Cornwall Resists – the organisation which organised the protest against Reform UK’s conference at Carn Brea Leisure Centre on Monday – says the demonstration was a win against Nigel Farage and his supporters, writes Local Democracy Reporter Lee Trewhela.
It comes after Mr Farage wrote to Home Secretary Yvette Cooper complaining about the group, saying they held a “disorderly protest” attended by “masked thugs intent on causing harm”.
The coalition of radical groups in Cornwall has responded that the violence that occurred on Monday night was instigated by the police, Reform-hired security and Reform supporters. The protest group has also explained why they wear masks while demonstrating.
Mr Farage appeared on right wing TV channel GB News yesterday decrying the protesters and claimed that a member of the Reform team had two teeth knocked out.
He has described the group as Antifa, the left-wing anti-fascist and anti-racist group, an organisation he has told Ms Cooper should be banned.
In its statement, Cornwall Resists says: “Oh dear, we seem to have rattled Farage the fascist. We’re going to celebrate that as a win! According to Farage, we’re domestic terrorists who should be proscribed, describing us as ‘a very violent and dangerous organisation’.
“He also claims hundreds of people contacted the venue asking them to cancel his conference, and that we prevented 100 people from attending altogether. If this is the case, we’re very happy with that result. We hope that Carn Brea Leisure Centre will think again next time Farage wants to use its premises as a breeding ground for hate. We do not tolerate hate, especially on our turf.
“Like most people, we aren’t pacifists – we will defend ourselves and our communities when under attack. As we saw in Plymouth last summer when fascists attacked us for hours with bricks and fireworks, the police do not protect us. We – the people – protect us. But let’s also be clear – the violence that occurred on Monday night was instigated by the police, Reform-hired security and Reform supporters.”
The group then goes on to explain its actions when a clash occurred at a narrow side entrance being used by attendees of the Reform meeting.
“On Monday afternoon we were able to block one of the entrances to the conference. We didn’t try to storm it, we simply stood in the way. Reform supporters didn’t have to walk through us – they could have gone back to the main entrance, which many did. However instead of redirecting Reform supporters back to the main entrance, the police and Reform security tried to get them through our blockade by violently assaulting people, punching people and throwing them to the floor.
“Reform supporters were deliberately provoking protesters, getting in their faces and even punching one person in the face. The police did nothing to stop them, so it was down to us to protect our friends and allies. Across the road a Reform supporter spray-painted ‘Islamism is Nazism’.”
The group responded to online criticism of their choice to wear masks while protesting.
“Online hatred is one of the reasons we wear masks. Labour’s new proposal to ban face coverings at protests will put us at physical risk. Antifascism is dangerous. There are violent individuals who spend their time trying to identify us so they can take revenge on us and our loved ones, for speaking out. The threat when they do this is very real.
“In 2021 we saw it locally when Penzance mayor Nicole Broadhurst received racist threats and had to have a panic alarm installed in her house. We live in our communities, some of us have children or live with vulnerable people. We should not be expected to put the safety of our loved ones at risk just for attending a protest.
“We also hide our identities to resist police harassment, as new legislation has criminalised many forms of protest. Under the public order act, protesters who haven’t even committed an offence can be handed Serious Disruption Prevention Orders. These will prevent people from attending protests, stop them seeing named people, prevent them from organising online and can be enforced by electronic tags.
“Antifascists are labelled ‘aggravated activists’ by the police, and you don’t need to have a criminal record to be added to their databases, simply associating with a known person and going to several protests is enough. This information has been used countless times to harass and intimidate campaigners. No-one should face police intimidation for standing up to fascists.
“And it’s not just antifascism. Police have collaborated with illegal blacklisting that prevented people getting work because of left-wing political views, and trade union activity. No one should face police harassment, intimidation or criminalisation for campaigning. So Cornwall Resists advocates wearing masks on all demos regardless of whether there is a risk of far-right violence. We will continue to do so regardless of the proposed legislation.”
The group has slammed Reform in its statement, stating that 17 local groups “coming together to oppose a far right conference is more democratic than a supposed ‘political’ party that fuels hatred, spreads misinformation and incites mobs to race riots. True democracy is communities coming together to say no to hate”. Mr Farage told us on Monday night that his party is not far right.
Cornwall Resists says its members live and work in Cornish communities. “We are the carers, the shop workers, the mothers, the grandmothers, the charity workers, the NHS workers, the hospitality workers, the teachers, the volunteers, the students. It’s up to us, all of us, to do our part. Whenever and wherever fascists mobilise in Kernow, we will be there, we will mask up, and we will do what is necessary to stop them.”
We contacted Reform UK and Devon and Cornwall Police for a response. A police spokesperson said: “Devon and Cornwall Police were made aware late last week of an event planned by Reform UK at the Carn Brea Leisure Centre in Cornwall on Monday, February 24. As with all public events a risk assessment was conducted by our public order commander engaging with event organisers and their security team.
“While the assessment identified the potential for some protest activity outside the venue, there was no intelligence to suggest any large-scale disorder or specific threats. As such a proportionate policing response was implemented on Monday to ensure that both peaceful protests and the safe attendance of event participants could take place.
“A small number of additional officers were deployed to manage a brief period of minor disorder which was quickly brought under control. During this time a security guard received a minor injury. Since the event there have been no reports of assault or criminal activity linked to the event or protest and no arrests were made.
“Devon and Cornwall Police fully respects the right to peaceful protests and the right for people to conduct legitimate political events. It is committed to policing events fairly and proportionately. On this occasion we believe our approach successfully facilitated both the event and lawful protest while minimalising disruption to the local community.”
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