Breaking:: Nigerians In UK Having Another Hard Time In Manchester As Far-Right Group Turns St George’s Day Into a Racist Protest
:VIDEO: Britain First supporters marched through Manchester city centre April 18 chanting “send them back”. Trams stopped, 3 arrested, Nigerians in UK forced to reroute.
Protester in Manchester On St George’s Day and Manchester police.
Video credit: Independent.
MANCHESTER, UK— For Nigerians in UK, Saturday became another hard day out. Rain hit St George’s crosses as English flags swallowed Manchester city centre. Trams stopped dead. Roads closed. Britain First turned England’s patron saint day into a street protest that left diaspora communities rerouting and on edge.
“Send Them Back” Chants As City Centre Locks Down
“Send them back” echoed off buildings on Portland Street. Hundreds marched behind banners reading “FOR ENGLAND AND ST GEORGE” vowing to “defend our country from invaders”. The chants and messaging directly target migrant communities, including thousands of Nigerians living, working, and studying in Greater Manchester.
Police Response: 3 Arrests, Trams Stopped, Dispersal Order
Greater Manchester Police deployed extra officers and a 10-hour dispersal order, giving police extra powers to maintain order. GMP’s stated aim was “to prevent any anti-social behavior and ensure the safety of all”.
Three arrests were confirmed: Two were counter-protesters — one for failing to provide details after refusing to remove a face covering, another for police assault. A third man was arrested for breaching the dispersal order, assaulting an emergency worker, and causing a breach of peace.
Assistant Chief Constable Rick Jackson said: “We are aware of social media videos circulating online.. On some occasions this spilled over into acts of violence and disorder, and these will be fully investigated”.
GMP confirmed “hundreds present on either side” at St Peter’s Square during static demonstrations.
Direct Disadvantages For Nigerians In UK
Movement Restricted: Transport for Greater Manchester halted all city centre tram services while the march passed. Nigerians commuting for weekend shifts, hospital appointments, or university classes were forced to walk through rain or cancel plans.
Business Disruption: Shops and African restaurants near Piccadilly Gardens and Portland Street lost foot traffic for hours. Saturday is peak business day for many Nigerian-owned services.
Hostile Environment: Clashes were reported outside the Palace Theatre. Anti-immigrant chants create fear for visible minorities. Nigerian students and nurses a major demographic in Manchester reported feeling unsafe moving through town.
Brand Risk: Media reported a child at the rear of the march joining adults chanting: “You can stick Palestine up your arse” after seeing a rainbow flag. Such rhetoric increases tensions in multicultural areas where Nigerians live.
A Manchester Evening News reporter estimated the Britain First turnout at “hundreds not thousands”. By the time party leader Paul Golding spoke at Castlefield Bowl, only a few dozen remained. Co-leader Ashlea Simon had spoken earlier as heavy rain thinned the crowd.
Official Response
Greater Manchester political leaders condemned the march. A spokesperson said: “Police will act swiftly against unlawful behaviour. We stand united against those who seek to incite fear.”
Why This Matters For Diaspora
St George’s Day is officially April 23, the feast day of England’s patron saint. The day is a national observance celebrated by many across the UK. However, it frequently becomes a focal point for political groups. Britain First calls itself a “patriotic political movement”. UK anti-extremism groups classify it as far-right.
When protests use national days to push anti-immigrant rhetoric, Nigerians in UK face three problems: physical disruption to work and travel, economic loss for community businesses, and increased racial hostility in public spaces.
What Happens Next
Three people remain in custody. Charges have not been confirmed. PIXEL PULSE is tracking if this becomes a test case for UK public order laws ahead of the official St George’s Day on April 23.
For Nigerians in Manchester: Community leaders advise avoiding city centre protests, reporting abuse to GMP, and using alternative transport routes when marches are announced
Disclaimer
PIXEL PULSE has not independently verified audio from social media. Chants of ‘send them back’ were reported by journalists on scene.
