11th June 2026 – A message of solidarity with our neighbours and friends and a call to action
Gloucestershire Solidarity Network expresses our horror at rioting and violence in Belfast, and intimidation and opportunistic scapegoating and racism following news around two appalling events.
We extend our solidarity to our neighbours and friends feeling fear about the rise of racism and the personal risk to them of experiencing abuse and violence on the streets, or in their homes.
The rioters in Belfast undertook a pogrom – claiming to do so against “invaders”, their racist term for migrants and people seeking asylum – but, in reality, people were targeted due to the colour of their skin or the language they spoke or the clothes they were wearing or the faith they followed. Many were lucky to escape with their lives as their houses burned.
As Migrants Rights Network point out: “volunteers from Anaka Collective, No One Left Behind, and CATU Belfast evacuated families from burning homes last night, [acting] where the State did not. At least a dozen families are safe because of them.”
In Gloucester around 25 people, mostly men dressed in black, some wearing face masks, gathered at the Cross at 7pm. With a banner reading “0% trust in filth” they aggressively intimidated anyone who didn’t join them – a relatively small number of passers-by (see the video embedded below).
With only a few hours notice following Tommy Robinson’s call for demonstrations, we were not able to mobilise an effective counter demonstration. We were able to monitor the group, to support a white woman they had harassed, and to draw attention away from a Black man they had surrounded and were goading. We recognise some of those who took part from previous events organised by the “Patriots of Gloucestershire” or “Patriots of Cheltenham”. Both last night and in recent months these people have attempted to intimidate people in our network.
The gaggle of men in black gathering at the Cross last night aren’t respecting the wishes of the families of Henry Nowak or Stephen Ogilvie. Ogilvie’s family said:
“We are completely devastated by the horrific attack on our loved one on Kinnaird Avenue. This has been a massive shock to our whole family, and right now, our only priority is being at his bedside and helping him recover.
We want to say a profound thank you to the local people who bravely stepped in during the attack. Your quick actions absolutely saved his life, and we will never forget what you did for him in that moment. We also want to thank the emergency services and the doctors and nurses looking after him.
We are aware of the tensions and talk of protests following this incident. We want to make it absolutely clear that overnight unrest is not welcome, and peaceful protest is the only way forward. We have many migrants who make a deeply valuable contribution to our country, including in our healthcare system and hospitality sector and we depend on them to make our country work. We do not want this terrible tragedy to be used to divide people or fuel hostility.”
These protests were publicised by Tommy Robinson, who is trying to set up a militarised fascist network with the support of some very rich and powerful people. But they haven’t arrived out of the blue. The riots and protests follow the rise of Nigel Farage and Reform and their concerning successes in the recent local elections in England, Welsh Senedd and Scottish parliamentary elections. They follow the riots and violence of 2024, the hotel protests of last year, and years in which migrant communities have been demonised and scapegoated, with terrible individual incidents used to tar whole communities.
As Migrants Rights Network say: “The rhetoric spewing from the mouths of those burning homes in Belfast is not fringe. It has been handed down from the despatch box. It has been tested in focus groups, sharpened by strategists, and delivered by ministers competing to prove who can be most hostile towards migrants – each hoping their cruelty will be rewarded at the ballot box… When every failure of government to house people, fund the NHS, or pay a living wage is blamed on migrants rather than on the policies (or lack thereof) that caused it, the ground is being prepared for violence like this.’’
The streets of Gloucester, and many other towns and cities, could equally be targeted by fascists with a view to intimidating families who don’t fit their distorted, hate-filled views – and the scenes in Belfast could be experienced across the country if we fail to build a strong anti-racist and anti-fascist presence across the country.
We have important work to do to challenge Robinson, Nigel Farage and Reform, Rupert Lowe and “Restore Britain”, and the growth in anti-migrant campaigning and scapegoating across mainstream politics and media. We need to stand up against racism, and every other form of scapegoating and division, wherever it raises its head.
We, all of us, have to do more. The building of a world where no-one is scapegoated, abandoned, and made a target of such vicious hate is a task for all of us. As a network, we need your help.
As Migrants Rights Network say: “we call on everyone who believes people should be safe regardless of where they were born: stand up. Attend vigils. Support affected families. Challenge the disinformation. Refuse the neutrality that only ever serves those doing the harm“. Read their full statement, which includes links to groups based in Belfast who you can support at this critical time.
Watch as “Patriots of Gloucestershire” attempt to intimidate people at their Protest, 9th June 2026 (Content warnings for swearing, ableism, misogyny, transphobia, anti-Palestinian racism)