Some of those who attended a protest in Southampton on Tuesday night were ordinary members of the public, appalled at the killing of Henry Nowak and his treatment at the hands of the police – who handcuffed him after a false accusation of racism by his killer, Vickrum Digwa.
But the protest, which turned violent, was also attended by several far-right leaders, anti-immigrant influencers and known fascists. Eleven police officers and a police dog were injured as protesters threw bricks and bins at riot officers. Two people have been arrested. While the violence occurred after many of the speakers at the protest had left, some leading figures could be seen in clashes with riot police.
There have been concerns from community leaders that far-right groups bused people into area. Many leading rightwing extremists made angry speeches at the protest, which was organised by Southampton Patriots, and was backed by Turning Point UK and Patriots of Britain.
Here are some of those who attended.
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Tommy Robinson
Robinson stands with demonstrators. Photograph: Finnbarr Webster/Getty Images In his speech outside Southampton police station, Robinson called for Digwa’s family to be removed from the city. “The fact that he [Digwa’s brother] is walking the street is insane,” he told the crowd. Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, claimed Nowak’s handcuffing showed there was “different treatment for white people compared to non-whites”. Yaxley-Lennon is awaiting trial on charges of harassment against two Daily Mail journalists.
Tommy Robinson speaking at protest in Southampton -
Luke Jahn
Jahn, in a suit and tie, at the front of the line of protesters. Photograph: Christopher Walls/SOPA Images/Shutterstock Jahn is the Portsmouth branch organiser for the National Rebirth party, a fascist micro-party led by Alek Yerbury. In a video posted on X, he can be seen at the front of a crowd in a brown suit making lewd gestures at riot police. He later tweeted “Anglo Saxon England”, and re-shared a post from a separate user that read, “White people rise NOW”. Jahn was filmed in clashes with police alongside a man wearing a Restore Britain T-shirt.
Luke Jahn seen at riot in Southampton -
Laurence Fox
The former actor and London mayoral candidate founded the far-right Reclaim party, with one of his claimed intentions being to “depoliticise the police”. In a video about Nowak’s killing he said: “If this was a young Black man, the whole country would be on fire.” Pointing to Southampton central police station, he said: “Those people in there are your enemy. They’re not your friends.”
Lawrence Fox speaks at the protest outside Southampton police station. Photograph: Lab Mo/SOPA Images/Shutterstock -
Paul Golding
A former member of the British National party, Golding is now the leader of Britain First, an anti-immigration and anti-Islam far-right group. He described the party as a “street defence organisation”. Giving a speech at the protest, Golding urged the crowd to “take your anger and turn it into political action”, claiming that the police were not dealing with “the real criminals who are turning Britain into a foreign country”.
Britain First leader, Paul Golding, at the protest. Photograph: Lab Mo/SOPA Images/Shutterstock -
Nick Tenconi
A former senior figure in the right-wing group Turning Point UK, Tenconi became the leader of Ukip last year. Addressing protesters he said that he was “pledging to begin mass deportations” and to “reinstate Christianity back into the heart of government”. He also read the Lord’s prayer “for Henry”.
Ukip leader, Nick Tenconi, attending the protest. Photograph: Finnbarr Webster/Getty Images -
Gregory Moffitt
Known by his alias Young Bob, Moffitt is a conservative activist who gained attention through the UK branch of Turning Point, an offshoot of the American student group founded by the late US rightwingers Charlie Kirk and Bill Montgomery. He was suspended from his position in the group after the anti-extremist group Hope Not Hate revealed disparaging comments he made about Tenconi when he was Turning Point’s chief operating officer. In a video filmed at the protest, Moffitt said it “perfectly demonstrates the sentiment in the country”, claiming “native people are not properly policed”.
Moffitt, with a blue lanyard, can be seen filming protesters pushing a bin towards police lines. Photograph: Christopher Walls/SOPA Images/Shutterstock -
Kellie-Jay Keen-Minshull
Also known as Posie Parker, Keen blamed Nowak’s killing on schools, claiming they feed children critical race theory. She formed the Party of Women to promote anti-transgender views. At the protest, she told a GB News reporter that “whites are at the bottom of the priority list, so we’re assumed to be guilty”.
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Anthony Barnes
Known online as AY Audits, Barnes is a frequent presence at far-right events. His YouTube channel has more than 141,000 subscribers. He gained traction last summer through his videos at the anti-migrant protests outside the Bell Hotel in Epping, when it was being used as emergency accommodation for asylum seekers.
Anthony Barnes (AKA AY Audits) seen at riot in Southampton -
Chris Wickland
A senior pastor at the evangelical Living World Church Network in Hampshire and an associate of Robinson, Wickland has been one of the most prominent figures on the far right as it has pivoted towards Christian Nationalism. Wickland was filmed by Barnes earlier in the day giving an interview as thousands were gathering outside Southampton police station.
