HUNDREDS of anti-fascist protesters turned out in Paisley on Friday evening to counter an advertised far-right demonstration which was allegedly planned to target a hotel in the Scottish town. Some 300 protesters and trade unionists joined an anti-racist demonstration outside the Watermill Hotel in Paisley, where asylum seekers and refugees are currently housed, while others turned out at the Cairn Hotel in Bathgate. Campaign group Stand Up To Racism had put out a call for people to protest outside both hotels amid concerns that they could be targeted by far-right violence.
More than 50 police officers had been injured in a riot at a hotel in the English town of Rotherham five days earlier. However, despite that and similar incidents across England and Northern Ireland, a significant far-right presence has so far failed to materialise in Scotland , and that held true in Paisley. Protesters in the Scottish town – wearing everything from full Highland dress to black hoodies – sang “we don't need this fascist groove thang”, chanted “refugees are welcome here”, and gave passionate speeches about the need to support asylum seekers in their community.
Mohammad Asif, who came to Scotland as a refugee in 2000 and now works with Stand Up To Racism and the Afghan Human Rights Foundation, was one of the speakers to address the crowd. Mohammad Asif at the rally outside the Watermill Hotel (Image: NQ) He said afterwards: “It is more important than ever to be here today. I wa.