Key Points
- Hundreds of people gathered at Glasgow Green on 12 September 2026 for an anti-immigration rally and a counter-demonstration.
- The Pink Ladies organised the anti-immigration rally, while Stand Up To Racism (SUTR) and several trade unions brought out the counter-protesters.
- Police Scotland officers separated the two groups on the eastern side of the park near the People’s Palace.
- Reform UK Scottish deputy leader Thomas Kerr attended the Pink Ladies rally, while Scottish Trades Union Congress General Secretary Roz Foyer spoke to counter-protesters.
- Senior officers had warned before the event that police would deliver a “strong response” to any disorder, following clashes at the park in July 2026.
Glasgow (Oxford Daily) September 12, 2026 — Hundreds of demonstrators gathered on opposite sides of Glasgow Green on 12 September 2026 as an anti-immigration rally organised by the Pink Ladies group was met by a sizable counter-protest.
The two distinct crowds gathered on the eastern section of the historical public park, separated by the landmark People’s Palace building and a substantial line of Police Scotland officers acting as a buffer between the groups.
The demonstration organised by the Pink Ladies featured attendees carrying banners, including symbols associated with far-right group Patriotic Alternative demanding deportation measures, alongside dozens of men dressed in black with facial coverings. Positioned nearby, counter-protesters organized by Stand Up To Racism (SUTR) and Scottish trade unions held placards advocating for community unity and opposing anti-migrant rhetoric.
Police Scotland had prepared extensively for the event, with Chief Superintendent Stevie Dolan explicitly warning ahead of time that officers would deliver a “strong response” to any violence or disorder. The heightened security posture followed violent clashes that occurred during a similar rally held at Glasgow Green in July 2026.
What figures attended the Glasgow Green demonstrations?
As reported by Alasdair Ferguson of The National, several prominent public figures were present at the rally site. Attendees at the Pink Ladies event included Reform UK deputy leader in Scotland Thomas Kerr, Reform councillor Audrey Dempsey, and Craig Houston, a podcaster affiliated with the Restore Britain group.
Representing the counter-demonstration were Scottish Trades Union Congress (STUC) General Secretary Roz Foyer and former SNP MP Alison Thewliss, who addressed the crowd assembled by Stand Up To Racism.
What were the official statements from opposing sides?
As reported by the Press Association and The National, key representatives expressed starkly contrasting views on the gathering.
Roz Foyer, STUC General Secretary, stated: “It just confounds belief that people are prepared to weaponise a really important issue like violence against women and girls and use it to create more hate, more division, and more fear in our communities and in our society. That is exactly what’s happening right now.”
Foyer added that anti-immigration demonstrators were “trying to stir up real trouble”, noting: “I’m much more worried about the very angry people who are dressing in black, wearing masks and running about our city centre at the moment, trying to attack ordinary citizens who are just going about their daily business. Much more worried and much more fearful of that than I am of any migrants coming into our country.”
Former MP Alison Thewliss remarked during her speech to counter-protesters: “It’s so important that we reach out to each and every person we see on the street, whether that’s a smile or whether that’s a handshake, or whether that is standing next to them if we see that they feel afraid. It is up to us all to make people feel safe and to stand up.”
In response, Reform UK Scottish deputy leader Thomas Kerr defended his decision to attend the Pink Ladies rally. As reported by the Press Association, Kerr stated that he was present to “hear what working class women in particular are saying”, describing counter-protesters on the other side of the park as “extremists”.
Kerr stated: “There is nothing more extreme than the extremists at the other side of Glasgow Green. The people who are there are trying to shout down working class people who finally have a voice. They’re really, really angry about what’s happening in our city and rather than listening to these working-class women, what this mob over there are doing is lecturing them, telling them what they must feel.”
A spokesperson for Stand Up To Racism issued a statement calling for public participation in counter-demonstrations, declaring that “racists and fascists fail to grow when we oppose them in big numbers”, adding that their presence serves to “expose the real nature of their violent, hate project and show that the majority of us reject their division.”
Background of the Glasgow Green Protests
The events of 12 September 2026 follow months of growing tension surrounding asylum policy, migration, and public safety across the United Kingdom. Scotland has experienced a series of demonstrations and counter-protests in major urban centres, particularly Glasgow.
Glasgow Green previously experienced significant disturbances on 25 July 2026, when an anti-immigration gathering degenerated into violent altercations after being confronted by counter-demonstrators. That earlier incident resulted in multiple arrests and led Police Scotland to review their public order strategies for managing concurrent protests in public spaces. The involvement of political organizations across the spectrum reflects a broader national debate over public safety, free speech, and immigration policies.
Prediction: How This Development May Affect Local Residents and Businesses
The ongoing recurrence of large-scale demonstrations at public venues like Glasgow Green is likely to have direct implications for several local stakeholder groups:
- Local Residents: Residents in the immediate vicinity of Glasgow Green and the East End may experience repeated weekend disruptions, localized traffic diversions, and heightened anxiety regarding public safety during days when opposing rallies take place.
- Local Businesses and Retailers: Shops, cafes, and amenities surrounding the park may see reduced weekend footfall due to police cordons and public avoidance of demonstration areas during high-profile events.
- Public Resources and Policing: Police Scotland will likely continue allocating considerable logistical resources and officer deployments to public order operations in central Glasgow, potentially impacting routine policing coverage elsewhere in the city during planned protest dates.
