Portsmouth, England – Volunteers with the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) have become the focus of intense hostility after helping a migrant‑filled boat reach shore earlier this week. Far‑right demonstrators, some wearing balaclavas, gathered in the city’s harbour area, chanting slogans and accusing the lifesavers of treason.
Protest details and police response
On Sunday night, more than 200 protesters converged on Langstone Harbour, attempting to block three coaches that were to transport the rescued individuals to a processing centre. The crowd, organised by a group calling itself the Patriot Platform and led by Daniel Thomas – a former associate of anti‑Islam activist Tommy Robinson – clashed with police officers as they tried to maintain order.
Similar scenes unfolded in Dover on Saturday, where masked men in black shouted “stop the boats.” In both locations, the demonstrators sought to prevent the RNLI’s lifeboats from bringing the migrants ashore and to stop the subsequent transport of asylum seekers.
Government clarification
British Policing Minister Sarah Jones clarified that the RNLI acted under the direction of the UK Coastguard, responding to a request to meet a vessel carrying roughly 120 people. “A group of more than 200 protesters arrived at the harbour, intending to block three coaches which were due to take the arrivals for processing,” Jones said.
Abuse directed at volunteers
Following the operation, RNLI staff reported a surge of online harassment, including posts on X that labelled them “traitors” and accused them of “facilitating an invasion of Britain.” One user posted, “These two helped facilitate the invasion of Britain last night. I don’t know how they can look themselves in the mirror.” The RNLI also denied rumours that asylum seekers were being housed on its premises, calling such claims “completely baseless and untrue.”
RNLI leadership’s response
Peter Sparkes, CEO of the RNLI, condemned the abuse as “wholly unacceptable in a civilised society” and reaffirmed the organisation’s commitment to saving lives at sea, regardless of political pressure. “Illegal immigration is a political issue; the RNLI exists to save lives at sea,” Sparkes said. “We will always answer the call, whoever needs our help.” He added that only a very small portion of the RNLI’s rescue work involves the English Channel, with the majority of migrant rescues in the area carried out by the UK Border Force.
Context of migrant crossings
Despite the heated rhetoric, the Home Office reports that the number of migrants crossing the English Channel in small boats has fallen to its lowest level since 2020. Nevertheless, anti‑immigration sentiment remains high in parts of the country, fueling the recent protests.
Volunteer safety measures
In response to safety concerns, the RNLI has advised volunteers that they may choose not to wear RNLI‑branded clothing while representing the charity in public, should they feel it makes them a target.
The situation underscores the tension between humanitarian rescue efforts and a segment of the public that views any assistance to migrants as a threat to national security. The RNLI maintains that its mission is strictly lifesaving, independent of political debates.
Original reporting: KRDO (Colorado Springs metro) — read the source article.
