Clive Lewis Blasts Racists At Norwich Immigration Protesr

Clive Lewis, MP for Norwich South, joined those outside the Brook Hotel in Bowthorpe in support of people living at the property "with PTSD" who have "been through so much".

In his speech to the demonstrators, he described those protesting across the road as "racist and fascist".

He said: "We're here in solidarity of the people behind you, people with PTSD, people who have been through so much and who really do not deserve to not be intimidated by people who should know better.

"I'm afraid to say that many of these people are hardened racists, some of them hardened fascists but not all of them. Some of them should be standing on this side with us."

Claire Wood, from Norwich City of Sanctuary - a group that welcomes refugees and asylum seekers - described the aim of the protest as "support" for the people living inside the hotel.

Also at the protest was a member of Stand Up Against Racism, who commented but asked not to be named.

She said: "We know many refugees and many immigrants are holding up our healthcare service and looking after the people that are shouting about them across the road."

Across the way, people with signs that read "not far right, just right" and "two-tier Kier, protect our children" called for immigration reform.

James Harvey, founder of Students Against Tyranny, an anti-Marxist student group that advocates for free speech in universities, said: "Our government is housing migrants in hotels across the UK at the expense of the British tax payer.

"My grandad lives with Ukrainian refugees. I've no issue with them because they're fleeing a war-torn country but my issue is when these people are coming from Albania, which isn't at war."

Tracey Starbuck, 55, said: "It's illegal immigrants who come into the country unvetted that are the issue. We just want to protect our children."