A protest held in Southampton on Tuesday night drew a mix of ordinary citizens and far-right figures, all expressing outrage over the death of Henry Nowak and the police’s handling of the incident. Nowak was handcuffed following a false accusation of racism made by his alleged murderer, Vickrum Digwa.
The demonstration, which ultimately escalated into violence, resulted in injuries to eleven police officers and a police dog as demonstrators hurled bricks and refuse containers at law enforcement. Two individuals were taken into custody. Notably, the unrest erupted after many speakers had departed, although some prominent attendees were seen engaged in confrontations with riot police.
Concerns have been raised by community leaders regarding the possibility that far-right organizations transported individuals to the protest. The event, organized by Southampton Patriots and supported by Turning Point UK and Patriots of Britain, featured inflammatory speeches from several rightwing extremists.
Among the speakers was Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon. He addressed the crowd outside the Southampton police station, calling for the removal of Digwa’s family from the city, stating, “The fact that he [Digwa’s brother] is walking the street is insane.” Yaxley-Lennon argued that Nowak’s handcuffing illustrated a disparity in the treatment of white individuals compared to people of other races. He is currently awaiting trial for harassment charges against two journalists from the Daily Mail.
Jahn, the organizer for the Portsmouth branch of the National Rebirth party, a small fascist group led by Alek Yerbury, was recorded making obscene gestures at riot police while clad in a brown suit. He later tweeted “Anglo Saxon England” and shared a post urging “White people rise NOW.” Jahn was also seen clashing with police alongside another protester wearing a Restore Britain T-shirt.
Another notable attendee was a former actor and candidate for London mayor who established the far-right Reclaim party. He expressed his views on Nowak’s death, suggesting that had the victim been a young Black man, it would have sparked widespread unrest. He labeled the police as “your enemy” while gesturing towards the Southampton central police station.
Golding, previously associated with the British National party and now leading Britain First, characterized his group as a “street defence organization.” He implored the crowd to transform their frustration into political activism, alleging that the police were neglecting the true criminals who are reshaping Britain.
Tenconi, a former senior figure in Turning Point UK who became the head of Ukip last year, announced his commitment to initiating mass deportations and reinstating Christianity in government. He also recited the Lord’s Prayer “for Henry” during his address to the protesters.
Known as Young Bob, Moffitt is a conservative activist linked to the UK branch of Turning Point. He previously faced suspension after an anti-extremism group highlighted derogatory comments he made about Tenconi. At the protest, he claimed the events illustrated the prevailing sentiments in the nation, arguing that “native people are not properly policed.”
Keen, widely recognized as Posie Parker, attributed Nowak’s death to educational institutions promoting critical race theory. She established the Party of Women to advocate against transgender issues and expressed to a GB News reporter that “whites are at the bottom of the priority list, so we’re assumed to be guilty.”
Barnes, who operates under the alias AY Audits, is a frequent participant in far-right gatherings and has accumulated over 141,000 subscribers on his YouTube channel. He gained notoriety last summer for his content covering anti-migrant protests at the Bell Hotel in Epping, which was serving as temporary lodging for asylum seekers.
Wickland, a senior pastor with the Living World Church Network in Hampshire and an associate of Robinson, has emerged as a significant figure in the far-right movement’s shift towards Christian Nationalism. Earlier in the day, he was filmed by Barnes giving an interview as crowds began to gather outside the Southampton police station.
