Commissioned to cover what was predicted to be a night of clashes between far-right extremists and ant-fascist protesters in London on assignment for The Daily Telegraph
Photographing London protests can be an unpredictable occupation. In the back of my mind I had expectations of a difficult night ahead photographing aggressive far-right protesters. Sometimes it turns out completely the opposite.
With further protests in urban centres across the UK in the wake of July 29th Southport knife attack I was commissioned to head to Brentford. The location where protesters gathered outside a UK immigration centre. The far-right threatened violent unrest at this address on social media . First on the scene were a crowd of anti-fascist protesters, many holding anti-fascist placards chanting slogans. Supporting safe borders and the movement of immigrants and refugees into the UK.
So where were the far-right?
On social media the far-right antagonists stipulated they would meet at the Brentford location 8pm. As time went on only a handful of youths wearing balaclavas appeared on the opposite side of the road junction. Looking like they had nothing better to do. It certainly wasn’t what we’d recently seen at other gatherings up North or recently along Whitehall where 100 arrests were made last week.
The anti-fascists continued to chant slogans until late in the evening, then dispersed safely.
For this assignment I always try to travel light. Working on short prime lenses. Leica M series. Luckily a calm night, all photography equipment intact.
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