Although I recognise and respect the right of people to protest and make their voices heard, my first thoughts as the Mayor of Dover were with my fellow Dovorians and their rights to go about their daily business in peace without intimidation or hindrance. The masked demonstrators who invaded our quiet Saturday morning clearly planned to do so well in advance but did not respect the protocols and laws around demonstrations and protests in England which are designed to balance the right to protest with the rights of citizens and residents of a place to enjoy their right to freedom.
As a result of the blockade of the A20 and the Port, people could not get home from long night shifts at work, go for their regular weekend social at Park Run or open their small local businesses on time on the what is the busiest day of the trading week in Dover.
Social media videos and comments reflected how frightened and intimidated people were by the hundreds of protesters all dressed in black and hiding their faces behind balaclavas. Some of us were trapped in our cars and some watched in disbelief, looking out of their windows at home wondering what violence might yet unfold.
Dover is a nationally important Port town and already suffers the burden of traffic and interruption of its life so that people can get away on ferries for their summer and Easter holidays. We are repeatedly chosen by people from other parts of the country as the place they choose to travel to to air grievances and protest. What thought did any of these chanting and masked people give to the peace and protection of our local townsfolk? Dover’s townsfolk deserve respect and protection from this kind of invasion and intimidation. There are ways to protest peaceably and with respect – the protesters on Saturday chose to disrespect and disrupt people in Dover to achieve their own aims.
Town Mayor of Dover Cllr Bekah Dawes
Photo Credit: Parkrun Dover