AN emergency "counter-demonstration" to "defend refugees" being housed in Falkirk has been called after a last-minute march on the hotel was announced.
Stand Up to Racism (SUTR) and the Scottish Trade Union Congress (STUC) have called for members to mobilise at the Cladhan Hotel in Falkirk ahead of a demonstration by "community members" and far-right actors on Saturday.
While it was originally a static protest by local group Save our Future, Save our Kids Future, it has now been changed to a march.
Despite the group rejecting links to the far-right, the group’s name echoes extremist slogans used by white nationalists, most notably the so-called “Fourteen Words” coined by American neo-Nazi David Lane. The primary slogan in the Fourteen Words is: "We must secure the existence of our people and a future for white children".
STUC said in a statement that they had written to Police Scotland and Falkirk Council with concerns that the protest had changed.
They added: "If the march goes ahead, we will be there in solidarity with all Falkirk residents who oppose racism."
It comes after hundreds of far-right protests led a rally at the hotel earlier this month, outnumbering an estimated 250 anti-racists.
Signs with the messages "Kill them all" and ‘"No to Islam" were reported, and members of neo-Nazi organisations participated.
"It represented the largest far-right event in Scotland in living memory," STUR organisers said.
They added: "Please spread the word far and wide and take action now to organise delegations from your area now to support local anti-racists and stand in solidarity with refugees.
"This is a key test for anti-racists and anti-fascists in Scotland."
This weekend, members of the protest and others in conjunction with the gathering are expected to take part in raising Saltires near the hotel. St George and Union flags have been hung from lampposts and other public places in several locations in England in recent weeks.
Some of those putting up the flags have said they are being patriotic, but there are claims the action is provocative amid concerns over immigration.
Several local authorities have removed flags from street infrastructure, citing road safety fears.
COSLA president, Shona Morrison, further to a meeting of council leaders where councillors highlighted escalating concerns around community cohesion, said: “While there is an important democratic right to peaceful protest and assembly in this country, councils across Scotland are highlighting growing concern about the rise in protests where false claims and hateful rhetoric are being spread, and where the expression of racist sentiment, violence and intimidation are becoming commonplace.
"Coupled with an associated increase in misleading and factually incorrect information being circulated online, this is resulting in increasing divisions in our communities that are deeply worrying.
"COSLA therefore reaffirms the commitment of Scottish councils to welcome all people who are seeking safety in this country and to work in partnership across our communities to ensure that all feel safe and included, and are treated with dignity and respect, no matter where they are from."
