Protesters clashed outside a hotel in Altrincham, Greater Manchester, housing asylum seekers on Sunday evening (July 27). Separated by a dual carriageway, Stand Up To Racism protesters were met by anti-migrant protesters, waving Union Jack flags which read ‘Uniting Britain’ and ‘The Great Britain National Protest’.
The protest took place opposite the Cresta Court hotel on Church Street in the town. The hotel closed last year, and all future bookings were moved to alternative sites in and around the Trafford area. The protest came after the hotel’s owners reportedly agreed to a deal with Serco to house asylum seekers.
Labour leader of Trafford Council, Tom Ross, announced that the hotel would be closed to the public as a result of the Home Office’s decision.
The anti-racism activists were brandishing banners which read “Stop the far right” and “refugees welcome”. Chants of “say it loud, say it clear, refugees are welcome here” could also be heard, mimicking the scenes in Epping, Essex, outside the Bell Hotel earlier this month.
Greater Manchester Police were also in attendance. The force said nobody was arrested.
Although the scenes did not descend into violence, as they have done over recent weeks in Epping, groups of officers were seen in position to prevent the protesters from getting too close to each other.
They were seen talking to a number of protestors who had also positioned themselves on a grass verge beside the road, according to Manchester Evening News. Multiple police vehicles and vans were also in attendance as the two groups were kept separate.
A post shared on Facebook indicated that The Great British National Protest had joined with the Altrincham Against the Cresta Court Hotel group to host the demonstration.
They claimed it was “to help keep pressure on this government and keep rising awareness on this issue.”