A COALITION of organisations who held a counter-protest in Tamworth say communities had 'come together in a defiant show of unity'.
It comes after Britain First activists staged a rally in the town as part of a national series of events.
But counter-campaigners said its own demonstration had showed what communities can achieve when they stand together.
A spokesperson for the local branch of the Green Party said:
"The counter demonstration also ensured that Britain First was unable to use the protest as an opportunity to engage with the public or spread its message unchallenged.
"Their supporters were contained behind barriers, separated from the wider community, while a sustained barrage of chanting and speeches made it clear that their racist message was not welcome here.
"Rather than being able to present themselves as a powerful presence on the streets, Britain First were left isolated from the public and unable to get their message across.
"The atmosphere was one of defiance and solidarity, demonstrating the effectiveness of organised community resistance to the far right."
A spokesperson for the Lichfield and Cannock Chase Stand Up to Racism group said:
"Britain First wants people to believe that the far right owns the streets. It doesn’t. They want refugees to feel isolated. They aren’t. They want migrants to believe nobody will stand up for them. We will. And they want people who oppose racism to be frightened. We are not.
"We have shown exactly what the far right fears most: ordinary people organising, communities united and a majority refusing to stand aside. They have hatred. We have solidarity. They have division. We have unity."
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