Alex Whyte, whose sister Rhiannon Whyte was stabbed 23 times with a screwdriver by a Sudanese asylum seeker in October 2024, traveled four hours to participate in an anti-migrant protest in Portsmouth.
The demonstration at Eastney Beach on Sunday saw over 500 protesters attempt to block the arrival of 140 asylum seekers who had crossed the English Channel from France. Protesters waded into the sea, chanting "stop the boats," and later attempted to block roads to prevent the asylum seekers from being transported to a processing center in Kent.
"I'm proud to be here and angry obviously at the fact we've allowed more [migrants] in," Alex Whyte stated, adding, "We get to as many [protests] as we can humanly get to. I've just driven four hours to get to this tonight because it's a worthy cause."
Rhiannon Whyte, 27, was a hotel worker at the Park Inn Hotel in Walsall, which housed asylum seekers at the time of her murder. The perpetrator, Deng Majek, a Sudanese asylum seeker who claimed to be 18, was sentenced to 29 years in prison for the stabbing. Following the murder, Majek reportedly spent the night dancing and drinking in the hotel's car park.
Alex Whyte and her family are advocating for "Rhiannon's Law," which would mandate the detention of undocumented asylum seekers during the processing of their applications. She mentioned meeting with government ministers who had assured her that measures were being taken to stop boat crossings, but expressed skepticism due to past unfulfilled promises. She also noted a comment from a housing official who stated that local councils would not offer housing to the homeless or veterans, implying resources were being diverted.
The protest in Portsmouth followed a similar demonstration in Dover on Saturday, which also involved anti-migrant sentiment. Footage shared online showed confrontations between protesters and riot police, with officers deploying shields and attempting to disperse the crowds. Demonstrators remained in the area until late Sunday night, and the protest continued until Monday morning, when police threatened arrests following the issuance of a dispersal order.
The protest in Portsmouth is believed to have been organized in part by Daniel Thomas, also known as Danny Tommo, an influencer associated with the Patriot Platform group. Thomas livestreamed the event, emphasizing the need for an end to migrant arrivals.
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