Anti-immigration demo in Dover on Sunday, April 27th
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00:00Smash the f**k!
00:05Far from a quiet afternoon in Dover.
00:09A rowdy anti-immigration protest took over the town.
00:13More than 500 people filled the streets, drawing big names from the right-wing scene.
00:18The immigration crisis is out of control.
00:20They pass through peaceful country after peaceful country.
00:23They're primarily working-age, fighting-age young men.
00:26Now when we see a war situation, what happens?
00:28The women and children flee and become refugees.
00:30The men stay behind and fight.
00:32But we're seeing the opposite with this lot because they're economic chances.
00:35They're being drawn to this country because of the generosity of our government.
00:39Mostly bikers made up the crowd today.
00:42Seen this morning descending the A2 into the coastal town.
00:46Today's action comes as the Home Office released new statistics
00:50showing illegal migration has risen by 40% compared to last year.
00:55Many here describing the situation as an invasion of England.
01:00Meanwhile counter-protesters gathered in Market Square,
01:04calling for safe and legal passages for asylum seekers.
01:08Because it's important that we counter the arguments of the far-right,
01:12that try and take over the arguments about people being on boats,
01:18which we know that the government knows, that every politician knows,
01:23is a very, very small percentage of people that come into this country.
01:28Let me start off our streets!
01:32Earlier in the day, a splinter anti-immigration group passed the left-wing demonstration.
01:37Now this is the first time the Stop the Boats protesters have met the anti-protesters.
01:43A lot of chanting, but so far, staying peaceful.
01:47Their numbers were far smaller than those at the right-wing protest.
01:52What it says is that the narrative is getting through to these people,
01:57that there is a massive problem.
01:59I don't know what it says about us, but we will continue to keep fighting.
02:05Police maintained a large presence throughout the town.
02:08Back in January 2016, a similar protest led to 64 arrests.
02:13The Stop the Boats protesters have made it to Market Square.
02:18This is where the counter-protesters were earlier, but just look how many there are now.
02:23Between or three.
02:26The mood suggested few believe irregular arrivals will ever stop.
02:30We need the illegal influx to stop, and we need the legal migration to be properly monitored,
02:36and all of the processes in place used.
02:41Everything's there, the laws are there we need, and no one's applying it for some reason,
02:45and I can't work out what they're playing at.
02:48Both sides of the argument want an end to irregular crossings.
02:52A stark reminder that it's thought more than 220 people have lost their lives attempting the journey since 2018.
03:00Gabriel Morris, in Dover.