‘Stand Up To Racism Dorset’ -v- ‘Enough Is Enough’
Weymouth Esplanade, Sunday 4th August 2024
On Sunday 4th August, around 200 supporters of ‘Stand Up To Racism Dorset’ gathered at one end of Weymouth Esplanade. People in the crowd were waving placards and banners, chanting and singing.
At the same time, around 400 supporters of ‘Enough is Enough’ (an anti-immigrant group) congregated at the other end of the promenade, surrounded by police from Dorset, Devon and Cornwall.
‘Enough Is Enough’ supporters soon broke free and started marching down the promenade and beach towards the other protest group. Police gave chase and quickly formed a human barrier.’Enough is Enough’ regrouped; they were restless. Several people argued vociferously with the police as they tried to get through the cordon.
Police dogs barked as the crowd chanted and sang. One man stomped around and yelled at the police “you hate your own country, you hate your country.”
One man arrested
A single ‘Enough is Enough’ supporter broke free and ran along the beach, where he was arrested and led away in handcuffs. He was wearing a mask that was designed to cause offence.
Meanwhile, supporters of ‘Stand Up To Racism Dorset’ stood their ground, chanting and singing. “We are the people! We won’t be silenced! Stop the racists now, now, now! Our streets! We are Weymouth!” Also, “we are black, white, Muslim, and we’re Jews…” (sung to the tune of She’ll Be Coming Round The Mountain When She Comes).
‘Enough is Enough’ were still being held at bay by the police. Both groups tried to drown one another out by singing, chanting and shouting. Both groups used a megaphone.
The police did a superb job of keeping the peace
A scuffle suddenly broke out within ‘Enough Is Enough’ as they tried again to break through the police line. The police rushed for riot helmets. ‘Enough Is Enough’ were restless as they faced off the police and supporters of ‘Stand Up To Racism Dorset.’ People supporting ‘Enough Is Enough’ jeered and whistled at ‘Stand Up To Racism Dorset’, who were chanting “shame on you, shame on you, shame on you…”
Flanked by the police, the two groups faced one another. A man shouted insults to people in ‘Stand Up To Racism Dorset.’ “Get a f****** job!” and “do any of you pay taxes?”
‘Enough Is Enough’ retreat
Eventually, accompanied by the police, supporters of ‘Enough Is Enough’ set off for another part of Weymouth.
More arrests have been made since the protest.