Lorraine Cavanagh, an organiser behind Sunday’s demonstration where women dressed in pink gathered outside the Britannia International Hotel in Canary Wharf, has responded forcefully to being labelled “Nazi scum” by masked counter-demonstrators.
The protest, which saw Metropolitan Police intervene when flares were discharged and attempts were made to breach hotel fencing, attracted opposition from anti-fascist activists who confronted the pink-clad demonstrators.
Cavanagh rejected the characterisation, insisting the protesters were “mothers, grandmothers, aunts, sisters, who wanted to protect our families” in a GB News interview.
The demonstration formed part of a weekend of tensions at asylum accommodation across the capital, with nine arrests at the Thistle City Barbican Hotel in Islington on Saturday where anti-fascist groups formed human chains to block rival protesters.
GB NEWS
|
Lorraine Cavanagh spoke on GB News
Cavanagh articulated the demonstrators’ grievances, stating: “We don’t hate these men but what we hate is what the Government has done.”
She highlighted perceived inequalities in resource distribution, describing elderly residents searching for discounted items at local shops whilst asylum seekers receive comprehensive support.
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS
“We witnessed pensioners going up to the local supermarkets and looking for red stickers to get a bit of meat. We see these guys getting three meals a day, mobile phones and a voucher for clothing. It’s unfair,” she said on the People’s Channel.
Addressing safety concerns, Cavanagh added: “Half of these men would never go near these women, but we’re not going to play roulette with their child’s life.”
GB NEWS
|
Lorraine Cavanagh joined Martin Daubney on the People’s Channel
The weekend saw multiple demonstrations at asylum accommodation facilities, including protests in Newcastle and ongoing tensions at hotels across London.
Cavanagh addressed media coverage of the event, particularly defending male participants who discharged flares during the demonstration.
“Those were fathers. We knew they were coming. We knew they were setting off the flares. We were all cheering,” she stated, contradicting reports of disorder.
She expressed frustration at media portrayal, claiming: “I waved to a car that cheered me on with one arm and I was put across as this Nazi pensioner.”
The organiser revealed that some supporters, including teaching assistants, avoided public participation due to employment concerns.
“Teacher’s assistants can’t sit with us because they are worried about getting the sack. We knew it would happen. This is what the media does,” she said.
Despite heavy police presence, Cavanagh expressed pride in leading the demonstration, noting the incongruity of extensive law enforcement deployment against “a bunch of women in pink T-shirts.”
Cavanagh unveiled a new community safety programme called “The Isle of Dogs Watchdog” designed to safeguard local residents.
Hundreds of anti-immigration protesters marched outside Britannia Hotel in Canary Wharf where asylum seekers are being housedThe initiative involves distributing stickers displaying the watchdog logo for placement in vehicles, shop windows and businesses throughout the area.
“That will alert women and children and if they fear anything or are frightened of anything, they can wave that car down and that person will get out,” she explained.
Demonstrating personal commitment to the scheme, Cavanagh declared: “I will get out. You knock me down and I will crawl up your trouser leg because I will not let anyone touch my children, my grandchildren, my daughters or anybody else on the Isle of Dogs.”
She pledged continued action until Government officials heed community concerns, stating: “We will continue to do that until the Government listens from the bottom up.”
