Leaders join anti-racism protest at Bargate, Southampton

The leader of Southampton City Council and Rashid Islam, of the Muslim Council of Southampton were joined by dozens of protestors at The Bargate on Saturday.

The open mic event organised by Stand Up to Racism saw a dozen speeches by various community leaders. 

It comes just days after England flag-wearing protestors met with hundreds of anti-racism protesters in the city centre with two arrests made.

Ryan Wheatley, a 40-year-old man from Fair Oak has since admitted to assaulting an emergency worker.

Cllr Lorna Fielker (Image: NQ)

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Speaking to the Echo, Cllr Lorna Fielker, leader of the city council said: "Southampton is a city of sanctuary we've welcomed people from abroad for centuries and the other week we reconfirmed that status.

"What we saw on Wednesday was absolutely appalling, we saw people wanting to come to the city to commit violence and disorder.

"People say it's just about immigration and it's nothing to do with race but what I saw on Wednesday were people not white who were frightened.

"I am a child of white immigrants, I wasn't worried that day because I knew that demonstration wasn't targeted at me, it's definitely racist and we don't welcome that here."

In reaction to the first rioter appearing at court, she said: "As a country, we don't accept violent disorder in our streets, we don't accept that is a legitimate form of protest."

Protests in Southampton (Image: NQ)

Rashid Islam, chair of the Muslim Council of Southampton talking of how he felt when he saw the pictures of a hotel being set alight by protestors, said: "It was horrifying, we have never seen such coordinated attacks and it shows how much hate some people have and they are willing to burn down buildings and knowing that there may be people there because it shows that they don't care about lives."

He added: "I am hoping the political discourse will change"