Wales reporter

RACISTS protesting about Afghani families temporarily housed in a hotel near Cardiff airport were routed by counterprotesters this weekend.

The anti-fascists outnumbered the far right 10 to one as more than 120 activists swamped and drowned out the 12 racists at the Holiday Inn Express, Rhoose, on Friday evening.

At a further counterdemonstration on Saturday morning outside the Vale of Glamorgan Council’s offices in Barry just three demoralised fascists turned up to be confronted by more than 100 counterdemonstrators.

One fascist thug outside the hotel constantly tried to provoke violence as he sought to get counterdemonstrators to come and fight him.

Feelings ran high as fascists continually moved to the centre of the road seeking to spark confrontation; prominent Cardiff Stand Up to Racism campaigner Kwabena Devonish rushed forward and led the counterdemonstrators to the centre of the road, pushing the fascists back.

The anti-fascists drowned out the racists with chants of “Refugees are welcome here” and “There are very many more of us than you.”

Unison and National Education Union members held branch banners aloft outside the hotel, along with the Rhondda Cynon Taf Palestine Solidarity Campaign branch, while one protester from Pontypridd displayed an International Brigade banner proclaiming “No pasaran.”

“It is important to oppose the racists when they try and spread hate,” Ms Devonish said. “The political climate, including Starmer’s government and Reform UK, has given [the far right] confidence, and it’s up to us to knock their confidence.

“We have to challenge their narrative with one of hope, solidarity and compassion.”

Anne Wood, who had travelled from Swansea to join the counterdemonstration, told the Star: “Hate and division cannot win against humanity, and we will not allow it.”

Barry resident Sue White said: “As a mother and grandmother, I am desperately sad at what this country is becoming, and we have all got to fight this evil in any way we can.”

Andrew Draper, a member of the Rhondda Cynon Taf Palestine Solidarity Campaign branch, had travelled from Gilfach Goch to the demonstration. He said that racism against Palestinians was unacceptable and “we must oppose racism here as well — and stand up to fascism everywhere it rears its head.”