Right wing and left wing groups plan rival protests in Sheffield city centre
Both groups set to be in city centre this weekend
Opposing left and right wing groups are planning protests in Sheffield city centre this weekend.
The right wing group Sheffield Patriots and the left wing organisation Sheffield Communities Against Racism and Fascism (SCARF), are planning demonstrations in the city centre on Saturday, September 26.
Sheffield Patriots (previously Sheffield Raise the Colours) is understood to be planning to meet at the Peace Gardens and march to the city’s railway station at 12noon.
They describe themselves on their social media page as “a group of patriots who are fed up with our open borders, mass migration, our national identity getting stripped from us day by day”.
SCARF says it and other left wing groups will be holding ‘a mobile anti-fascist street party’, which they say will oppose Sheffield Patriots’ ‘message of hate’ and show the true spirit of Sheffield.
Andrew Scarsdale, SCARF spokesman, said: “We are calling on the people of Sheffield to join us in resisting the alarming rise of outright racism on the streets of the UK ”
SCARF has called for a ‘Carnival Against Fascism’ which will take place in and around the city centre at the same time as the far-right march.
It is understood to be the right wing group’s third demonstration this year, with the last one, on June 13, marched on refugee accommodation and resulted in arrests.
The Star has approached South Yorkshire Police for a comment.
On Saturday, September 19, police responded to reports of a gathering outside a hotel in Sheffield.
South Yorkshire Police said the event passed without incident and no arrests were made.