An anti-racism and anti-police brutality protest in Newcastle has been met by a large crowd of counter protesters, that gathered to “protect” local historical monuments. The tensions escalated into scuffles between rival groups.
Large groups of right-wing protesters emerged in central Newcastle on Saturday, gathering around Grey’s statue and a nearby war memorial at the Old Eldon Square.
Veterans and bikers protecting this war memorial in Newcastle, they're also protecting a St George and the Dragon statue just down the street, great job all round. pic.twitter.com/2WHRiPQ6hw
Mobs have recently vandalized several statues in the UK, but it was not immediately clear whether the Newcastle activists were intending to attack Grey’s Monument, which commemorates the former prime minister who abolished slavery in the British Empire back in 1833.
Come see morons screaming “All Lives Matter” in Newcastle city centre defending the Earl Grey statue at Monument – Earl Grey’s parliament saw the abolition of slavery in the British Empire 1833 no-one’s coming for this statue. The word uneducated springs to mind 🤣 pic.twitter.com/Dyygj1HKKf
Britain and other Western nations have been gripped by anti-racism and anti-police brutality protests since the killing of black civilian George Floyd in Minneapolis in late May.
