A counter-protester at a migrant demonstration in Solihull has told GB News that there must be “civil conversation” between both sides to come to a solution on the crisis.
Outside an anti-migrant protest at a hotel in the area, counter-protester Salman Mirza told the People’s Channel that the surge in anger towards the migrant crisis is “unkind”.
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Salman Mirza told GB News that protests outside hotels are ‘not the way’ to deal with the crisis
Discussing the protests with GB News reporter Jack Carson, Mirza stated: “I’ve come here because I feel it’s a bit unkind to target a whole group of people who’ve got nothing to do with sex attacks which have gone on in the UK.
“There might be one or two, but there’s one or two bad people in all communities, and I don’t think it’s helpful for victims of sexual violence to target asylum seekers or refugees.”
Highlighting the “main difference” between the anti-migrant protesters and the counter-protesters, Mirza added: “I would say the real difference between us and them is we hate all sex offenders, they just hate the ones with funny names.
“I want to be laser-focused on getting longer sentences for domestic violence against women. A lot of these perpetrators are only getting a couple of months or a couple of years.”
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Protesters gathered outside a migrant hotel in Solihull
Defending the pro-migrant protesters further, Mirza explained: “A lot of the people on this side actually do work with victims of domestic violence and sexual violence, and we’re enraged about that, but this is not the way. This is not the way to fight for children and women and families who are getting abused.”
Claiming that the opinions of the protesters “might change” if they “had a conversation with an asylum seeker”, Mirza said: “I think we need a conversation. Why aren’t MPs and counsellors having public meetings where we can sit down, have a coffee, have something to eat and thrash these debates out?
“Because I’m telling you, a lot of those people, had they sat down with an asylum seeker and had a coffee with them, I think if they did, their opinion might change. They could even change.”
Admitting he “doesn’t blame” the protesters for their anger and frustration at the migrant crisis, Mirza assured: “I don’t blame them, I blame a lot of the politicians who aren’t sitting down with these folks and us together in a room to have a good discussion.
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Mirza told GB News that there should be ‘civil conversation’ between the protesters
“Because I’ve gone across the road and chatted to them and we’ve had a civil conversation, and no I haven’t convinced them yet, but I’m optimistic that over a period of time we can work together.”
Pressed by Jack on whether he personally agrees with the use of asylum hotels, Mirza concluded: “These hotels, nobody was using them, they were haemorrhaging financially.
“And I’m not happy that these hotels are being used, neither are the asylum seekers, they want the right to work. I’ve been part of different campaigns saying, if somebody is claiming asylum, give them the right to work.
“They want to pay back to this community that’s giving them sanctuary.”
