ANGER bubbled to the surface during a demonstration in Carlisle today, as a large crowd marched down London Road and protested the government's immigration policy outside a hotel being used to house asylum seekers.
The demonstration prompted the creation of a counter-demonstration, while Cumbria Police said its goal was to 'facilitate a peaceful protest' but operate with an increased presence to 'provide reassurance' to the community.
The march was labelled 'Save Our Streets'. Posters held by protestors read "Enough is enough," and "For the futures of our children and city, let's make a stand."
One protestor, Stuart Lorimer, 70, said he was supportive of the march due to his concerns about the Government's policy of housing refugees in hotels. He claimed there have been incidents in the city caused by asylum seekers, but that these haven't been reported.
"It's the women and kids who are suffering more," he said. He also denounced the money being spent on asylum policy, when there are "ex-forces members sleeping on the streets."
As the heavily-policed march moved, chants rising from the crowd were anti-refugee. There were expressions of bitterness and anger. For some, their rage was being driven by the cost-of-living crisis and what they appear to see as preferential treatment for refugees. However, there were also openly-racist sentiments expressed by some in the crowd.
Cumbria Police said: "As a force our role is to facilitate the protest and we will always seek to work with protest organisers and those taking part to enable free speech and our upmost priority is the safety of those attending and the wider public.
"The protest must be balanced with the rights of others, keeping the public safe, preventing crime and disorder, and seeking to minimise disruption."
READ MORE: Carlisle demonstrations gather in city centre
The counter-demonstrators met the other demonstrators and unfurled flags and banners in the city centre. Heated exchanges flared between the two groups.
A collective statement issued by Anti Racist Cumbria and groups across the county who want to end stigma attached to refugees and asylum seekers said yesterday: "To say we are heartbroken about the march is an understatement.
"We ask anyone with genuine questions about the UK immigration situation to contact any of our organisations for accurate information and to be very sceptical of misinformation circulated to inflame division.
"Facts are vital as this march is the latest in a worrying upward trend of racist rhetoric and action.
"We stand in solidarity with people seeking asylum and refuge, we stand in solidarity with our communities who reject hate and racism. We demand anti-racism."
The Lib Dem Parliamentary Campaigner and Cumberland councillor Brian Wernham said: “We heard this week that one-third of foreign aid is being spent on hotel bills in this country because the Conservatives have failed over the last 13 years to create safe, well managed processes for asylum application whilst applicants are still overseas.
"Two-thirds are eventually granted asylum, and one-third returned home, but only after extreme cost and delay."
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article