Police Scotland are set to massively bolster the number of cops on duty in Glasgow today to prevent widespread disorder from an anti-immigration march and counter-protest. It is understood that the force is putting a high priority on preventing the kind of disorder that followed a similar event in July.
Although organisers of the Pink Ladies Glasgow event claim it will be about signing, dancing and raffles, the group has also given an open invitation to other right wing groups to attend. This has led to fears that there will be a repeat of the scenes after the July 25 Unite the Clans rally that featured masked men running amok through the city, Nazi salutes and the targeting of black and Asian people.
Union leader calls for peaceful protest
STUC General Secretary Roz Foyer called for peaceful protest today. She said: “The protection of women and girls from the violent abuse of men should never be hijacked by those who wish to divide communities.”
Responding to the Daily Record’s report on some Pink Ladies leaders backing toxic rape accused Andrew Tate, Foyer added: “Reporting by The Daily Record has exposed today’s demonstration organisers for siding with Andrew Tate and his poisonous ilk - the very kind of abusers they purport to oppose. It is beyond contempt to gaslight the very people you claim to be protecting - the woman and girls of Scotland - then share the content and even the company of those very abusers who denigrate women.”
Foyer also said many of those attending far-right rallies were themselves abusers of women. She added: “The abusive men who have been supporting today’s demonstration, have been rumbled by committed campaigners who won’t allow their abusers to cosplay as saviours. Police Scotland officers deserve immense praise for their conduct and professionalism in hunting down those who ‘Sieg Heil’ and stomp through Scotland spreading hatred and disunity. We would expect a similar approach today and perpetrators should be in no doubt that Scotland has zero tolerance for both the abuse of women and those who seek to exploit that abuse to target communities.”
Police vow strong response
One source said police are determined to avoid the running battles that broke out in July at an event organised to “protect women and children” from immigrants. The source said: “There will be three times as many officers working and they are leaving nothing to chance. No-one knows what will happen and who will be turning up but there were lessons learned last time.”
In a statement yesterday, Pink Ladies Glasgow said: “Tomorrow we stand together, we stand shoulder to shoulder with women across this country and we say enough is enough. You may not agree with us, that’s fine, we live in a democracy ‘allegedly’ but please don’t abuse us, or attack us or spout vile hate at us. Come and speak to the women, listen to their stories, join in on a sing song, then judge us.” The group promises singing, dancing, raffles and speakers from grassroots groups, adding: “Does that sound like a Nazi Meeting? Or a baby killers supporters group, or a racist clan meeting? Seriously?”
Chief Superintendent Stevie Dolan, who is in charge of policing the demo, made it clear that police will crackdown hard on Nazi signalling or other hate crimes. He said: “You will see officers in uniform as well as police horses, police dogs, police drones and the police helicopter. We have specially trained hate crime advisors to help assess what may constitute a hate crime. Any violence or disorder will get a strong response. There is no tolerance for people pretending to be part of a peaceful protest who are intent on causing disorder.”
