The anti-refugee demonstrations in Falkirk are dwindling, as Falkirk for All successfully mobilises counter-demonstrators, reports Lewis Akers

For the fourth time, Falkirk anti-racists from Falkirk For All (FFA) stood courageously against an anti-refugee protest outside the Cladhan Hotel, showing they won’t back down in the face of slander, threats of violence or intimidation.

The demonstration outside the hotel was called by Save Our Futures and Our Kids Future (SOFOKF) as part of their four-demo sustained action against the refugee hotel. However, the numbers and morale on the anti-refugee side have dwindled and even the presence of their so-called demo organiser, who hadn’t attended their last two demonstrations, did not improve their organisation.

This week he did attend and inspected all the banners on display. None were removed, which suggests they weren’t seen as problematic. Apart from ‘vote Reform’, numerous banners also displayed far-right slogans, such as ‘Scotland for the Scots’ and ‘end the plantation, mass deportation’. This runs completely contrary to the group’s claims not to be political or interested in race: these banners encourage nativistic politics, voting for the hard-right Reform and for mass deportations of immigrants. They are not the banners of ‘concerned citizens’. The organisers of the demonstration were clearly content to let these messages be present. They stood side by side without any challenge with known fascists like Richard McFarlane, the Patriotic Alternative activist who was filmed by local anti-racists speaking at the demonstration. These actions expose the nature of their cause.

Attendees shouted racist, ableist and misogynistic slurs again, with no visible objection from organisers of the demonstration, and the bile didn’t end there. Two local anti-racist protestors were slandered and accused falsely of crimes they hadn’t committed at the demonstration and on social media. One of them was told he would be lynched and have his house burned down and had to be escorted home. Later in the evening, vigilantes tried to intimidate him at his house until they were moved on by the police. These actions are not the markers of a peaceful protest but of mob who don’t care who they hurt. 

This is not out of the ordinary for the protestors on that side. This week SOFOKF accused residents of the refugee hotel of acting inappropriately outside of a local children’s home. This was challenged publicly on social media by the manager of the home who said the claims were fabricated. Make no mistake, myths like this are dangerous for local residents and refugees. They are not in the best interests of vulnerable children living in the home.

However, not all was grim. On the anti-racist side spirits were high. People shared homemade food, sat on chairs socialising under gazebos and brought craft materials to create a banner. Later in the day, this banner saying ‘refugees welcome’ was held out during a silence for the victim of a horrendous racist attack in England. There were a number of speeches by local woman and trade unionists who made clear that no matter what it takes, we will keep defending refugees at the hotel and women across Falkirk. The speeches were again followed by a protest disco with music provided by the brilliant Cabaret Against Hate Speech. Attendees gathered together, holding hands and dancing to the Scottish wedding classic Loch Lomond.

The feeling on the day was one of a quiet victory. Local anti-racist activists managed to organise a day which was focused on positivity and community, and avoided being merely reactive to the other side. This will serve to bolster the work which FFA is doing to speak directly to the local community and build an alternative to division and hate.