West Midlands Police have issued a statement addressing reports of a counter-protest on Soho Road in Birmingham, ahead of a planned demonstration by the far-right group Britain First this weekend.
Britain First Demonstration in City Centre
On Saturday, June 20, Britain First is scheduled to gather at midday outside New Street Station in Birmingham city centre. A confirmed counter-protest is set to take place at 11am in Victoria Square, with a significant police presence expected in the area.
Social Media Reports of Soho Road Protest
Amid the confirmed city centre events, social media began circulating claims of an additional counter-protest along Soho Road, reportedly passing a Gurdwara. These reports urged people to avoid Soho Road between 10.30am and 11.30am for safety reasons.
However, members of the Handsworth community quickly disputed these claims, labeling them as misinformation. One community message stated: "No protest is coming to Soho Road this weekend. There have been rumours about a far-right protest coming onto Soho Road, but West Midlands Police confirmed there is no planned march or route on Soho Road. Activity is limited to Birmingham city centre only. Please share so we can combat misinformation."
Police Statement
West Midlands Police have confirmed that there is no confirmed counter-protest on Soho Road. A police spokesperson said: "Our comms around protests taking place in the city centre on Saturday will be issued this afternoon (June 18). We’re not aware of a counter protest on Soho Road in relation to this."
Police have encouraged the public to rely on official channels for accurate information and to avoid spreading unverified reports.
