In a move to maintain public order and protect vulnerable migrants, French authorities have issued a sweeping ban on British far-right activists planning to participate in a protest against asylum seekers crossing the English Channel this weekend.
The announcement, made by the prefecture of the Nord and Pas-de-Calais departments, aims to prevent members of the group “Raise the Colours” and their associates from travelling to France for the so-called “Operation Overlord” demonstration. The ban, which will be in effect from 11 PM on Friday until 8 AM on Monday, comes after the French interior ministry previously prohibited 10 unnamed far-right activists associated with the group from entering the country.
Bertrand Gaume, the prefect of the Nord department, and François-Xavier Lauch, the prefect of the Pas-de-Calais department, cited the group’s “actions of intimidation against migrants and humanitarian organisations” along the coast as the reason for the ban. They stated that these xenophobic and anti-immigrant activities pose a clear risk of public disorder and have decided to take action to “prevent any confrontation or threat to public safety.”
Daniel Thoma, an associate of the activist Stephen Yaxley-Lennon (also known as Tommy Robinson), had been running Operation Overlord, which was initially launched by Raise the Colours. However, Thoma has since parted ways with the group and is now leading the planned gathering.
Lachlan Macrae of the Calais Food Collective, an NGO supporting asylum seekers in northern France, welcomed the French government’s decision, describing the far-right activists as “racist agitators” who are “intent on coming out to France to harass displaced people and threaten violence.” Macrae called on the British government to take action against these individuals, whose “movement, groups and rhetoric have been normalised” in the UK.
The Home Office has been approached for comment, but so far, 931 people have crossed the English Channel in small boats this year.
