A group of British far-right demonstrators burned the EU flag during a rally in Dover, which also happens to be the UK’s closest town to continental Europe.
The relatively small number of far-right activists marched along the town’s seafront on Saturday while police officers surrounded the group, AFP reports.
Between a series of right-wing speeches at the Eastern Docks, the protesters burned an EU flag while encouraging people to vote to "Leave" in the referendum, which will be held on June 23 to determine if the UK leaves the 28-member bloc.
Burning the EU flag at Dover .. 28 May 2016 .. pic.twitter.com/iilO4LMB3O
— strong aingel (@strongaingel) May 28, 2016
Far right demonstrators set alight EU flag and chant OUT as they make a speech at Eastern Docks #Doverpic.twitter.com/SraYQJg73c
— Dover Mercury (@DoverMercury) May 28, 2016
They also chanted "no more refugees" as the march commenced with one protester holding up an England flag with "Refugees NOT welcome" written on it.
Hundreds of police officers lined the streets outnumbering protesters, who were also met by a handful of counter demonstrators, but the march didn’t see any arrests.
28/5 - 1725 assisted @kentpolicedover monitoring crowds at a demonstration. All concluded peacefully #doverprotest ^CB
— NPAS Redhill (@NPAS_Redhill) May 28, 2016
Conservative MP Charlie Elphicke said he hoped the low turnout of protesters on both sides would show they’re not welcome in the port town.
Elphicke has been campaigning to see a change in public order legislation, which would give police the power to ban such demonstrations.
"The far right and far left are realising that the town doesn’t want them and that officers will turn up with the correct amount of force needed to ensure proportionate, effective and appropriate policing," he told Kent Online.
Just police, no one turned up! #EUref#protest#rubbish#southeast#police#dover#boringtweet#shoutingfornothingpic.twitter.com/7Gys2WNSQN
— kvasir (@cheezsarnie) May 28, 2016
Three left wing protesters stood with signs reading: "Decent people oppose fascists" and "Racism hurts everyone" during the day.
Paul Pitt, a member of the South East Alliance, said the protest took place "against all odds" and blamed immigration for "what’s happening to our country."
It’s not the first time far-right protesters staged similar protests and burned the EU flag. In April, a larger march in Dover saw eight people arrested where members of the South East Alliance wore "FCK ISIS" shirt and called for Europe to "keep their foreigners."
