Thirty powerful pictures show the tense scenes outside of Plymouth City Council’s Ballard House on Monday as rival groups clashed over the council’s removal of St George’s flags.
Anti-fascist demonstrators gathered from midday before supporters of Flag Force Plymouth arrived at 1pm waving St George’s Cross and Union flags. Police held the line between the two groups, creating a barrier between them and deploying specialist public order officers as the rain came down.
Organisers of the flag protest told supporters to keep it peaceful, lawful and on the public footpath. Free flags and merchandise were handed out as chants echoed across West Hoe. Counter demonstrators carried whistles, banners and drums, accusing the rally of being linked to far-right groups.
At its height the protest saw both sides chanting, singing and waving banners as officers worked to keep them apart. Traffic slowed around Ballard House and sources told Plymouth Plus council staff had been instructed to work from home for the day.
Plymouth Plus provided live updates, photos and video from the ground, including a livestream watched by over one hundred thousand people.
The gallery below captures the story in 30 striking pictures from the moment the first protesters arrived to the final chants before the groups left Ballard House.
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