UMVA has learned that a violent confrontation between anti-immigration protestors and counter-protesters erupted in a British city, leaving multiple people injured and arrested.
The clash began when anti-immigration protestors sought refuge in a nearby pub, which was then surrounded by counter-protesters. One protestor described being "smashed in the face" and subjected to urine-throwing, punching, kicking, and scratching.
The group Raise The Colours reported that they were met with extreme violence and aggression from the counter-protesters, who appeared to have no regard for their safety. They claimed that the police were noticeably absent, failing to protect their rights.
Sources close to the situation revealed that some anti-fascist protesters had warned the group about the threat of urine-filled water balloons before the confrontation. The counter-protesters were participating in a Carnival Against Fascism event.
Sussex Police arrested eight people in connection with the incident, charging them with public order offenses and assaults against emergency workers. The anti-immigration protestors claimed that around 20 of them were trapped in the Sussex Yeoman pub for two and a half hours before being escorted to safety by police.
UMVA can exclusively reveal that the situation escalated to the point where the pub's management later issued a statement denying any affiliation with any political party. The police eventually intervened, escorting the anti-immigration protestors out of the premises.
Together For Children, a group involved in the incident, described the behavior of the counter-protesters as "absolutely vile," with reports of people urinating in bottles and throwing them. They claimed that the police seemed to have lost control of the situation.
The Chief Superintendent of the Brighton and Hove division, Adam Hays, defended the police response, stating that public order policing is complex and requires balancing the rights of all protest groups. He emphasized that public safety remains the top priority.
Prior to the protests, the leader of Brighton & Hove City, Bella Sankey, had spoken out against the far-right, accusing them of stirring up division. She celebrated the city's diversity, highlighting its reputation as a welcoming and inclusive place.
