Kent Refugee Action Network, who organised the welcome meeting for asylum seekers at Napier Barracks, Folkestone, today the 17th Oct, was attended by 200 plus people.
They were also joined by separate far-right groups who were counter protesting.
We note that an ex- Folkestone & Hythe District Council employee, plus two serving council officers were amongst the far-right groups who are opposed to the barracks being used as a location for asylum seekers.
Liam T as he describes himself on YouTube previously worked in the communications department at the Council.
Liam T wearing the glasses
We have elected not to show the current serving council officers, but rather pass their images along to the proper authorities.
Now of course, in the interest of fairness, we note that both Town & District Cllrs of the Folkestone & Hythe Labour Party and members of Shepway Green Party were in attendance as well to support and welcome the asylum seekers.
In the main, the event passed of peacefully, but one person was detained on suspicion of causing criminal damage and they remain in custody as part of ongoing enquiries.
However, earlier in the week the Chief Executive of Folkestone & Hythe District Council, Dr Susan Priest, expressed in the strongest possible terms the Council’s grave concerns regarding the unauthorised event.
She went onto say:
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There is already significant intelligence, and worrying concerns, about counter protests by a number of right wing extremist organisations who have shared footage on YouTube citing your 17th October “welcome event” and, very sadly, are inciting people to counter protest.
In the end Dr Priest’s grave concerns were misplaced. What she should now focus her efforts on, are weeding out the two council officers who were aligned to the right wing extremist organisations present today.
Napier Barracks will house up to 400 adult asylum seekers until next autumn.
The Shepway Vox Team
Dissent is NOT a Crime
