Anti-asylum seeker protest labelled 'family occasion' with people urged 'don't kick off'

A demonstration against "illegal migrants" is set to take place in a Welsh city centre this weekend. A counter-demonstration is also being arranged and police have been placed on alert.

The gathering was organised before a Home Office decision to abandon plans for asylum accommodation at Plas yn Rhos in the village of Rhosllanerchrugog.

Protest organiser, Wrexham Unite, confirmed the march would proceed as planned in the city to draw attention to broader concerns regarding the potential use of Wrexham accommodation for asylum dispersals.

Specifically, the event is intended to highlight a proposed HMO (House in Multiple Occupation) in the small village of Sydallt, near Gwersyllt. The demonstration is scheduled for Saturday, January 31, commencing at 12pm.

Protesters have been requested to assemble in Yorke Street for a "peaceful march" through High Street and Hope Street before returning to Llwyn Isaf via the library and Guildhall. The event is expected to conclude around 4pm following speeches. 

Wrexham Unite emphasised the gathering was designed as a family occasion. Participants are requested not to wear face coverings and to avoid "kicking off".

In a social media statement, the organisers declared: "We have pensioners attending. We have children attending. People from all walks of life will be there. Keep your head together and represent Wrexham properly. Show people what Wrexham is really about. North Wales Police are aware of the proposed plan and will facilitate a lawful and peaceful protest.

"We are aware of a counter-protest. If you encounter anyone from the counter-protest winding you up and trying to pick a fight, don't rise to it. Let them look stupid. Check your mates. If you see anyone starting to get riled up, keep them in line."

It's yet to be determined whether Welsh folk anthem, Yma o Hyd, will be played during the march after music icon Dafydd Iwan instructed protest organisers against using the song, stating he didn't wish to be associated with a "hate-driven campaign".

The anthem commemorates the endurance of the Welsh language and culture. Via social media, Wrexham Unite declared Yma o Hyd was a "song for everyone who calls Wales home".

A digital petition opposing a proposed HMO at Oak Alyn Hall, a former care facility in Sydallt, has now attracted nearly 4,400 signatures in under two weeks.

The building's proprietor, Manchester solicitor Bilal Babar, has rejected claims it's designated for asylum accommodation as "lies", insisting he simply wants to "deliver much-needed affordable accommodation" for the Wrexham region.

Opponents to the HMO have installed multiple roadside placards expressing their opposition regardless of its proposed use, arguing local services are already overstretched.

Meanwhile, Wrexham Council has confirmed an Extraordinary General Meeting for Friday, February 6. A motion will address the "lack of fairness and transparency and accountability" within the Home Office's asylum dispersal system.

This comes after the Home Office dismissed concerns submitted by the local authority regarding recent asylum applications in Sydallt and Rhosllanerchrugog.