people up”  and that disagreements should be dealt with at the ballot box.

He also claimed that “whatever happens here, it’s going to cost us money. If there is any trouble, the insurance goes up.”

A number of local residents came out to see what was happening outside their homes. One middle aged lady noted the strange atmosphere during the day and hoped that the area would stay safe once the protestors had dispersed.

As darkness fell, it was clear that only tiny numbers of far right activists had turned up in town, and that they were massively outnumbered by anti-racist protestors. Peace prevailed, with no damage to people or property. However, campaigners maintained the need for vigilance.

Hastings Stand Up to Racism are promoting two upcoming events. The first is a rally outside Owens at midday on Saturday, 10 August, followed by a public meeting at the White Rock Hotel on Monday 12 August, starting at 7.30pm. 

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