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STV News
a day ago
- Politics
- STV News
Police investigating banner at anti-asylum hotel protest
Police are investigating a banner at a demonstration outside a hotel used to house asylum seekers in Falkirk on Saturday. Two demonstrators outside the Cladhan Hotel were seen carrying a banner that read: 'Kill 'em all, Let god sort 'em out.' Two men were arrested after around 1,000 people attended a demonstration outside the Cladhan Hotel. Organisers from the Save Our Future & Our Kids Futures group said they were 'concerned citizens' who were 'standing against uncontrolled illegal immigration'. Photos and video from the protest showed one man doing a Nazi salute and another wearing a t-shirt bearing the logo of Britain First – the far-right fascist political party. Other demonstrators were caught on video making lewd and sexually aggressive comments and gestures toward counter-protesters on the other side of the road. The Stand Up To Racism campaign group called the demonstration 'a danger to us all' and said it should be a 'wake-up call for Scotland'. Stand Up to Racism said approximately 250 counter-protesters stood on the other side of the road, separated by police. Responding to the photos of the demonstrators shared by Stand Up to Racism Scotland, Save Our Future organiser Connor Graham said the group would like to make it 'absolutely clear' that it does not condone any form of 'racist, extremist, or aggressive behaviour'. 'The images and behaviour highlighted, including Nazi salutes, inappropriate banners, and lewd gestures, are appalling and are not representative of who we are or what we stand for,' Mr Graham said. 'Unfortunately, as these are public gatherings, individuals can turn up uninvited, and we cannot always control who attends. The small minority who behaved inappropriately were not part of our organising team, and their actions go completely against the principles of Save Our Future.' 'Moving forward, we will continue to make it clear that Save Our Future stands only for peaceful, lawful demonstrations. Anyone attempting to hijack our events with extremist or hateful behaviour will not be welcome.' Police Scotland said officers arrested two people during the demonstrations on Saturday. 'We received a report of indecent exposure in the Kemper Avenue area of Falkirk around 3.10pm on Saturday, August 16, 2025,' a spokesperson said. 'A 23-year-old man has been arrested and charged in connection and is due to appear at Falkirk Sheriff Court on Monday, August 18, 2025.' A 26-year-old man was also arrested and charged with obstructing police. He was issued a recorded police warning. Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
The National
4 days ago
- Politics
- The National
7 pictures of Falkirk protests outside asylum seekers hotel
Stand Up to Racism Scotland, Falkirk Trades Union Council and residents said they organised the demonstration on Saturday to show that refugees are welcome in the town. ANTI-RACISM campaigners have staged a counter-protest at demonstrators protesting against 'uncontrolled illegal immigration' outside a hotel used to house asylum seekers in Falkirk . It comes after the group Save Our Future & Our Kids Futures announced plans to hold a protest outside the hotel known as the Cladhan. READ MORE: Far-right protest in Falkirk met by anti-racism counter-demo outside asylum hotel In a social media post the group said it is 'standing against uncontrolled illegal immigration, with people being placed in our communities without transparency, accountability, or consultation'. Dozens of demonstrators from each group stood on opposite sides of the road outside the hotel, with police keeping them separate. Protesters, some waving Union flags, chanted 'send them home' and anti-racism demonstrators responded with chants of 'refugees are welcome here' and 'this is what community looks like'. Stand Up to Racism Scotland organisers said: 'We are organising a peaceful counter-protest to stand in solidarity with refugees and to say that they are welcome.' They described it as a 'safely stewarded community event with music, speeches from the local community, the trade union movement, local campaigns, faith groups and others'. Demonstrators held placards with messages such as 'stop the far right', 'refugees welcome' and 'migrants make our NHS'. On the opposite side of the road protesters held signs with messages such as 'go home', 'enough is enough' and 'we want our country back'. In a previous statement Save Our Future & Our Kids Futures said it was not 'anti-refugee' or 'anti-migrant' but is 'against a broken asylum system that is impacting communities across the UK, including Falkirk'. The group said: 'We are not affiliated with any far-right groups, nor do we promote racism, hate, or division.' The Home Office did not wish to comment.
