Latest news with #counterprotesters
BBC News
a day ago
- Politics
- BBC News
Anti-migrant protests continue at Epping hotel
Hundreds of protesters have gathered outside a hotel housing asylum seekers in 300 anti-migrant protesters are at the The Bell Hotel, Epping, according to BBC journalist James are waving St George's flags while others have banners and signs with slogans including: "Protect our kids".Protests, including some violent clashes, began at the hotel on 13 July after a man living there was arrested and subsequently charged with sexual assault, harassment and inciting a girl to engage in sexual activity. Hadush Kebatu, 41, from Ethiopia, has denied the offences and is in say 2,000 pro-immigration counter-protesters have started to make their way to the hotel from the town's station to a pen close to the anti-migrant are chanting "Say it loud, say it clear - refugees are welcome here", and holding posters, banners and placards with slogans including "Unity is strength" and "Stand up to racism".As well as Essex Police, officers from the Metropolitan, Durham, Kent, Surrey, Sussex, West Midlands, Leicestershire, Northamptonshire, Cheshire, Dyfed-Powys & Hampshire forces are at the county force has put a dispersal order in place from 12:00 BST on Sunday to 08:00 on Monday, covering the town centre, transport hubs and gives police the power to direct anyone suspected of committing anti-social behaviour, or planning to do so, to leave the area or face people have been charged with offences in relation to this month's disorder in the town, with defendants due to appear at Chelmsford Crown Court on 18 Saturday, about 400 anti-immigration protesters and 150 counter-protesters gathered for a demonstration outside a hotel in the Norwich area. Police said no arrests were made there. Follow Essex news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
BBC News
5 days ago
- Politics
- BBC News
Escorting Epping protesters was a safety decision
Escorting pro-refugee protesters to demonstrations outside an asylum hotel was a "public safety decision", a police force were filmed escorting about 50 people to and from the Bell Hotel in Epping, Essex, on 17 group went on to clash with rival protesters calling for the hotel to stop housing asylum seekers, leading to eight constables being Police denied "collaborating" with those supporting the hotel occupants and said it was standard practice to facilitate a lawful protest. The force is due to hold a press conference explaining its policing of the demonstrations on than 1,000 people have attended protests across 13, 17 and 20 July. A police spokesman said the officers would not stop the counter-protesters attending the hotel, so chose to escort them there in an effort to prevent were later accused of "giving protesters lifts" when taking them to a line of waiting vans after disorder broke out, which involved objects being the spokesman insisted officers had to act "on the ground at that moment" to ensure they could concentrate on policing the counter-protesters were taken to a side street and police blocked Epping High Street with their men have been charged with violent disorder in connection to the protests on 17 was also accused of criminally damaging a hotel sign, while a fifth man was accused of refusing to remove a face covering. The demonstrations followed a man living in the hotel being charged with sexual assault, harassment and inciting a girl to engage in sexual Kebatu, 41, from Ethiopia, has denied the offences and was remanded in custody during a hearing on have also been staged outside the Britannia International Hotel in London's Canary Wharf after it was designated as asylum Wood, a former Tower Hamlets Conservative councillor, told the BBC the hotel became asylum housing within the past few Home Office refused to confirm if that was true, but denied rumours on social media that migrants from the Bell Hotel were being moved a spokesman for Tower Hamlets Council said: "We are aware of the government's decision to use the Britannia Hotel in Canary Wharf to provide temporary accommodation for asylum seekers." Follow Essex news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
Telegraph
29-05-2025
- General
- Telegraph
Watch: Trans mob clashes with Christian protesters
Eight people were arrested after pro-transgender demonstrators clashed with Christian protesters. Christian activists with Mayday USA organised a demonstration outside Seattle City Hall on Tuesday that descended into aggressive scenes after it was swarmed by pro-transgender counter-protesters. Footage of the incident shows a woman and three children surrounded by counter-protesters who heckled and pointed at her. The woman, dressed in a blue vest and a hat, is holding a baby in her arms and appears to be with her partner who is holding the hands of two children, one of whom is crying. As police officers rush in to diffuse the situation, demonstrators can be heard shouting 'get the kids out of here' and accuse the woman of 'instigating' the situation. A left-wing mob surrounds a woman, her toddler, and her young baby as they try to attend a Pro-Christian event in Seattle: — TheBlaze (@theblaze) May 28, 2025 The clashes on Tuesday followed a similar incident over the weekend which saw 23 people arrested when counter-protesters clashed with the same Christian group. Footage from the weekend's demonstration shows police attempting to restore calm in the Seattle park as pro-trans protesters descended on the Christian group. Dan Bongino, the FBI deputy director, responded to the scenes from the two protests, warning: 'Freedom of religion isn't a suggestion,' and pledged to investigate those accused of acts of violence against the Christian group. Mayday USA launched Tuesday's protest after Bruce Harrell, the Seattle mayor, called the Christian group 'extreme Right-wing' antagonists in the wake of the weekend's demonstrations. Around 500 protesters gathered in central Seattle to call on the mayor to step down over his comments, bearing signs saying 'Jesus loves Seattle', 'apologise or resign' and 'free speech for all', according to the Seattle Times. 'This is a unified response to the Seattle mayor's false accusations and attempts to limit the freedom of Christian worship,' the group wrote on social media. 'We are calling on the mayor to retract his statement, apologise or resign. This isn't a game.' Police attempted to separate the group from around 250 counter-protesters, but footage circulating online shows a number of tussles breaking out. In one incident, a man can be seen attempting to ram his bike into a de-transitioned activist who was allegedly attempting to attend the rally. 🚨BREAKING: DETRANSITIONER @Transphobe01 was just mobbed by ANTIFA - violently assaulted outside of Seattle City Hall Follow for updates — Cam Higby | America First 🇺🇸 (@camhigby) May 28, 2025 A group of at least a dozen officers rushed in to ward off pro-trans demonstrators who hurled abuse as they attempted to surround the activist. Seattle police arrested eight people for assault, MailOnline reported. The White House condemned the actions of the counter-protesters for violating the Christian group's right to freedom of expression. Pastor Paula White-Cain, the White House adviser, said: 'We affirm the fundamental rights to free speech and religious freedom for all Americans, as protected by federal law.' 'Public officials must protect the inalienable rights of all citizens, regardless of their faith or religious beliefs. 'We urge the City of Seattle to uphold these rights at all faith-based events, safeguarding the ability of people of faith to gather and express their beliefs without fear of harassment or violence.' Mr Bongino said: 'We have asked our team to fully investigate allegations of targeted violence against religious groups at the Seattle concert. 'Freedom of religion isn't a suggestion.' RFK Jr warns against puberty blockers It comes as Robert F Kennedy Jr, the US health secretary, warned against offering transgender treatment to minors. Mr Kennedy wrote a letter to healthcare providers on Wednesday instructing them to no longer prescribe children suffering from gender dysphoria with puberty blockers, cross-sex hormones and transgender surgery, warning that the treatments 'carry risk of significant harm'. 'Providers should no longer rely on discredited guidelines that promote these dangerous interventions for children and adolescents based on ideology, not evidence,' Mr Kennedy wrote. Dr Mehmet Oz, the head of the Centres for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), added that he was concerned about the 'profits related to these harmful procedures'.
BBC News
17-05-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Bristol protests: Arrests amid 'deportation' demo and counter-rally
Four people have been arrested during protests in Bristol city 50 people are attending a UK Independence Party (UKIP) demo calling for "mass deportations", while about 500 people are making vans and horses are in the area around the Cenotaph, with a large number of police officers creating a cordon. Avon and Somerset Police said one person had been arrested on suspicion of assault, one on suspicion of theft and one on suspicion of breaching the peace. The force said a fourth person had also been arrested but did not release further details. The vast majority of people are countering UKIP's "mass deportations march", at which the leader of the party was due to speak. Both groups have been held separately from one another by a significant number of police, and loud chants can be heard from either side. With the demonstration under way in the heart of the city, Bristol's neighbourhood policing team said in a social media post on Saturday morning that it was "aware of demonstrations taking place" which "may impact popular travel routes". "We would advise anyone planning to travel in the area of St Augustine's Parade, Small Street, Colston Avenue and Baldwin Street should allow for extra time," they said.
