Hundreds gather at Glasgow green protests

Hundreds have gathered in Glasgow for an anti-immigration rally and associated counter protest.

The Pink Ladies organised their event at Glasgow Green, prompting opposing groups, including Stand Up To Racism (SUTR), to arrange a counter protest.

The two groups were contained in separate areas on the eastern side of the park, both demonstrations separated by the People’s Palace and a heavy police presence.

A counter protest was organised (Steve Welsh/PA)

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Chief Superintendent Stevie Dolan warned of a “strong response” if there was any violence after flashpoints at a previous protest in the same park in July.

MSPs Alison Thewliss, a Scottish Government minister, and Iris Duane were at the SUTR rally, with STUC general secretary Roz Foyer.

Prominent figures on the Scottish right such as Reform UK deputy leader in Scotland Thomas Kerr, Reform councillor Audrey Dempsey and online personality Craig Houston attended the Pink Ladies event.

Speaking to the Press Association, Ms Foyer said: “It just confounds belief that people are prepared to weaponise a really important issue like violence against women and girls and use it to create more hate, more division, and more fear in our communities and in our society.

“That is exactly what’s happening right now.”

Thomas Kerr said he was invited by organisers (Steve Welsh/PA)

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The protesters, the union leader said, were “trying to stir up real trouble”, adding it was “really unfortunate so many officers were required to police the events.

She added: “I’m much more worried about the very angry people who are dressing in black, wearing masks and running about our city centre at the moment, trying to attack ordinary citizens who are just going about their daily business.

“Much more worried and much more fearful of that than I am of any migrants coming into our country.”

Speaking at the rally, Ms Thewliss said she had received correspondence from people who have come to Scotland and “don’t feel safe”.

“It’s so important that we reach out to each and every person we see on the street, whether that’s a smile or whether that’s a handshake, or whether that is standing next to them if we see that they feel afraid.

“It is up to us all to make people feel safe and to stand up.”

There was a substantial police presence at the park (Steve Welsh/PA)

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Speaking to PA, Mr Kerr said he was invited by organisers to attend and had come to “hear what working class women in particular are saying”, adding that counter protesters were “extremists”.

“There is nothing more extreme than the extremists at the other side of Glasgow Green,” he said.

“The people who are there are trying to shout down working class people who finally have a voice.

“They’re really, really angry about what’s happening in our city and rather than listening to these working class women, what this mob over there are doing is lecturing them, telling them what they must feel.

“I think that’s ridiculous.

“I think the extremists in this argument are the people trying to silence other people rather than allowing people to have their democratic right and the freedoms to say what they need to say.”