Gloucestershire Solidarity Network

MARCH TOGETHER

Groups that are part of Gloucestershire Solidarity Network are organising coaches from Gloucestershire for the Together Alliance demonstration on Saturday 28th March – 12pm. Starting Point: Park Lane, Central London. More information: togetheralliance.org.uk.

“We are trade unionists and environmentalists, community activists and faith leaders, musicians, athletes, entertainers and elected representatives. And we’re marching together to show our neighbours that we’ve got their backs.”

DETAILS FOR CHELTENHAM, GLOUCESTER, STROUD, AND FOREST OF DEAN:

Cheltenham / Gloucester – free for members of Unite the Union / £10

A coach will go from Cheltenham 7.30am, stopping at Gloucester and Swindon. This will be free for members of Unite, and £10 for others. Link to follow ASAP.

Stroud – tickets £15/20/30

Pick up and return to Stratford Park, 8am / 8.30pm (possible option to leave London later and arrive back 10.30pm)

Forest of Dean

Tickets from the Forest are £14/20 from the following collection points:

Coleford, The Angel Hotel, 8:00 a.m.

Cinderford, opposite the Palace Cinema, 8:20 a.m.

Lydney, outside Tesco 8:45 a.m.

Past events

February 15th – Ibis Hotel

Once again we outnumbered the far right “patriots”. There was a decent turnout for us given the weather – around 100 people. This is at least 3 if not 4 times as many as the 25-30 who turned up on the other side, most of whom seemed to be “independent journalists” aka grifting streamers we managed to ignore.

People brought creative placards and we enjoyed our playlist – and even some of theirs (we don’t understand why they think The Clash and Desmond Dekker would be on their side 😵‍💫).

It was great to see some of the people living in the hotel smiling, waving and giving us the thumbs up from the windows. The main reason we turn up is to show solidarity with people from Iran, Eritrea, Afghanistan, Sudan and other countries – who have been housed in the hotel while their asylum claims are processed. Most will be granted refugee status, because they are fleeing oppression, war, or torture. It was also great to hear from a local resident who has met some of the asylum seekers through the local church, and was really positive about both them and our efforts.

We heard a couple of good speeches, and some strong chanting – as you can hear (video of the speeches, as well as photos from the event, will come in the next few days).

This was the smallest mobilisation the local far right have had at the Ibis Hotel, but it seems the smaller their crowds get, the bigger their flags. And the weirder fancy dress – we were treated to the bizarre spectacle of someone dressed in Kinights Templar attire handing out medals to a hedge, and someone dressed as a nun performing some sort of holy water ritual on the verge. And, for all their chat about us not being local (when we are) one of their side was carrying a Grimsby flag 😅

We’ll all get back to working on positive change in our communities, but we’ll be keeping an eye out if the local far right try to organise anything again. Thanks to everyone who turned out!

November 2025