Anti-immigrant protesters paralyze traffic at the Port of Dover in England... Criticism of government ‘crossing the line’
Quick Look
- Dozens of protesters wearing black clothes and balaclavas chanted 'Who owns this street?' on a road near the Port of Dover in England.
- Anti-immigration demonstrations were held, shouting slogans such as 'Ours!' and 'Stop the ship', paralyzing traffic and causing great inconvenience to travelers heading to France.
- The British government, led by the center-left Labor Party, acknowledged that peaceful protests are a fundamental right of democracy, but criticized the actions that took place in Dover and the resulting traffic disruption as crossing a line.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
The Port of Dover is the largest passenger port in the UK, and in the past, anti-immigration protests targeting immigrants crossing the English Channel on small ships from France have taken place, and Nigel Farage, leader of the British Reform Party, has defined the passage of illegal immigrants through the Channel as an 'invasion' and pledged to stop it when he takes office.
Slogans such as “Stop the ship”… Criticism of British government: “It crossed a line”
(Brussels = Yonhap News) Correspondent Hyun Yun-kyung = Dozens of protesters dressed in black and covering their faces with masks staged a surprise anti-immigration protest on the road leading to the Port of Dover in England on the 5th (local time), paralyzing traffic in the area and causing great inconvenience to travelers heading to France.
According to British media such as the Telegraph, men in black clothes and balaclavas gathered around the Port of Dover this morning, blocking the main road, causing extreme confusion, with vehicle traffic to and from the Port of Dover, the busiest passenger port in the UK, halted, and traffic congestion in the area reaching about 7km at one point.
They were also seen marching through a nearby village, shouting slogans such as “Whose street is this? Ours!” and “Stop the ship.” Daily The Times reported that some of the protesters belong to the Patriot Platform, an anti-immigration far-right group.
The British government, led by the center-left Labor Party, said that "peaceful protests are a fundamental right of democracy," but criticized the actions that took place in Dover and the resulting traffic disruption as crossing the line.
The ferry operator, which operates ferries between Dover and Calais, France, announced just before noon that "access to the Port of Dover has been restored" and that passengers who missed the ferry would be offered a next ferry ride.
The Port of Dover, located about 110km southeast of London, is the UK's largest passenger port, handling over 9 million passengers and 2 million cargo vehicles last year. In the past, anti-immigrant protests targeting immigrants crossing the English Channel on small ships from France have taken place.
Nigel Farage, leader of the right-wing British Reform Party, called the crossing of the English Channel by illegal immigrants in small boats packed with illegal immigrants an "invasion" at the national convention held the day before, and declared that they would stop this if they came to power.
Meanwhile, the Labor government announced that the number of people entering the country across the English Channel this year has decreased by 40% compared to the same period last year as a result of strengthening law enforcement cooperation with the French government to block illegal immigrants flowing into the UK through the English Channel.
What to Watch
AI outlook — possibilities, not facts
The British government will further strengthen border security cooperation with France to block the influx of illegal immigrants.
Likely · Within weeks
Anti-immigrant protesters could attempt similar protests at ports or transportation hubs other than the Port of Dover.
Possible · Within days
Open Questions
- What is the specific organization size and background of the protesters?
- Has anyone been arrested or injured during the protests?
- What position did the French government express regarding this protest?
