FOOTAGE has emerged showing demonstrators throwing bottles and pieces of wood at police officers in Glasgow, during a rally by far-right group Unite the Clans and a counter-protest by anti-racism campaigners.
At least 1000 anti-racism campaigners gathered at Glasgow Green on Saturday to counter the Unite the Clans rally, with the demonstration organised by a coalition including Stand Up To Racism (SUTR) and Women Against The Far Right, and supported by groups such as the University College Union and Refuweegee.
The counter-protest began an hour before the far-right rally, assembling at the McLennan Arch from 11am ahead of the noon gathering by Unite the Clans supporters.
Police Scotland said officers were responding and "a number of arrests have already been made".
Police were seen chasing and holding back Unite the Clans demonstrators who ran towards an anti-fascist group, with many on both sides wearing masks.
Punches were thrown as the anti-immigration group approached anti-racism campaigners, while projectiles were thrown into the anti-racism crowd.
Helicopters circled the park, one of the city’s busiest, as police managed to separate the groups near Saltmarket in the city centre.
Those taking part in the Unite the Clans rally chanted “send them home” and held placards reading “stop the boats”, as blue smoke billowed from the park.
There were big cheers during a speech in which a protester said “it’s wonderful being white” and “I love being white”.
One man was heard saying: “I’m a Nazi and I love it.”
Anti-racism protesters, who outnumbered the anti-immigrant demonstrators, shouted “Nazi scum” at the group as well of chants of “there are more of us than you”.
Some anti-racism protesters shouted “scum” at police.
The force had announced ahead of the event that it would run a dedicated operation at Glasgow Green to "minimise disruption," with chief superintendent Emma Croft confirming officers would be deployed to "support public safety" while respecting people's right to protest lawfully.
Unite the Clans, which previously operated under the name Aberdeen Against Illegal Migration, had promoted the Glasgow rally as an opportunity for supporters to voice concerns about asylum seekers, urging followers to "stand united" to "protect women and children."
The gathering followed weeks of smaller anti-immigration demonstrations across Scotland, including in the Gorbals, Castlemilk and Cranhill in Glasgow, as well as in Aberdeen.
A poster advertising the rally featured emblems of the neo-fascist group Britain First and was linked to a member of Patriotic Alternative in Scotland.
Stand Up to Racism has described the group as a fascist organisation seeking to "build a street movement" opposed to migrant, LGBT+, women's and Palestinian rights.
First Minister John Swinney said ahead of the rally that while everyone has the right to protest peacefully, he "disapproves" of the substance of the marches.
He said: “I disagree with the far-right agenda, I disagree with the intolerance perpetuated.
“Obviously, Police Scotland is well prepared for the march that will take place at the weekend.
“It is essential that public safety is respected and that people respect the rule of law. That includes on hate crime.
“People going around spouting hateful messages will not be tolerated by Police Scotland or this country.”
Zamard Zahid of Women Against Far-Right Scotland accused organisers of "weaponising women's safety and violence against women" by staging the protests in the aftermath of the sexual assault allegations.
