United Kingdom Witnesses Anti-Immigrant Protests over Weekend
In the past week, a series of anti-immigration protests have swept across England and Wales, with the "Abolish Asylum Day" event serving as a catalyst for these demonstrations. The protests, which took place in cities such as Manchester, Newcastle, London, Spelthorne, and Portsmouth, were met by significant counter-protests and organized responses from anti-racism groups.
On 2 August 2025, anti-immigration protests took place in multiple cities. In Manchester, up to 600 people joined a Britain First march demanding "remigration," while other protests were held under banners like the "Great British national protest." These far-right protests were countered by local people and groups like Patriots for Britain and Together for the Children, who mobilized both on the streets and online.
Anti-racist groups such as Stand Up to Racism and other organizations have actively opposed the far right across the country. On 2 August, Stand Up to Racism organized a counter-demonstration in Manchester where 400 people showed up to oppose 30 fascists. They similarly mobilized strong counter-demonstrations in other cities, often with several hundred participants confronting much smaller numbers of far-right protesters.
In response to these tensions, more than 200 refugee organizations, charities, and trade unions signed an open letter condemning the far-right's anti-refugee and anti-immigrant activities, urging political leaders to address the issue firmly and protect vulnerable communities.
The broader context includes concern over recent changes in protest laws in England and Wales, which have increased police powers to intervene in protests perceived as disruptive. These legal reforms have faced criticism from civil liberties groups and the UN Human Rights Committee for potentially undermining peaceful protest rights — a concern relevant as both far-right and anti-racist protests continue.
At the Britannia International Hotel in London's Canary Wharf financial district, two groups faced off on Friday evening, separated by police. Approximately 200 anti-migrant protesters were present, heard chanting, "These streets, [they're] our streets!" Some anti-immigration protesters shouted at counter-protesters, while others threatened to break signs. A middle-aged man at the hotel expressed frustration with asylum seekers, questioning why they are rewarded for breaking laws upon arrival in England.
However, not all were in agreement with the anti-immigration sentiments. A young woman named Sarah, present at the hotel, expressed support for refugees and asylum seekers. She stated that they have been through a lot and deserve support, not hatred. Sarah, along with a group of people, were sitting calmly with friends at the hotel. Around 100 people were present, holding signs that read, "Refugees, welcome!"
Counter-protests were organized by anti-fascist activists from the "Stand up to racism" group in response to the far-right demonstrations. Demonstrations occurred in front of around 20 hotels used by the state to house asylum seekers on Friday.
As the weekend approaches, far-right groups have announced plans for more protests in England and Wales, coinciding with the "Abolish Asylum Day" event. It remains to be seen how the public and counter-protesters will respond to these continued demonstrations.
On 2 August 2025, the topic of war-and-conflicts, politics, general-news, and crime-and-justice was a hot topic as anti-immigration protests, a part of the crime-and-justice category, took place in multiple cities across England and Wales. These protests were countered by anti-racist groups, specifically Stand Up to Racism, who organized counter-demonstrations in Manchester and other cities, escalating the general-news and politics discourse.
