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| Ukip chairwoman Janice Atkinson who called for protesters who ‘hurl abuse’ to be arrested caught swearing at anti-racism activists | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A senior Ukip MEP candidate who last week called for abusive protesters to be arrested by police has been caught on camera swearing at a group of local activists. | A senior Ukip MEP candidate who last week called for abusive protesters to be arrested by police has been caught on camera swearing at a group of local activists. |
| Janice Atkinson, who is the party’s South East chair and described herself as Nigel Farage’s “number two”, was pictured raising her middle finger at members of the People’s Assembly in Ashford, Kent. | Janice Atkinson, who is the party’s South East chair and described herself as Nigel Farage’s “number two”, was pictured raising her middle finger at members of the People’s Assembly in Ashford, Kent. |
| People’s Assembly and Green Party member Maria Pizzey said she and a small number of activists held a peaceful protest next to Ms Atkinson and Ukip’s Ashford chair Norman Taylor, who Ms Pizzey said seemed “embarrassed” by his colleague’s behaviour. | People’s Assembly and Green Party member Maria Pizzey said she and a small number of activists held a peaceful protest next to Ms Atkinson and Ukip’s Ashford chair Norman Taylor, who Ms Pizzey said seemed “embarrassed” by his colleague’s behaviour. |
| According to the protesters, former Tory candidate Ms Atkinson made “personal comments about [Ms Pizzey’s] body size”, and said: “I don't care where you f***ing post this, just f**k off!” | According to the protesters, former Tory candidate Ms Atkinson made “personal comments about [Ms Pizzey’s] body size”, and said: “I don't care where you f***ing post this, just f**k off!” |
| The image has now gone viral, with a post on Facebook describing the confrontation having received more than 30,000 shares. | |
| It comes as the latest in a string of altercations in the South East between Ukip and a number of groups including Unite Against Fascism and the Green Party. | It comes as the latest in a string of altercations in the South East between Ukip and a number of groups including Unite Against Fascism and the Green Party. |
| Members of the small group of People's Assembly activists said they stood 'peacefully' next to the Ukip stand and let members of the public approach them Ms Atkinson, who last week told The Independent that recent protests had made her “fear for her safety”, posted a picture of the activists on Twitter yesterday with the caption: “The attractive face of the Greens, apparently.” | Members of the small group of People's Assembly activists said they stood 'peacefully' next to the Ukip stand and let members of the public approach them Ms Atkinson, who last week told The Independent that recent protests had made her “fear for her safety”, posted a picture of the activists on Twitter yesterday with the caption: “The attractive face of the Greens, apparently.” |
| She said that the protesters had been “harassing the public”, resulting in “many complaints, one to police”. | She said that the protesters had been “harassing the public”, resulting in “many complaints, one to police”. |
| The attractive face of the Greens, apparently. Harassing public in Ashford today. Many complained, one to police pic.twitter.com/c5gsHMfkp5 | The attractive face of the Greens, apparently. Harassing public in Ashford today. Many complained, one to police pic.twitter.com/c5gsHMfkp5 |
| But Thom Pizzey, who attended the protest along with Maria, said: “We never shouted. We stood respectfully and quietly to the side of their stall and let people approach us.” | But Thom Pizzey, who attended the protest along with Maria, said: “We never shouted. We stood respectfully and quietly to the side of their stall and let people approach us.” |
| He said the group had been “exercising free speech and freedom to protest”, and that “the only one who swore or was aggressive” was Ms Atkinson herself. | He said the group had been “exercising free speech and freedom to protest”, and that “the only one who swore or was aggressive” was Ms Atkinson herself. |
| Last week Ms Atkinson said that the accusations of fascism and Nazism aimed at Ukip by activists were “disgraceful”. She said the party had called for any protesters who “call our supporters fascists, hurl other abuse or any physical assault” to be arrested by police. | Last week Ms Atkinson said that the accusations of fascism and Nazism aimed at Ukip by activists were “disgraceful”. She said the party had called for any protesters who “call our supporters fascists, hurl other abuse or any physical assault” to be arrested by police. |
| When contacted by The Independent today, Ms Atkinson was unavailable for comment. |