Today, Saturday 13th June, protests took place in Brighton City Centre, amid a rise in nationwide tensions surrounding immigration earlier this week.
An initial demonstration was planned by far-right, anti-immigration group South East Patriots (SEP), who stated they were calling for the government to strengthen border controls, and increase deportations of illegal immigrants.
While around 300 people attended the SEP march, a counter protest – organised by Carnival Against Fascism (CAP) – left the group massively outnumbered, with estimated figures of 4000 people in attendance [figures from Sussex Police].
Brighton and Hove City Council leader, Bella Sankey, issued a clear statement ahead of the protests. Addressing the far-right protestors, Sankey stated: “your message of hatred is not welcome here”.
“Brighton & Hove is a proudly diverse city. Where white residents, Black residents, Muslims, Jews, Christians, Hindus, Sikhs, people of no faith, gay residents, trans residents, feminists, refugees and mixed race people like me, live side by side peacefully.
“This is our home, and in Brighton & Hove difference is famously our strength.”
Following a brief conflict between the two groups near Brighton train station, Sussex police have confirmed that five arrests were made throughout the day.
However, in the general community spirit of Brighton, the CAP counter protests took on a celebratory tone, with a performance from DJ Fatboy Slim taking place outside the station, and huge cheers from the crowd upon the departure of the SEP.
This is not the first time that Brighton residents have banded together to ward off far-right protestors.
Back in August 2024, a handful of five or six anti-immigration protestors on Queens Road were overwhelmed by a huge anti-racism counter protest of over 2000 Brightonians.
Deen Relief is proud to be founded in a city where community, solidarity and celebrations of diversity continue to outweigh hatred and division.
References & Further Reading:
Joseph Blakely, “Brighton Council Leader Statement ahead of ‘Far-Right’ Protest,” The Argus, June 11, 2026, https://www.theargus.co.uk/news/26185741.brighton-council-leader-statement-ahead-far-right-protest/?ref=ed_direct.
Hsin-Yi Lo, “Eight Arrests at Anti-Immigration and Counter Protest in Brighton,” BBC News, June 13, 2026, https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c20ykkw4vd3o.
Geraldine McKelvie and Daniel Lavelle, “Far-Right and Anti-Racist Protesters Clash in UK Cities after Belfast Riots,” the Guardian (The Guardian, June 13, 2026), https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026/jun/13/far-right-anti-racist-protesters-clash-brighton-liverpool-sheffield-glasgow.
Jo Wadsworth, “Peaceful Counter Protest Overwhelms Tiny Numbers of Anti-Immigrant Protesters,” Brighton and Hove News, August 8, 2024, https://www.brightonandhovenews.org/2024/08/08/peaceful-counter-protest-overwhelms-tiny-numbers-of-anti-immigrant-protesters/.
Francesca Williams, “Anti-Immigration Protesters Outnumbered in Brighton Protests,” The Argus, June 13, 2026, https://www.theargus.co.uk/news/26192284.anti-immigration-protesters-outnumbered-brighton-protests/.
Written by Melissa Dent