WATCH: Moray supports asylum seekers and refugees as anti-fascist protestors drown out far right campaigners
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MORAY delivered a resounding message that it welcomes refugees and asylum seekers as a peaceful vigil and vocal anti-fascist protestors drowned out an attempted rally by far right group Highland Division, fronted by controversial figure Alek Yerbury.
He has spoken at numerous far-right, anti-immigration rallies in cities across the United Kingdom, and has been dubbed the "Hull Hitler".
A large scale police presence was put in place – with around 40 officers involved – to keep protestors away and members of the Highland division apart.
There was one arrest for "low level disorder" and the protestors kept up a constant stream of noise and chanting as Yerbury and his colleagues tried to speak on the Plainstones in Elgin.
They were at one side of the St Giles' Church, while a peace vigil, organised by Moray Trades Union Council took place on the opposite side of the city centre church, with speeches by local councillors, politicians and other community figures, in support of Moray welcoming asylum seekers and refugees.
After nearly two hours of noisy protest, and Yerbury and other members of his team being challenged verbally, and drowned out every time they tried to deliver a message using a loud hailer, the police brought the rally to an end when they surrounded Yerbury and his group of around eight people, and ushered them up one of the lanes running off the High Street, as the protests continued.
Susan Slater, chairwoman of Moray Trades Union Council, which organised the peace vigil, said: "I think it is quite clear form the turnout we have had today that Moray community are quite clearly speakng against the extremes that are on the other side of the church.
"We are welcoming the asylum seekers into our community and as chair of Moray Trades Union Council we are looking forward to working with and supporting the asylum seekers in Elgin.
"We were in disbelief when we were first notified what was happening. It is not something we have seen in Elgin or Moray before. It is disappointing that as a trades union organisation we have had to rally the troops to stand up against such extreme views.
"The message was about positivity and supporting refugees. It was good that the speakers couldn't be heard.
However, she said she was disappointed that so many people had gone round to the other side of the church to protest, insisting the main message they wanted to deliver was one of positivity.
"I hope never to see this again in Elgin."
Sandra Robertson, from Portsoy, confronted Yerbury early in the protest.
"I just felt inexplicable rage that Nazis had come to my doorstep.
"I didn't know what to do and I just stood and stared. They started waving at me and laughing.
"We started speaking and he openly said he was quite happy to be called a Nazi.
"He even said that Hitler had done some good things, like fixing the economy, but I said 'aye with Jewish slaves'.
"He was happy to be called a racist and didn't see a problem with that.
People haven't been able to hear a word he said which was fabulous.
"At one point he said he believed in socialist principles and I said 'how could you not look after the most vulnerable in society'.
"He tried to say that we needed more control in this country.
"I said to myself 'I am not letting this man have a voice', and let him speak unopposed.
"I can speak against hatred. One of the things he said several times is that diversity causes problems, but that only causes problems when people are hateful.
One anti-facist protestor, Max, said: "I don't think there is any place for Nazis or racism in a civilized society.
"These people (asylum seekers) have a reason to be here and we have a responsibility as a society to accommodate them.
"People complain about people coming here but this is a country that colonized a quarter of the world."
Sarah Marshall from Fochabers said: "My mother's first husband died fighting people like that. It is a rhetoric that doesn't ring true in Scotland.
"They are not welcome to express those kind of views. Refugees have been through so much and we in Scotland have said our doors are open, come in.
"And the hateful way of trying to shift the blame for the economic crisis, and to suggest people coming in are bringing anything other than gifts; the gifts of skills, culture and experience. Nobody is frightened of that other than a very small minority.
"I am here to say that refugees are welcome."
One supporter of Yerbury, who lives in Elgin but wanted to remain anonymous, said he was delighted to see him here.
He said: "What he stands for is fair. I agree with what he is saying. Everybody is entitled to his opinion.
"I wouldn't say his views are too extreme. Let him have his say. He has travelled all this way to give an opinion."
However, Craig MacDonald, from Elgin, said: "It's not right. There are countries where people have had kids and parents murdered, and they are trying to get away from that.
Of the anti-fascist protest, he added: "People are allowed to voice their opinions. We have about 30 police officers surrounding them (Yerbury and his supporters) and barriers up. We don't agree with their views."
Cllr Graham Leadbitter, local Elgin councillor, thanked people for turning out to send a message of support for the asylum seekers.
"What we don't want to see is what we have at the other side of this church, is fascists turning up, in small numbers.
"Asylum seekers are fleeing poverty, war-torn countries and have had a long journey to get here.
"What they need is support, a welcome and a fair hearing from a system that should work better than it does.
"It is very clear that people do not want to hear a message of hate."
Neil Alexander of the Moray Liberal Democrats, denounced the "fear, anger and hatred" being brought forward by Yerbury and his colleagues.
Inspector Andy Scott, the senior officer in charge, said a "proportionate policing operation" was put in place to manage the situation.
"We had notification of a demonstration and we were aware of a counter demonstration from the TUC and affiliated groups. In line with that and to facilitate peaceful protest , a proportionate police was put in place in terms of managing the crowd and ensuring the safety of the wider Elgin public.
"It was implemented in an escalating fashion. When it started at first it was very low level but there has been quite a large portion of counter demonstration here.
"As a consequence we had to put some cordons in place."
"We had a local policing resource, which was a sergeant and four officers, and I have had one police support unit under my command."
There was one arrest made for "low level disorder".
The Northern Scot asked Alek Yerbury why he felt the need to come to Elgin. He said: "Over the past few months I have been active on a lot of campaigns on immigration, ethnic issues or cost of living issues and they have been active in England.
"The organisers of today made a point of supporting our campaigns so they invited me to come and support their campaign in Scotland.
"A lot of people are very scared and we have seen it in England, many people have issues with the abuse of the asylum system by economic migrants, and an uncontrollable situation with regard to the borders.
"But they are so scared to say and do anything about it."
Asked how he responded to claims that he is racist, fascist and a Nazi, he said: "I don't engage with it and the reason I don't is because that is an argument over issues that are 70,80,90, 100 years in the past.
"Our purpose was to raise awareness of the problem and demonstrate to people that it is possible to speak, despite people doing their best to keep you silent.
"I have been called many things but nobody can call me a liar."
At that point, one protestor challenged Yerbury: "You are standing there like a little Hitler, and I am speaking for a lot of people."
However, a supporter of Yerbury, from Elgin, interjected: "I want him here. I am over the moon that he is here."
