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‘White Pride’ demo in Britain turns violent

Sunday, 29 March 2015 3:34 PM [ Last Update: Sunday, 29 March 2015 3:33 PM ]

British police have arrested several people during the 'White Pride Worldwide Day' rally in Manchester amid clashes between protesters and rival demonstrators.

‘White Pride’ demonstrators were chanting slogans in glory of being ‘White’ when they were met with a rival protest.

The rally soon turned violent as scuffles erupted between the two groups, RT reported.

Members of the far-right National Front were reportedly at the center of the event.

The rally, which began at 12:30 p.m. local time, was heavily supervised by police. As violence broke out, officers intervened to disperse and separate the two opposing groups, detaining several individuals.

The Manchester City Council has spoken out, condemning the rally.

“All of Manchester will condemn the vision and hatred they are bringing to our city and having read some of the scandalous antics they’ve got up to in the past their presence here makes me sick to the stomach,” city center spokesman Pat Karney told the Manchester Evening News.

Now London-based political activist and investigative journalist Alan Hart says: “Britain has elements of far-right racism, but, to put it in perspective, the problem in Britain is not merely as potentially menacing as it is in countries like France and Germany. The far-right is really measurably on the rise. It (the racist protest) is a warning sign. History shows us that whenever economic conditions worsen, specifically for the working class, there is always a drift to the extreme right.”

Hart told Press TV’s UK Desk on Sunday that “Britain is going to have a general election soon and one of the party’s contestant seats is UKIP (The UK Independence Party), which is essentially anti-immigrant, now if that wins more than four or five seats, that would be a warning sign. That would tell us that the prospect of racism in Britain gathering momentum is real.”

“Politics is a problem. As we approach this election, there will be some in the Conservative party who will play and politicians tend to exploit these divisions. I think that’s irresponsible and even criminal. That’s the way politics works.”

JAS/GHN

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