Two Protests, Two Views

Today, I packed my camera gear and headed out to a location near the Cedar Court Hotel by Denby Dale in Wakefield. I wasn't there for a specific event, but to document what I knew would be a day of opposing views. Two groups were scheduled to gather: an anti-immigration protest and, in response, an anti-racism protest.

As a photographer, my goal isn't to take sides, but to capture the moments—the people, the emotions, and the story as it unfolds.

The First Arrival

I made sure to get there early, giving myself time to find a good spot and set up my camera. The first group to arrive was the anti-immigration protest.

I was right there as they gathered, and I managed to take a lot of photos. I was focused on capturing the signs, the speakers, and the interactions within the group. At one point, I even started talking with some of the protesters.

Now, here's the part that might surprise you: I am an immigrant myself. You might expect that interaction to be tense or hostile. But I have to be honest—not a single person was rude to me. We spoke, I took their photographs, and they were open to being documented. It was a straightforward, human interaction.

NOTE

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https://skylenscapture.pixieset.com/thecedarcourtprotest/

The Counter-Protest

After a while, I noticed the second group, the anti-racism protesters, had gathered further down the road. They were there to provide a counter-narrative, to show opposition to the first group's message.

I walked over to them, camera still in hand, and began documenting their side of the story. Just as with the first group, I took photos and spoke to some of the people involved. They were passionate and clearly explained their reasons for being there—to stand for inclusivity and against what they perceive as division.

An Observer's Reflection

I spent the day moving between these two groups. And at the end of it all, I was left with one strong reflection.

As someone who is not a British citizen, I felt my position was purely as an observer. It wasn't my place to choose a side in this domestic debate. What I saw were two distinct groups of British people, each with their own set of strong beliefs about their country's future.

It was a powerful, real-life example of democracy in action. It isn't always pretty, and it isn't always comfortable, but it's the right for different, even opposing, views to be expressed publicly.

The most important part, for me, was that I didn't witness any violence. In a democracy, we have to be able to respect that people will have different opinions. As long as those opinions are expressed peacefully, without violence, that right to protest is fundamental. I left with a camera full of photos, not of a conflict, but of a conversation—even if it was a loud one.