George Square: Police questioned over kettling of anti-racism protesters

SNP councillor Ruairi Kelly raised concerns with Chief Superintendent Hazel Hendren about the treatment of protestors who were “sending a positive anti-racist message from Glasgow’s George Square to the world on World Refugee Day”.

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The letter also claimed that “fascist thugs were able to run wild in George Square” on Saturday.

The Glasgow City Council representative’s letter was sent days after an event aimed at Raising concerns about the officers’ response, Kelly wrote: “They kettled a group of demonstrators in the middle of the square, pushing them together making social distancing impossible. This group allegedly contained children, trade union reps and a priest. This was in sharp contrast to the response to actual violence on two occasions in the past week.

“What evidence was there to suggest that a peaceful demonstration that lasted for nearly two hours would suddenly erupt into violence?”

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Kelly said peaceful protesters and members of the public were attacked on two separate occasions in the square.

He wrote: “These appeared to be planned attacks and a quick search of known social media accounts shows that groups such as the National Defence League had called people out onto the streets.

“Was there not sufficient advanced warning to keep these individuals separate from the public?”

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Scottish Greens co-leader Patrick Harvie MSP and Councillor Kim Long also raised concerns about the policing of the protests.

In their letter to Hendren, they said: “There is a strong impression that a lower-key approach has been taken to the protests by far-right and Loyalist groups than was taken in relation to Saturday’s anti-racism demonstration.”