Anti-fascist solidarity protest ends peacefully in Northampton

Hundreds gathered yesterday evening to protect a Northampton law firm named on an anti immigration list and show solidarity with communities under threat

By Sarah Ward and Martin Steers

Once early tensions had settled, dancing began.

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An anti-fascist protest passed off peacefully in Northampton last night as hundreds came out to support communities who have been under threat during a week of racial unrest.

There had been fears that racist thugs may have descended on Northampton and create the kind of violence and destruction that has been seen in streets across the country in the aftermath of misinformation spread online following the the killing of three children in Southport.

The law firm was the site of the counter protest.

A law firm on Kettering Road had been among a list named on Monday as site for a series of anti immigration protests and community groups from across the town came together to organise a solidarity protest to show their support for the business and the many ethnic communities in the town who had felt threatened by the discourse circulating online over the past week.

The atmosphere had been tense in the first quarter of an hour as people gathered, with small groups arriving, some wearing masks to cover their faces and many live streaming the action. Throughout drones flew overhead and police vans were packed down the terraced streets nearby.

Both sides of Kettering Road were lined with crowds and a can of beer thrown by a local resident sparked some initial activity, as the police who had been stationed at various points in the surrounding streets moved quickly to make arrests, but by 8pm the atmosphere had relaxed and dancing began. In total three arrests were made for public order offences.

Speaking to those in attendance, most had come along to show support for their neighbours and send out a message that racism will not be tolerated in Northampton.

One former teacher who was there with his wife, who is a nurse, said he had come out because ‘I want to show there are more good people than bad people out there. It is just disgraceful what these race riots are doing to our country.’

His wife said the atmosphere reminded her of the hooliganism from the 1980s and they pointed to the spread of misinformation and lack of fact checking online as the cause of the unrest.

Zak says his wife has been scared to walk the streets today.

Zak, who has lived in the town for a decade, said his wife who is East Asian had been afraid to go out today. He said:

“There is a lot of fear. The atmosphere in town today was tense. You could feel it.”

He said due to being bullied at school he had rejected his immigrant identity for a long time, but was fed up of living that way.

He said:

“It’s good to see so many people here to show support. We’re all brothers and sisters. We’ve all got to look out for each other and it may sound cheesy but there is more love out there than hate.”

People of all ages joined in and by 8.30pm things had relaxed enough for teenagers to start a game of football in the road, which had been blocked off at both ends. 

Just before 9pm the atmosphere became tense once again as a line appeared to draw and face off against the police, but after one of the counter protest organisers Hannah took to the PA system to make an anti violence speech, the tension dispersed.

During the day, the community had come together to help businesses on Kettering Road, who had been warned by police to take precautions. Many had closed their business early, with the takeaway restaurants losing an evening’s takings.

Marly Lyman has been a key figure in the solidarity counter protest.

Marly Lyman, who was one of those involved in getting together the counter protest, said that people from across the community had helped businesses without shutters board up their windows.

He said:

“You can see how diverse the community is. It has been tense as people are afraid. But we are here for the love of one another.”

A safe place had also been organised for those living and working in the area who may have had to flee if the racists had shown up.

Relieved residents watched the peaceful scenes.

There was concern that Northampton could have been a particular target after far-right agitator Tommy Robinson had earlier in the day shared an old picture of the Somalian flag being raised at Northampton Guildhall.

And while the anticipated thugs did not arrive en masse, there were some anti immigration sympathisers scattered in the crowd as Britain First shared a video recorded in the area on X showing a man draped in a St George’s flag with an inaccurate caption.

Northants Police said it was the biggest public order operation it had mounted in two decades.

Police dealt with tensions expertly last night.

A published statement from the force said:

“We stand together with our communities who have been incredibly supportive to Northamptonshire Police over recent days and fully recognise this is a worrying time for those affected and hugely challenging for our officers.

“Northamptonshire Police, together with our criminal justice partners will not tolerate violent disorder.”

However there has been no word from civic leaders at the unitary council, which tonight cancelled a meeting due to be held at the Guildhall.

When NN Journal the council yesterday afternoon to ask if leader Cllr Adam Brown was going to make a statement, we were told the authority would instead be sharing the police’s communications for ‘consistency of message’. 

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During the recent riots, journalists have been among those under threat, due to the anti mainstream media promoted by many, and therefore thanks to fellow journalist Martin Steers from N Live Radio who came along to help out with the reporting last night.

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