This is the reality of people protesting migrant hotels. Not your usual activists. Not even folk who are inherently political. Just ordinary, decent people who care about their communities. Watch the video. It’s mainly women and children, protesting peacefully.
These people are absolutely right to stand up for their communities. These schemes are imposed on their locality, with no consultation. Local people have no say.
The question is often asked: what are they protesting about? That answer should be obvious. First and foremost, the pressures these hotels place on public services are immense. Hotels are designed for guests, staying on a very short term basis. Those guests do not, typically, access local NHS services. Or schools. Of course people are right to be concerned.
Crime is also another factor. Court records show that at least one in every hundred migrants housed in taxpayer funded hotels have appeared before magistrates this year. People rightly fear the potential risks to women and girls. Official figures show Afghan and Eritrean nationals are 20 times more likely to be convicted of a sex crime than a British national, for example.
Then there’s the way these matters are handled. Such decisions are usually taken covertly, with no input from the community. Matters are often kept quiet, deliberately, in order to suppress opposition. That’s wrong.
People who take part in such protests are often smeared. That’s completely unacceptable. It’s usually done by people with an overt, extreme, political agenda. They try to control the narrative, frightening people from expressing their concerns. It’s important they know it’s okay to speak out. Doing so is both responsible and respectable.
The only extremists in this debate are those who believe in open borders. Think of the dangers that poses. No safety. No control. Our communities and country put at risk. We cannot allow these people’s arguments to stand without rebuttal.
Standing up for one’s community is nothing to be ashamed of. It’s important this is understood.