The anti-immigrant protest, dubbed the ‘Great British National Protest’, is taking place outside the New Bridge Hotel in the city centre today (August 2).
But the group were met with a counter-protest, carrying “refugees welcome”, “no-one is illegal”, “open the borders” signs, and waving Palestinian flags.
Posts online had previously advertised the protest as “for our children, for our future”.
Pictures show the protestors waving Union Flags and the St. George’s Cross with hands in the air, with some carrying signs saying “stop mass immigration”.
An anti-immigrant protest takes place outside the New Bridge Hotel in Newcastle City Centre (Image: North News & Pictures Ltd)
An anti-immigrant protest takes place outside the New Bridge Hotel in Newcastle City Centre (Image: North News & Pictures Ltd)
Meanwhile, a “stop the far right and fascists” counter-protest, organised by Stand Up To Racism, is also taking place at the nearby Laing Art Gallery.
In a statement, the organisers said: “Yet again far-right and fascist thugs are intent on bringing their message of hate to Newcastle.
“They aim to build on years of Islamophobia, anti-migrant sentiment and scapegoating.
“In Epping and elsewhere recently we have already seen intimidation and violence aimed at refugees, migrants and asylum seekers.
An anti-immigrant protest takes place outside the New Bridge Hotel in Newcastle City Centre (Image: North News & Pictures Ltd)
An anti-immigration protest takes place outside the New Bridge Hotel in Newcastle City Centre (Image: North News & Pictures Ltd)
“Newcastle, like the rest of the North East, has a well-earned reputation for unity in the face of those who seek to divide us.
“Whatever problems we face, racism and division are not the answer.”
The protests on Saturday come after it was revealed that Newcastle City Council was in active talks with the Home Office to end the use of a city hotel to house asylum seekers.
A counter-protest takes place outside the New Bridge Hotel in Newcastle City Centre (Image: North News & Pictures Ltd)
A counter-protest takes place outside the New Bridge Hotel in Newcastle City Centre (Image: North News & Pictures Ltd)
City council leader Karen Kilgour confirmed on Friday that civic centre officials were speaking to the Government about closing down the site, which was not named.
She said: “I have made very clear that what makes Newcastle such a great city is our reputation for offering a warm Geordie welcome.
“We are proud to be a City of Sanctuary but we also understand the anger and frustration by some residents in our city, and beyond.
An anti-immigrant protest takes place outside the New Bridge Hotel in Newcastle City Centre (Image: North News & Pictures Ltd)
An anti-immigrant protest takes place outside the New Bridge Hotel in Newcastle City Centre (Image: North News & Pictures Ltd)
“Asylum seekers are not just single men who arrived on a boat, they are families, women, young children. They are vulnerable and have faced unimaginable horror.
“There has been a lot of media coverage on hotel accommodation and I want to make clear that I strongly oppose this method of housing asylum seekers.
“It is well publicised that we have a hotel in Newcastle used for these purposes and I want to see it closed down.”
Another protest was held last night outside the Stanwell Hotel in Spelthorne, Surrey, with another underway at the Thistle City Barbican Hotel in north London today.
Northumbria Police has been contacted for comment.