A Hull protest organiser has issued an apology to a mosque worshipper after the demonstration escalated into a far-right riot
John Francis, the founder of a group called Hull Patriotic Protesters, organized a demonstration against illegal immigration following a stabbing attack in Southport that resulted in the deaths of three young girls.
The organizer of a protest that escalated into racist violence in Hull has acknowledged that referring to small boat migrants as “an influx of illegal invaders” was not “the best choice of words.” However, he insisted that his demonstration was hijacked and denied any racist intentions.
In a conversation with a mosque worshipper whose place of worship was attacked, John Francis expressed his regret for the events. Amanj Jamil, a member of Hull’s Kurdish community, agreed to meet Mr. Francis at the invitation of Sky News.
Mr. Jamil has lived and worked in Hull for 24 years since arriving as an asylum seeker from Iraq. He was inside a mosque when it was attacked by a violent mob, who threw stones and other objects at the building during a riot on August 3rd.
John Francis, who has lived in Hull for many years after relocating from London, is the founder of a group called the Hull Patriotic Protesters and organized the demonstration in the city. He told Mr. Jamil that his protest had been planned for “about three weeks” with a focus on “illegal immigration.” However, following the murders of three children in Southport, he decided to “use the opportunity to turn it into a vigil to remember the young girls.”
Mr. Jamil questioned him, pointing out that the suspect charged with the Southport killings was born in Wales. Mr. Francis responded, “I never jumped on any of that.”
Footage from the rally shows Mr. Francis wearing a T-shirt with the words “Stop The Boats” and shouting into a microphone about migrants, “Do one, I don’t want you here.”
An advertisement for the protest, written by Mr. Francis and circulated on social media, urged attendees to arrive “as sober as you can be” and mentioned that the demonstration would include a tribute and vigil for the young girls who lost their lives. The advert also listed grievances, including “terror attacks on our people in the name of an alien religion to our country.”
During the riot that erupted after the planned demonstration, a migrant hotel was attacked, and cars and tires were set on fire before the mob moved on to the mosque.
John Francis says that in the days leading up to the protest, he started sensing that a large crowd would attend and received a call from the police urging him to consider canceling the event, but he refused.
When asked by Sky News if he identifies as far-right, Francis responded, “No, I’m not at all.”
He acknowledged having been a member of the now-defunct English Defence League but claimed he left long before the group disbanded.
When questioned about the description of the Hull Patriotic Protesters on its Facebook group, which mentions the “influx of illegal invaders” as one of its concerns, John Francis explained, “When I set that group up, there was a lot of talk from parliament about an ‘invasion.’ I can’t remember which politicians were saying it, but everyone was calling it an invasion. Looking back now, I don’t think it was the best choice of words.”
However, he added, “You need to be fair… in every single one of my posts, I always say ‘black, brown, and white unite.’ I don’t like racists. I don’t like Nazis. I don’t want violence or riots. I always make that clear.”
Mr. Jamil told Francis that, whether intentional or not, the messages in his posts can “trigger things for other people,” suggesting that some might interpret his words as a call to “attack them.”
Mr. Jamil also shared that since the Hull riot, he still feels uneasy about going into the city center, adding, “I still feel uncomfortable going to town, going to shopping centers, going to public places.”
Francis, explaining his reasons for holding protests, said, “What we’re seeing is people coming over on these boats. This is what people are being told—they’re taking up the four-star hotels, they’re being rewarded, they’re being housed, they’re being fed, they’re being clothed. They’re not vetted. Nobody knows who they are.”
Mr. Jamil countered by saying, “They don’t get a free ride… The food and the accommodations provided are not what you think they are.” He added, “Believe me, they are struggling.”
When Mr. Francis raised the issue of communities not mixing, Mr. Jamil responded, “We do mix. I’ve got so many English friends.”
Mr. Francis told Sky News that he has no plans for any further demonstrations.
“I don’t think this city needs that right now,” he said. “I believe the people here need a break. The country as a whole needs a break.”
He added, “The prime minister needs to consider how he’s addressing the public. It’s not just about putting out the fire; it’s about understanding why the fire started in the first place.”
