A gathering, billed as a “Pro-UK Rally” on social media, was organised to take place near the Cenotaph this afternoon while a counter-protest was organised by Stand Up To Racism.
The “Pro-UK Rally” was organised in the wake of riots in several towns and cities in England in July and August which saw supermarkets and libraries torched and shops looted and was publicised by far-right figures including Tommy Robinson.
The disorder followed the tragic deaths of Bebe King (six), Elsie Dot Stancombe (seven) and Alice Dasilva Aguiar (nine) who were killed on Monday, July 29 in Southport while attending a Taylor Swift themed dance class.
The first riot was in the Merseyside town on the same day a vigil was held for the girls after misinformation spread online that the suspect was an asylum seeker.
SUTR organised the counter-protest in response “against the far right”, with nine trade unions, politicians, culture figures, and leading campaigners expected to take part.
Ahead of both groups gathering in George Square from around 12pm, barriers were set up to separate the groups with a “no-go” area left between them in the middle to avoid any clashes between protestors.
Those taking part in the SUTR protest carried signs with slogans such as “the enemy arrives by limousine, not by boat”, “naw to Nazi bawbags” and “smash fascism and racism”.
Others in the “Pro-UK Rally” read “asylum frauds out” and “stop the boats”.
Susan Aitken, leader of Glasgow City Council, said she was “really pleased” to see a small turnout from “far-right” groups at the rally.
She told our sister title The National: “I’m really pleased today that the turnout from the far-right is very small.
“I’m advised by colleagues in Police Scotland that around 150 of them have shown up. Clearly, it is many, many, many times that number of people who have come along to make their voices heard against the far-right and for solidarity and unity in our great, multicultural, diverse city of Glasgow.”
Several roads surrounding George Square were temporarily closed during the protests due to the number of people gathered.
George Square and Cochrane Street were closed between Queen Street and Montrose Street while Queen Street was closed between Ingram Street and St Vincent Place.
South Frederick Street was also closed between Cochrane Street and Ingram Street and Ingram Street was closed westbound at the junction with Glassford Street.
Ahead of the protests, Assistant Chief Constable Gary Ritchie said: “We are aware of a planned protest in George Square, Glasgow, on Saturday, September 7, and a proportionate policing plan is in place.
“Police Scotland is a rights-based organisation and we have been engaging directly with the protest groups to ensure public safety, while balancing their right to peacefully demonstrate.
“Violence and disorder are not legitimate protest and anyone who engages in disorder will be dealt with swiftly and robustly.”
