City on glass.

My city wakes to a fine layer of broken glass, shining in the sun.

The events of the evening heavy on the minds and hearts of those who live here, as they begin their work week side by side with others whom may have also have been there, on either side.

Yesterday, a protest took place, and because of it's nature, a counter protest was also formed, and while I am not wholly informed of all events and timelines, I can do my best to relay my experience last night.

Sunday evening, during an obligatory doomscroll, I came across a news article from the local news team. It explained how a protest was happening, instigated by -and rather than using the name, I will instead cite Wikipedia's description of them- a British, anti-Islam campaigner and one of the UKs most prominent far right activists.

The rhetoric of stopping boats and anti immigration sentiment would seem to be the driving force behind this protest.

While I have not heard of it directly mentioned in relation to this protest, it would be amiss not to also give the wider context that several mass protests have taken place across the country in response to the brutal murder of 3 young children. If this was the reason they marched, I struggled to see it.

Due to the nature of the organiser and the similar protesting riots across the country, it is understandable that a counter protest was arranged to coincide, and a heavy policing force was scrambled to meet the situation.

The article I read on Sunday night mentioned both times and locations for both sides feeling very much like a call to arms, first detailing the tragedy that began this newest spate of protests, then the times and dates for our protests, then finishing up by stating how awful similar riots across the country have been.

With this in mind I planned to attend, in the beginning, as an objective observer, despite my personal sentiments.

While shopping for groceries, I was informed that the shops were all closing early today, due to a varying number of reasons they said, but another glance at the local news sources confirmed they were closing in anticipation of the protests.

The Royal Parade was empty of buses, all having been diverted or cancelled, creating an eerie scene for its staging.

So at around quarter past 7, I took a wander into the city centre. I can't say I expected much, I've seen gatherings and protests with a small handful in the city but what I was met with was a closed road and a wall of sound.

The Royal Parade had been chosen as the battleground, and I stand by that phrasing as I will get into later.

When I arrived, one lane of car traffic was still open, and motorists attempted to make their way through despite the growing unrest.

Whether orchestrated by the police or the protestors themselves, they had been placed with the far right protesters on one side of the carriageway, and the opposing protesters on the other.

Not a thing in the world could have made me cross to the opposite side of the road, so I mingled around the counter protest side, reading placards, hearing the chants, trying to capture glimpses into this moment, and those who have taken to the streets for this.

I move into the group closer and the chants of "no hate, no fear, refugees are welcome here." rings loudly in my ears, signs and flags adorning many of the attendees and hugs and well wishes of those standing together for this.

Police vans held both sides of the crossing, and a line of police officers armed with protective helmets and either round or rectangular riot shields faced both sides of the protest.

I am hoping when more surrounding media about these events is released that I'll be able to read some of the far right sides placards, I managed to capture one particular person, a union jack in one hand, a double sided sign in the other. 'Referendum on immigration now." and 'End 2 Tier Tyranny now.'

Aside from that one sign, the majority of the far right side had either England flags or Union Jack's.

At 8:12pm I took this picture, after an outcry of "HEADS!" the crowd ducked. This rock hit the floor. The mood changed. It made me think of the term and bible story of 'casting the first stone,' but I am far from educated on theology enough to make any broader statement of that nature. It may not have been the first stone, but it was the first while I was in attendance.

The police may have been holding the lines, but now we were in a siege. I realised I'd come here with my head unprotected, and pulled my hood up for some sort of security.

The cry of "HEADS!" was never going to be the only one. The rules had just changed, they might not be able to get to us but they could throw things.

Pictures surfacing the morning after, shows the extent some went to for these projectiles. Ripped up paving and smashed in walls.

As shards of stone and blue smoke bombs turned to glass bottles and bricks, I took shelter behind a post, and those with placards offered to shield those closest under their boards.

I wont pretend I didnt see return throws from individuals on the side of the counter protest, however these were met wiry shouts to not return throws from several people.

After one shout of "HEADS!", I turned to shield my face, and saw a young petrified blonde woman get struck in the head, folding into her boyfriend in floods of tears as he took her away.

That was a white noise moment for me, one of those memories you have in super slow motion like a action film.

Visibly upset by it as many were around me, I turned and bumped into another young woman, also in floods of tears and panic and held her tightly in a hug while assuring her it would all be okay.

"It's awful." She sobbed.

I must also note that several times here we were having to change which direction we were facing, and more officers were having to box around the counter protest, as by maintaining ground on the far right protest, it has given an opening for smaller groups of them to file into the adjoining streets and then around the wall of policing.

A group of masked people were keeping on top of these small changes in defense of our line.

"Hold the square!!" A bellow came from behind me and a group of them ran past me to meet a group approaching the counter protest.

I can't help but see it as an old school battle formation, changing and attempting pushes forward to gain ground against an enemy.

While recalling events today I am envious of the gentleman who came with notebook and dictaphone, as the timeline is not as crisp as I would prefer it.

The next event I recall is the firework.

The second white noise moment of the night. A small blue firework burst into the crowd and my partner grabbed me and said "time to go."

As we moved quickly back in retreat, I turned back to check the scene, many had fled, and who can blame them, and while I myself wanted to also throw in the towel there, I couldn't deny the feeling of injustice that after having bottles, rocks and worse thrown toward a group standing against racism and hatred.

Deciding to go home and change into more protective clothing, and then to rejoin the numbers in the counter protest, this time with a baseball cap for head and some face protection, a thicker hoodie and thicker trousers.

Upon returning, the counter protest numbers had thinned out. The far right protestors were being pushed into retreat back towards the sundial, and the scene, lit in a flashing blue, was cut with a tension a pin drop could shatter.

The barking of police dogs could also be heard in the distance and it seems they were supporting the officers moving towards the sundial.

Whether this forced retreat played into the constant shifting of picket line around the square or not, I believe it increased tension and began the events that I can only confirm turned protest into riot.

These events are as I witnessed them and not, unfortunately, privy to all events of the evening.

With reasoning I didn't see, a mass of officers began running up to the Treasury, I heard rumours later that a bin had been upended for bottles, and the line of police and vans on the road were thinning very quickly, sheltering under a tree from possible projectiles and trying to gain bearings on the situation, I noticed many signs and placards discarded under the tree. One of which was pulled from the piled and sacrificed for one of the sticks used to hold it, this was now a weapon.

It appeared the protestors had made significant progress in coming in from the right down from TKMaxx, which has seen its glass smashed at some point in the evening, via the Treasury for some fresh bottles, and down towards the square.

The police attempted to filter them down past the Guildhall and in doing so, I believe both sides ended up mixing and there was a mass of running from the Guildhall, past the courts, and towards San Sebastian Square.

Now both sides were mixed.

Not being the running sort I made my way in the middle of the back of the pack, and saw a police line being set up on Notte Street. The Crown Plaza Hotel had its large glass doors locked, a stressed out manager on the phone, and many staff staring out with a spectrum of concern and fear on their faces. Guests lined the hotel room windows in a similar manner. The top of the hill showed the movement had gone down towards the barbican, a wall, broken down for stones and broken glass littering the floor.

I think at this point the groups had not only mixed, but also like a whirlwind, had also picked up general passers-by, and was moving down Citadel Road, it was dark, there are lots of smaller winding roads and its generally difficult to navigate it's backroads and passages.

Shouting and throwing of stones and glass continued onto the top of Hoe Approach, but numbers were thin and the mixture was making many apprehensive.

The violence and anger here seemed to purely be people vs police.

After another bottle was thrown and shattered on the floor nearby, the movement threatened to head back towards us, perhaps in part to a police manovre attempting to block all the roads leading further towards the military base and barbican.

Due to the movement heading back our way people began taking cover in the front gardens, which are more like subterranean courtyards set down sets of stairs, and as was the case with three ladies sheltering with us, hiding behind wheelie bins.

Luckily for us and the homeowners the movement was herded up the grass to the Hoe.

Hearing calls of "stick together" people moved up the grass in groups of three to about seven, noone certain who was on which side or what was going to happen.

The lines seemingly reformed on the Hoe, with the far right, being represented by a much younger group and the counter protest being held on the Promenade in front of Smeaton's Tower.

Shoulder to shoulder the line of police with shields faced the counter protestors with their backs to the other protestors.

Calls of "you're facing the wrong way" echo from the counter protestors.

Not only that but a group are forming at a perpendicular angle to the counter protestors, without a single policeman between them and the counter protest.

Of course we cannot expect officers to act on any information given by alerting shouts, but not one of them flinched when the first bottles were thrown at their backs.

Shortly after, a trade size wheelie bin was set ablaze behind the police officers whom were still facing the counter protest.

A few counter protestors had sat down, to highlight the peace of their protest.

Eventually doing a numbered role call and calling all odd numbers to about face, there were finally eyes on both sides of the fray.

The wheelie bin was overturned and I should imagine eventually burned out.

The counter protest from what I saw from the Hoe, while moderately antagonising to the police in frustration, were peaceful, some sitting, some chatting and laughing, the far right protest was kept away from that line, the bin being set on fire was the final move from them.

Being kept close to the Promenade Cafe, I could see arrests being made.

"Alright guys, we're done, anyone who doesn't wanna be arrested, its time to go." A call came from the counter protestors to let all know it was over, and people quickly started making plans to get home safely in groups.

Both sides mixing again on that bizarre walk back towards town,

A buzz still there but the starting rain keeping the buzz to silent murmuring between groups walking together.

I don't think I took a single step home that wasn't orchestrated by broken glass.