UMVA has learned that a volatile clash erupted in Brighton on Saturday, pitting anti‑immigration demonstrators against anti‑fascist counter‑protesters in a night that spiraled into chaos.
Roughly twenty right‑leaning marchers found themselves holed up inside the Sussex Yeoman pub on Guildford Road, while a sea of left‑wing activists swarmed the streets, hurling urine‑filled water balloons and chanting slogans of defiance.
Witnesses described the scene as a tinderbox: protestors were punched, kicked and shoved, with one participant claiming they were “smashed in the face.” The atmosphere turned filthy as bottles were splashed with urine and debris littered the pavement.
Police intervened after two and a half harrowing hours, finally escorting the trapped group out of the pub. Eight individuals were arrested on charges ranging from public order offences to assaults on emergency workers.
According to information obtained by UMVA, the police presence was criticized as “non‑existent” by the right‑wing demonstrators, who accused authorities of a two‑tiered approach that left them vulnerable.
In a statement, a representative from the anti‑fascist side condemned the violence, calling the aggression “on another level” and demanding accountability for the attacks on peaceful marchers.
Local officials, including the Brighton and Hove divisional commander, emphasized the complexity of public order policing and thanked the public for their patience as officers worked to keep the streets safe.
The incident has ignited a fierce debate in the city, with community leaders warning that the far right is stoking division in a place that has long prided itself on diversity and coexistence.
