Timeline
Sunday 13th July
- Locals gathered at The Bell Hotel in Epping to protest the hotel’s use as accommodation for asylum seekers. This came following an asylum seeker being charged with three counts of sexual assault. The individual has denied all charges.
- That evening, two of the hotel’s security guards were assaulted at a bus stop. The attack is being treated as a racist hate crime, and a 65-year old man has been charged with affray but released on bail, and is due to appear in Chelmsford Magistrates Court in September.
- Counter protestors from Stand Up to Racism were present, with one member being physically attacked. Footage of him bleeding was spread on social media.
- While there were some far-right activists at the event (see below), the majority of people there were local protesters.
Thursday 17th July
- Suspect charged with three counts of sexual assault, Hadush Kebatu, appeared at Chelmsford magistrates court.
- A peaceful demonstration featuring speeches from concerned locals began outside The Bell hotel. This was predominantly locals, but Callum Barker (Homeland Party) also did a speech.
- The protest quickly descended into chaos as families started to disperse; it was co-opted by masked men intent on violence. Fireworks and eggs thrown at police. Police vans attacked, some people ripped wingmirrors off and attempted to break through windows and access car doors.
- One protester was hit by a police van.
- There were attendees from Homeland and Blood & Honour, as well as former Combat 18 and For Britain members.
- Two people were arrested.
Saturday 19th July
- Keith Silk, 33, is arrested with one count of violent disorder and one count of criminal damage on Thursday evening. He was charged on Sunday 20th, and is due in Chelmsford Magistrate’s court Monday 21st.
Sunday 20th July
- Another planned peaceful protest began with approximately 1,500 people gathered outside The Bell hotel. There was a march consisting mainly of women, who held banners reading ‘save our kids’, amongst similar phrases.
- Towards the evening, a similar situation to Thursday emerged where bottles and smoke flares were thrown at police, although police did seem to have more presence and control than on Thursday. A car suspected to be an unmarked police car (unconfirmed) had its windscreen smashed in.
- Six people were arrested.
Far-right agitators
The far right were quick to jump on this protest. So far HOPE not hate have identified the following far-right figures:
Sunday 13th
- Jaymey McIvor (Reform UK Councillor for Ongar). McIvor has been accused of spreading misinformation after alleging a member of the press was hit by a police car. While one protester was hit by a police van, the journalist is said to have tripped over.
- Callum Barker (Homeland Party). HOPE not hate have previously exposed Barker for having used extreme racial slurs and posing with a copy of the manifesto of Ted Kaczynski (AKA The Unabomber), the American terrorist who murdered three people and maimed many more in a 17-year bombing campaign.
- Julian Leppert (British Democrats, former For Britain and British National Party). Leppert had organised an anti-migrant campaign centred on The Bell hotel in 2020.
Thursday 17th
- Lance Wright (Blood and Honour). Wright was photographed at the forefront of the protests, approaching the police line.
- Philip Curson (Former Combat 18). Curson was pictured alongside Wright, also confronting police.
- Callum Barker (Homeland)
- Eddy Butler (Former For Britain). Butler had worked with Leppert in his 2020 campaign against the use of the Bell Hotel as an asylum seeker accommodation facility.
- Julian Leppert (British Democrats)
Sunday 20th:
- Kai Cunningham (White Vanguard)
- David Oldershaw (Patriots of Britain)
- Alexander Wakefield (Homeland Party)
- Callum Barker (Homeland Party)
- Nick Scanlon (Homeland Party)
- Charlie Fox (Homeland Party)
- Eugene Forbes (Britain First)
- Adam Clegg (Homeland Party)
- Nick Tenconi – (UKIP). Tenconi did a speech surrounded by locals, encouraging them to partake in peaceful protest, but maintaining an aggressive anti-migrant rhetoric.
- Brian Stovell (Great British Guardians)
- Kai Stephens (Homeland Party)
See also:
Blood and Honour
Britain First
For Britain
Homeland Party
White Vanguard
There have been nine arrests so far:
- Two arrested on Thursday. One on suspicion of affray in relation to an assault at the protest.The other was arrested for failing to comply with orders given around dispersal and remained in custody.
- One was arrested Saturday. Keith Silk, 33, of Torrington Drive, Loughton, was arrested with one count of violent disorder and one count of criminal damage owing to his actions on Thursday evening.
- Six other arrests on Sunday evening.
These violent protests echo the circumstances of last year’s far-right protests across the country.
Nick Lowles, CEO at HOPE not hate said
“The allegations of sexual assault are deeply worrying, and the people of Epping are right to be concerned about this case. A man has been arrested and it’s vital that the legal process is allowed to run its course.
The events in Epping are a symptom of a recurring trend within the far right: co-opting the high emotions of local people to whip up hatred. The far right demonise and vilify all migrants, including the other innocent residents at the hotel, creating a climate of hatred and hatred locally. Sadly, violence is the result.
The far right is seeking to sow division in the local area, which does nothing to assist the victims of sexual abuse.”
