Demonstrators supporting asylum seekers significantly outnumbered an ‘anti-illegal migrant’ group on Inverness High Street this afternoon.
Highlands Against Hate (HAH) and Inverness Illegal Migrant Opposition (IIMO) both organised protests, which ran concurrently on the city’s high street, near the Eastgate Centre.
A large police presence was in attendance on the high street. Picture: Callum MackayThe pro-asylum seeker demonstrators on Inverness High Street. Picture: Callum MackayInverness Illegal Migrant Opposition organised one of the two protests on the high street. Picture: Callum Mackay
The Highlands Against Hate rally attracted more than 50 people, while Inverness Illegal Migrant Opposition had a turnout of around 15.
Both protests kicked off at 2pm and ran for a couple of hours.
This is the third time such demonstrations have been held in the city centre since it emerged in October that the Home Office is planning to house 300 single male asylum seekers in the Cameron Barracks in Inverness.
HAH protesters stood behind a large banner which read “Women Against the Far Right”, while opposition protesters stood behind a banner reading “Immigrants Adored, Pensioners Ignored”.
A large police presence was in attendance but there were no clashes between the two groups.
The larger of the two protests was welcoming of asylum seekers. Picture: Callum MackayOne of the protesters in the Inverness Illegal Migrant Opposition camp with a megaphone. Picture: Callum MackayInverness Illegal Migrant Opposition on the city’s high street on Saturday afternoon. Picture: Callum Mackay
This week, ahead of the rallies, Inverness church leaders and politicians signed an open letter welcoming potential asylum seekers to the city.
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