Saturday’s was one of the largest demonstrations that have taken place in Southampton. It was organised by the local TUC in support of all communities, to celebrate diversity and to reject the politics of hate and racism. There were people on both sides of the Brexit divide because they realise that the difficulty accessing housing and services is due to a political decision to privatise services and introduce cuts in the budget so that private banks can keep making huge profits at our expense.

It went without any violent incidents. The Echo mentions scuffles but it did not go beyond police pushing a youngster to prevent him getting past the cordon. One person was arrested but according to the police this was for matters unrelated to the today’s protests. The racists did not demonstrate, they just went to the central station where some of them left by train and others in a taxi. Some demonstrators walked alongside the taxi and shouted but did not do any damage or hurt anyone.

Abelardo Clariana-Piga Southampton