Anti-racism protesters from the borough turned out to support asylum seekers

COUNTER-PROTESTORS far outnumbered those demonstrating against a hotel being used to house asylum seekers as groups clashed outside the accommodation near Old Street on Saturday.

Hundreds of local anti-racism demonstrators turned out to show support for those living in the hotel while they wait for their claims to be processed.

The effort had been co-ordinated by dozens of community groups, including Finsbury Park Mosque, the TUC, Islington Homes for All, and all three political parties sitting in the Town Hall.

Ilkay Cinko-Oner, an independent councillor for Laycock ward, said: “It shows everyone that we are a community, all parties across Islington, Islington Labour, Greens, and Islington Community Independents, and that in itself is brilliant. It shows that this was a united action against racism in our borough.”

‘Refugees welcome’: Clodagh and Suili

Counter-demonstrators chanted “let in every refugee, throw the Nazis in the sea” and “smash the fascists”, as drums were banged and songs sung. Speakers included MP Diane Abbott, independent Bunhill councillor Phil Graham, and Labour councillor Ruth Hayes.

Residents of the hotel looked down onto the two protests through cracked-open bedroom windows, with many appearing to film the action. Some made hearts with their hands and blew kisses to the anti-racism protestors.

Claire Ogley, who lives in Holloway Road and was part of the counter-demonstration, said that the presence of the far-right in the borough was “really worrying”. She told the Tribune: “I think it’s really important to stand up against the fascist rhetoric that migrants are a problem and are an issue for us as a society, that they’re the root of our problems, when that’s just not true.”

Ms Ogley added: “I don’t want to villainise anyone. Some people do believe what they believe, but I think for me London is built on refugees, migration and people from different places, I think that’s the point, and part of its success, so it’s sad when people don’t see that and can’t see the value of different people.”

Eloise Nee and Cllr Jenny Kay

Meanwhile, across the barriers, protesters were draped in England flags and shouted “get these scum off our streets”.

They alleged that the presence of the hotel had led to rising crime and that the refugees were coming from safe countries. Last week, Cllr Angelo Weekes, the Town Hall’s community safety supremo, dispelled rumours that there had been an increase in criminal incidents outside the hotel, saying that police were sometimes called when tensions ran high between residents but that he was yet to hear reports of incidents outside the hotel.

Allegations were levelled that the counter-protesters were “paid protesters” who had been “bussed in” for the day.

Cllr Cinko-Oner said: “It’s nonsense. It’s local councillors, people from the mosque, community groups. Everyone is local. That’s what offered hope. It’s Islington. Islington has no place for hate, we’re a community. These people who spew out hate are not part of this community.”

The police said that the anti-hotel protest had been endorsed by groups from outside the area, after initially being organised under the banner “Thistle Barbican needs to go – locals say no”.

Protesters against the asylum seekers’ hotel found themselves outnumbered

Later, there were some scuffles between the groups, as a separate counter-demonstration marched down the street between the two opposing sets of protesters.

More than a hundred people were dressed in black and tried to force their way down the through road but police stopped them, and they eventually joined the authorised counter-protest. The Tribune understands that the “unauthorised” protest was made up from a coalition of left-wing groups that take issue with Stand Up to Racism’s organisation of the protest and willingness to co-operate with the police.

The Metropolitan Police confirmed that there had been nine arrests, six for breaching the Public Order Act.

‘Things like this make it harder’

Jackson Caines was among the counter-protesters on Saturday

HOTEL residents have told the Tribune that the situation remains “tense” following the protest on Saturday.

Extra security has now been placed around the hotel as concerns that a situation similar to last summer could happen in Islington.

Asylum seekers have said that long waits for claims to be processed combined with poor conditions and an inability to work have left many residents battling with depression and anxiety.

“Things like this just make it harder,” said Ily, who arrived in Islington after fleeing Afghanistan.

Others said they were scared and the protests reminded them of the persecution they faced in their home countries.

Interest in the hotel near Old Street has been mounting for several months, after it captured the attention of right-wing newspapers and Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp.

Charity workers said that there had been an increase in people trying to film residents going about their daily business.

“It’s like the hotel is under surveillance,” Cllr Angelo Weekes, the Town Hall’s community safety chief, told the Tribune last week. “Some papers have been standing outside, stoking tensions, and they are partly responsible for this.”