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EDL And Naked Bike Ride In Bristol Cause Surreal Scenes

Don't ever change Bristol.
Chris York
By 

Senior Editor, HuffPost UK

On Saturday the English Defence League held an anti-immigration march in Bristol prompting a large police presence to keep it and anti-facist demonstrators apart.

A heavy police presence as a small group of people attend a far right anti-refugee demonstration at College Green in Bristol.
A heavy police presence as a small group of people attend a far right anti-refugee demonstration at College Green in Bristol.
Ben Birchall/PA Wire

The far-right group failed to summon much support and estimates of their number ranged from around 18-20.

So, that neo-Nazi EDL demonstration in Bristol had an impressive turnout. pic.twitter.com/wO1JW5Vbrf

— Eurovisionary (@kimpegasus) June 5, 2016
A small group of people attend the far right anti-refugee demonstration at College Green.
A small group of people attend the far right anti-refugee demonstration at College Green.
Ben Birchall/PA Wire

So....#EDL demo in Bristol managed about a dozen spotty youths....

— Ade Couper (@akc_0123) June 4, 2016

Opposing them were a far larger group of anti-facist demonstrators who gathered bearing signs saying "refugees welcome here" and "fuck off Nazis".

"Say it loud, say it clear - refugees are welcome here" - anti-EDL match today in Bristol City Centre. pic.twitter.com/OR00ekcbWv

— BCfm (@BCfmRadio) June 4, 2016

#Bristol #Protests #EDL #today #collegegreen #parkstreet #Refugees #immigration #SouthWestInfidels #Ralley pic.twitter.com/X6a6qulcEp

— Joe Palmer˙ (@kaucusaudio) June 4, 2016

It wasn't all well-behaved and police did have to intervene to keep the two groups apart.

Police rushing the anti-fascists on Howells Road. #BristolDemos pic.twitter.com/U3KWppTbuB

— Louis Emanuel (@louisjemanuel) June 4, 2016

Theyre here pic.twitter.com/cSCd9eVBGD

— Michael Yong (@Michael_Yong) June 4, 2016

But this is Bristol and there was no way the city was going to let its weekend be remembered for a tiny gathering of the far-right South West Infidels branch of the EDL.

Which is why even more people took part in and supported this in another part of town...

Ben Birchall/PA Wire

The start of the World Naked Bike Ride, currently winding around the centre of Bristol: pic.twitter.com/yaWjQ7GdUE

— Bristol24/7 (@bristol247) June 4, 2016

Around 250 people bared all and cycled through Bristol after meeting in the appropriately monikered Full Moon Pub.

Ben Birchall/PA Wire
Ben Birchall/PA Wire
Ben Birchall/PA Wire

The event was in demonstration against car culture and oil-dependency.

Watching the naked bike ride go past the EDL rally in town was entertaining

— WillThompson (@_T0MM0_) June 4, 2016

and so converging this afternoon we have an EDL march (pricks), a pro-refugee rally and a naked bike ride. bristol- never knowingly dull

— Toby (@toby_b83) June 4, 2016

It's all go at College Green - EDL, anti fascists AND The Naked Bike Ride. All fuelled by ice cream obvs. pic.twitter.com/fN3j1za3A3

— Vee Double Moo (@VeeDoubleMoo) June 4, 2016

Today on my doorstep: A hateful EDL mob will be rightly thwarted whilst a mass naked bike ride ambles through the city. Ah Bristol.

— Liam McKinnon (@liammckinnon) June 4, 2016

Don't ever change Bristol.

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