Further anti-racism protests held in Sussex

Hundreds of anti-racism protesters took to the streets in Hastings on Saturday.

The demo was in response to violence across England and Northern Ireland fuelled by far-right and anti-immigration sentiment.

Sussex Police said it was investigating a threat to Hastings Mosque as a hate crime, while counter-protesters also turned out in the East Sussex town on Wednesday after information circulated about anti-immigration unrest.

Campaign group Stand Up to Racism said about 400 people were at Saturday's rally, as part of what it had described as a "national day of protest" to "stop the far-right".

Saturday's demonstration started at about midday in Robertson Street.

It followed hundreds of counter-protesters gathering outside a Holiday Inn in Crawley, West Sussex, on Friday evening after an anti-immigration demonstration was planned there.

Yunis Smith, a local Green Party councillor and a member of the mosque's board of trustees, was at the protest in Hastings on Saturday.

He said he had been "screamed at to 'go back home'" in recent months, despite being "English born and raised".

"Because I'm Muslim doesn't make me any less English," he said, adding that there was "no place for hate" in the town.

Another protester, Jennifer, said she was there to "stand up against the far-right".

And "to stand up for people who are welcome and part of our country and who deserve to be here and valued in their own right".

She added: "I think Hastings is quite a diverse community and we welcome people."

Amelia, who was also at the protest, described violent disorder seen across the country as "absolutely horrible".

She added that Hastings had "always been full of love and I think people are just trying to show that".

Sussex Police said: "Earlier today, about 400 people participated in a peaceful protest in the Robertson Street area of Hastings.

"Following recent events nationally, there was already an increased police presence locally."

It said no arrests were made during the protest.

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