Protesters March Through Heywood Citing Child Safety, Housing, and Immigration Concerns
Heywood, Greater Manchester – Dozens of protesters marched through Heywood town centre on Saturday afternoon, 30th August, in a controversial demonstration against local houses of multiple occupation (HMOs) and national immigration policy. Demonstrators voiced anger over issues of child safety, policing, and housing, in the latest of a series of similar protests across Greater Manchester.
The event began at Heywood Memorial Gardens, with the group marching several laps around the town's one-way system before gathering outside the office of Elsie Blundell, MP for Heywood and Middleton.
Among at least four speakers who addressed the crowd was former Rochdale council leader, Colin Lambert. While emphasising he had no role in organising the event, Lambert defended his presence against previous criticism.
"I've been called far right before, but I’ve never been far wrong”, he told the crowd. Defending symbols of national identity, he added: “When we set up New Labour in 1997, they adopted the Union flag as a symbol. It wasn’t far right then, and it isn’t far right now. It’s our nation, our flags, our pride”.
Lambert, who highlighted his background in education, also urged attendees to remain peaceful. “Let’s show the council and the government in Heywood that we can do it peacefully, we can do it properly, and our voices will be heard”.
Other speakers focused on child safety, with one man who identified himself as a caring father, referencing widely circulated internet videos allegedly showing children being attacked in schools. He claimed the state had failed to protect children and warned that if action wasn't taken, residents might be forced to, “take the law into our own hands”.
Several speakers voiced specific concerns over the use of HMOs in Heywood, alleging their proximity to schools and nurseries was unsafe. A woman identifying as a former special needs teacher in Rochdale invoked the town’s history of grooming gang abuse, claiming the state failed children. Another speaker described the situation as a battle against, “pure evil”, suggesting major institutions had been “infected”.
During the march, chants of, “Keir Starmer is a wanker”, and, “Tommy, Tommy Robinson”, were heard. Tommy Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, is a far-right activist and founder of the English Defence League (EDL).
One organiser acknowledged the politically charged nature of the chants, admitting he had previously joined in. While attempting to deflect accusations of racism, he stated: “I don’t know 100% about the guy… all I know is he stands for some of the things I stand for”.
The protest remained peaceful, though tensions ran high. Greater Manchester Police (GMP) were monitoring the event following prior incidents.
This demonstration follows a larger protest in Heywood on 9th August linked to Reform UK, which was attended by hundreds, and a march in central Manchester on 2nd August organised by Britain First, which claimed to have thousands of participants. The event has drawn mixed reactions on social media, with some supporting the messages and others condemning them for inciting division.
The event began at Heywood Memorial Gardens, with the group marching several laps around the town's one-way system before gathering outside the office of Elsie Blundell, MP for Heywood and Middleton.
Among at least four speakers who addressed the crowd was former Rochdale council leader, Colin Lambert. While emphasising he had no role in organising the event, Lambert defended his presence against previous criticism.
"I've been called far right before, but I’ve never been far wrong”, he told the crowd. Defending symbols of national identity, he added: “When we set up New Labour in 1997, they adopted the Union flag as a symbol. It wasn’t far right then, and it isn’t far right now. It’s our nation, our flags, our pride”.
Lambert, who highlighted his background in education, also urged attendees to remain peaceful. “Let’s show the council and the government in Heywood that we can do it peacefully, we can do it properly, and our voices will be heard”.
Other speakers focused on child safety, with one man who identified himself as a caring father, referencing widely circulated internet videos allegedly showing children being attacked in schools. He claimed the state had failed to protect children and warned that if action wasn't taken, residents might be forced to, “take the law into our own hands”.
Several speakers voiced specific concerns over the use of HMOs in Heywood, alleging their proximity to schools and nurseries was unsafe. A woman identifying as a former special needs teacher in Rochdale invoked the town’s history of grooming gang abuse, claiming the state failed children. Another speaker described the situation as a battle against, “pure evil”, suggesting major institutions had been “infected”.
During the march, chants of, “Keir Starmer is a wanker”, and, “Tommy, Tommy Robinson”, were heard. Tommy Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, is a far-right activist and founder of the English Defence League (EDL).
One organiser acknowledged the politically charged nature of the chants, admitting he had previously joined in. While attempting to deflect accusations of racism, he stated: “I don’t know 100% about the guy… all I know is he stands for some of the things I stand for”.
The protest remained peaceful, though tensions ran high. Greater Manchester Police (GMP) were monitoring the event following prior incidents.
This demonstration follows a larger protest in Heywood on 9th August linked to Reform UK, which was attended by hundreds, and a march in central Manchester on 2nd August organised by Britain First, which claimed to have thousands of participants. The event has drawn mixed reactions on social media, with some supporting the messages and others condemning them for inciting division.
.jpg)
.jpg)
Comments
Send your story in to editor@rochdalevaliant.uk
Post a Comment