Kingston upon Dull

On Saturday 19th July, SCARF sent an expeditionary force to support Hull Against Hate's callout to oppose the Hull Patriotic Protesters (HPP) demonstration in Queen Victoria Square. HPP is the vanity vehicle for ex-EDL activist John Gelling (AKA John Francis), whose main claim to fame is grovelling and blaming bigger boys following last summer's race riots.

The demo was called for midday, but by 10am John and his entourage were already setting up camp, appropriately enough, atop the public toilets in the centre of the square. The full range of terrible far right graphic design was on display, with even the more legible placard requiring a furrowed brow and multiple readings to divine what it was they were so angry about. Common themes included attempting to draw a distinction between ‘fake’ and ‘real’ refugees, and calling the left paedophiles. It’s unlikely this fascist jazz approach to signmaking – where you have to listen to the notes they’re not playing – had much cut-through with the casual passer-by.

Hi-vis vs High Jinks

Stand Up To Racism (SUTR) counter protesters had turned up early too and were busy setting up a PA, giving out cake, and (as is their custom) assigning stewards for the day. Opening exchanges primarily consisted of small numbers from either side crossing the floor to film, antagonise, talk to, or subvert the other. John was particularly feisty early doors – threatening antifascists and walking into/jostling a few people. This mainly seemed to be an attempt to impress his most craven footsoldiers and he switched to his concerned citizen shtick as more attendees arrived.

An informal non-aggression pact held for most of the event, with people on both sides appealing to the police to intervene any time something interesting threatened to break out. One of SUTR’s plastic policemen somewhat exceeded their authority, laying hands on an antifascist in what is becoming something of a pattern. This paternalistic urge to control demonstrations seems to be motivated by an urge to avoid escalation, but it risks dividing anti-racists, who aren’t operating from a position of strength as it is.

Turnout was less than impressive, but a number of fascist Z list celebrities were in attendance – including streamers Brian Stovell and Lee Scheres (of Antifa Watch ‘fame’), and the organisers of last year’s Unite the Kingdom flop in Rotherham.

'Brexit' Brian and Lee Scheres

At its peak there were probably less than 80 HPP supporters and about half as many counter protesters, though the far right crowd noticeably thinned as they rambled through their incoherent speeches. As soon as the final speaker wrapped up to some half-hearted applause, the bulk of the remaining demo quickly fled to the nearest pub, leaving John and his loyalists to dismantle their gazebo and gather up their sagging placards in the rain.