NO SHOW FOR ANTI-REFUGEE PROTESTERS
...but the Stand Up To Racism campaigners who did turn up promised a warm welcome
ANTI-REFUGEE protesters yesterday planned a demonstration against a local authority for housing refugee families – but seemingly failed to show up.
The group – which claimed online to be backed by supporters bussed in from around the UK – said it was congregating in Ebbw Vale “to protest at plans for a mosque in the town and also because the council is preparing houses for 20 Syrian families”.
Their rally was due to be held at 5pm – hours after a counter-protest by Stand Up To Racism campaigners promised a warm welcome for refugees in Blaenau Gwent.
That demo was set up in response to the Welsh Resistance group announcing they would meet in the town.
In a statement posted online earlier this month Welsh Resistance wrote: “We are holding a demonstration in Ebbw Vale town centre on Saturday, August 20, to protest at plans for a mosque in the town and also because the council is preparing houses for 20 Syrian families.
“Refugees are not wanted here.”
Yesterday morning they posted a statement saying the event would be “the first in a series of anti-refugee demonstrations in the Valleys ”, with a subsequent addition saying: “Next demo being discussed, possibly Merthyr.” The demonstration was said to have been held up after a bus carrying protesters from Scotland was delayed. Organisers wrote: “Thanks to those who travelled from London and the North West to support us. “Demo will be at 5pm still waiting for bus from Scotland.” They later wrote that the bus from Scotland, along with another from Anglesey, had arrived. But the town’s streets were quiet at 5pm and into the evening, with only sporadic earlier reports that protesters had been sighted. Anti-racism campaigners defied the rain to turn out in large numbers and promise a warm welcome to refugees. Former Blaenau Gwent council leader Hedley McCarthy addressed the crowd and said: “We have a long tradition of welcoming people here and long may that continue.” The councillor, who stepped down in December as he hit out at Tory cuts and plans for local government re-organisation after being leader of the Labour group for eight years, set up the resettlement programme before he stepped down.
After giving a short speech he said: “When I was leader of the council it became apparent to everyone that the situation in Syria was a humanitarian crisis, the likes of which haven’t been seen since the Second World War.
“As leader of the council I said that Blaenau Gwent would do what was required of it.”
He added that there were no new plans to build a mosque in the local authority area – something he said he’d have no objection to – and there were not 20 refugee families being resettled in the area.
The only Syrian family to have been resettled in Blaenau Gwent received welcome cards on their arrival from neighbours, he said.
“I’m pleased with the turnout. People obviously understand the scale of the tragedy.”
Joe Redmond, from Stand Up To Racism, helped organise the counter protest and was pleased with the turnout. He said: “There are people from across the South Wales Valleys. We’ve had a good reception from members of the public that we’ve spoken to.”
Wayne Grist, who runs the butchers in the town centre where the counter-demonstration congregated, said: “We’re not racists in this area at all.
“Any family fleeing a war zone, they have got to go somewhere.
“If we can help a couple, if we’ve got the room, I think we should put a few families up in Blaenau Gwent.”
Paula Prosser, 50, from Ebbw Vale, brought her 12-year-old son to the counter-protest.
She said: “I think it’s important for him to see all different aspects and to be inclusive of everybody.
“I think as many families as they want to bring is fine by me.”
Jane Wood, 31, also from Ebbw Vale, said: “Why wouldn’t you welcome anybody as long as they are nice, honest, decent human beings?
“It doesn’t matter what country you’re from, what colour their skin is, what their religion is.”
Islwyn AM Rhianon Passmore was also at the counter-demonstration. She said: “It’s really a show of solidarity for Ebbw Vale to see that we don’t want racism.
“It’s playground politics but it’s dangerous. We will work together to make sure that every person is welcome in our community.”
A spokeswoman for Blaenau Gwent council said: “The council has recently welcomed one family to Blaenau Gwent.
“We are liaising with the Home Office over the possibility of settling further families into Blaenau Gwent.
“We have always indicated, however, that the number would need to be proportionate to the size of the area, the capacity of the services and must take due regard of local needs.”
Gwent Police said they were “aware” of the protests and would be monitoring the situation.