Protesters claim Brighton seafront demo succeeded

The organisers of a seafront demonstration in Brighton said that they had succeeded in showing that racism was not welcome.

Roland Ravenhill, of Brighton and Hove Unite Against Fascism, said: “’The people of Brighton showed that this will never be a city that welcomes racists and the far right.”

He said that the protesters had outnumbered the March for England rally by at least ten to one.

The March for England organisers say that they want St George’s Day to be made a public holiday.

Brighton and Hove Unite Against Fascism said that it was a front for the right-wing English Defence League (EDL).

The EDL says that it campaigns against Islamic extremism and has been coming to Brighton since 2008 to celebrate St George’s Day as a family day.

Mr Ravenhill added: “When we marched through the town centre we were cheered while they were marginalised on the coast road and booed the whole way.

“The rise of racism and fascism in the UK and further afield is a worrying thing but the reaction of people from Brighton can give us all hope.”