McChuills Music Bar, a Glasgow venue that has been “anti-fascist since 1993” has been attacked by what was alleged to be a far-right mob.
On Saturday (September 7), the liberal venue addressed the incident in a post on Instagram. “Earlier today, a group of up to 40 right-wing ultras attempted to attack McChuills,” their statement read.
“They failed. As ever, McChuills stands against fascists and racism in all its forms. This is a place where everyone is welcome, no matter who they support, who they love, who they worship or how they vote. With one exception, which we made very clear this afternoon.”
Footage of the incident was later shared on X/Twitter by independent media platform Skotia, who wrote the eyewitnesses has seen the group fighting with police and attempting to storm the venue.
On day the far-right try to rally in Glasgow, a mob dressed all in black has attacked a pub on Glasgow's High Street in the past hour. Eye witness confirms the group tried to storm the venue, throwing bottles & fighting with police. pic.twitter.com/nW30tnewYC
— Skotia (@TheSkotia) September 7, 2024
After a damp squib gathering in #Glasgow city centre, fascist hooligans attacked #McChuills today. It’s a pub associated with #Celtic fans & good music nights. It looks like the fash threw some bottles and then got chased up the High Street by the irate patrons of the bar. 👊🏼🍀 https://t.co/MRFBGqC8qe
— Football Fans Against Fascism (@Class1Action) September 7, 2024
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According to the venue’s later post, no one was hurt, and the team decided to make entry for the music events going on later that night free, writing: “Come on down, have a good night and stand in solidarity with all of us here. McChuills. Anti-fascist since 1993.”
The incident coincided with a “pro-UK” rally backed by Tommy Robinson at the nearby George Square. Per The Guardian, “thousands” showed up in solidarity in counter-protests on Saturday.
The opposing rallies were separated by lines of police and metal barriers. A Stand Up to Racism Scotland event, done in coalition with trade unions and refugee rights organisations, reportedly took over most of the square as speakers addressed the crowd.
The incident comes only a month after Love Music Hate Racism announced they were planning a nationwide concert series to promote unity after anti-immigration riots, which were was sparked on July 30 following the fatal stabbing of three children at a Taylor Swift-inspired dance class in Southport, Merseyside.
Soon after the incident, misinformation appeared online, falsely claiming that the suspect was a Muslim asylum seeker. Shortly afterwards, huge groups including far-right and anti-immigration extremists took to the streets around the country to riot and cause violence and disorder. Numerous Mosques and hotels housing asylum seekers were targeted, as were various shops and libraries which were burnt out and looted.