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Who are the organisers of Bristol’s two ‘mass gatherings’?
Illegal ‘mass gatherings’ planned to take place in two Bristol parks on Saturday have been linked to far-right protesters.
Former Britain First deputy leader Jayda Fransen has been associated with the protests against the coronavirus lockdown.
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But writing on her profile on the Gab social network on Friday afternoon in response to a story in the Daily Record, Fransen said: “These guys were issued a full response last night, they were told I have nothing to do with this event.”
Flyers have been circulating online – with identical posters advertising similar events in dozens of different towns and cities across the city, including on Brandon Hill and Victoria Park in Bristol.
People are being invited to “be part of the largest mass gathering since the lockdown” but there is still no clear evidence that these events, which would be illegal, will actually take place.
The organisers named on the poster are UK Freedom Movement (UKFM), with Freedom Movement’s entry on Companies House using the same registered address as Fransen, who stood down from Britain First in 2019.
Bristol24/7 have decided to reveal the time and location of the events so sensible people can choose to avoid the areas
The government’s independent adviser on antisemitism has written to home secretary Priti Patel urging her to ”intervene and ban” Saturday’s protests after warning they are organised by ”right wing extremists” .
Lord John Mann has warned that the mass gatherings are organised by “a political organisation” led by Fransen, despite it still not being clear if UKFM or her own British Freedom Movement are behind the advertised events.
Avon & Somerset’s chief constable said that the organisers of the Bristol gatherings would be “the first ones to get a ticket”.
Andy Marsh told BBC Radio Bristol: “We would expect to be called and we would obviously respond to that mass gathering.
“We hope the public will continue to show the restraint and cooperation they have endeavoured to do over the last seven weeks.”
Main photo: Ocean Estate Agent
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