We speak to protesters at anti-immigration demo in Dover

KentOnline / KMTV

Anti-immigration demo in Dover on Sunday, April 27th

Transcript

00:00Smash the f**k!

00:05Far from a quiet afternoon in Dover.

00:09A rowdy anti-immigration protest took over the town.

00:13More than 500 people filled the streets, drawing big names from the right-wing scene.

00:18The immigration crisis is out of control.

00:20They pass through peaceful country after peaceful country.

00:23They're primarily working-age, fighting-age young men.

00:26Now when we see a war situation, what happens?

00:28The women and children flee and become refugees.

00:30The men stay behind and fight.

00:32But we're seeing the opposite with this lot because they're economic chances.

00:35They're being drawn to this country because of the generosity of our government.

00:39Mostly bikers made up the crowd today.

00:42Seen this morning descending the A2 into the coastal town.

00:46Today's action comes as the Home Office released new statistics

00:50showing illegal migration has risen by 40% compared to last year.

00:55Many here describing the situation as an invasion of England.

01:00Meanwhile counter-protesters gathered in Market Square,

01:04calling for safe and legal passages for asylum seekers.

01:08Because it's important that we counter the arguments of the far-right,

01:12that try and take over the arguments about people being on boats,

01:18which we know that the government knows, that every politician knows,

01:23is a very, very small percentage of people that come into this country.

01:28Let me start off our streets!

01:32Earlier in the day, a splinter anti-immigration group passed the left-wing demonstration.

01:37Now this is the first time the Stop the Boats protesters have met the anti-protesters.

01:43A lot of chanting, but so far, staying peaceful.

01:47Their numbers were far smaller than those at the right-wing protest.

01:52What it says is that the narrative is getting through to these people,

01:57that there is a massive problem.

01:59I don't know what it says about us, but we will continue to keep fighting.

02:05Police maintained a large presence throughout the town.

02:08Back in January 2016, a similar protest led to 64 arrests.

02:13The Stop the Boats protesters have made it to Market Square.

02:18This is where the counter-protesters were earlier, but just look how many there are now.

02:23Between or three.

02:26The mood suggested few believe irregular arrivals will ever stop.

02:30We need the illegal influx to stop, and we need the legal migration to be properly monitored,

02:36and all of the processes in place used.

02:41Everything's there, the laws are there we need, and no one's applying it for some reason,

02:45and I can't work out what they're playing at.

02:48Both sides of the argument want an end to irregular crossings.

02:52A stark reminder that it's thought more than 220 people have lost their lives attempting the journey since 2018.

03:00Gabriel Morris, in Dover.

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