Manchester, England – Video filmed by X user Tim Pollitt captured dramatic aerial footage high above Deansgate in central Manchester, England, on February 21, 2026, during Britain First’s controversial “March for Remigration,” a far-right rally demanding mass deportations of migrants and refugees, led by party figures Paul Golding and Ashlea Simon.

The clip begins with a sweeping drone shot of the busy city artery packed with hundreds of marchers, mostly men in dark jackets, moving along the rain-soaked road beneath a sea of Union Jack flags, St. George’s Crosses, and Scottish saltires. Chants drift upward as police in bright yellow high-visibility vests line the route, some running in formation to contain the crowd near a “LOADS TO DO” digital billboard.

As the drone glides above, protesters raise fists and carry banners reading “Remigration Now” and “Britain First.” The dense crowd spills onto sidewalks and beneath historic brick arches, with Beetham Tower visible in the distance. Officers rush to create human barriers while marchers push forward, the scene unfolding against shuttered storefronts and onlookers watching from windows.

Wider aerial views reveal the procession stretching through the city centre, with an estimated 500 to 1,000 participants. Even larger counter-demonstrations from antifascist groups chant “Refugees are welcome here” and wave Palestinian flags, turning Piccadilly Gardens into a flashpoint marked by scuffles and red smoke flares.

The confrontation led to at least 11 arrests, mainly for public order offenses such as assault and affray. Greater Manchester Police deployed drones and horses and imposed a 10-hour dispersal order to manage the rally and counter-protesters as the footage spread widely online, sparking intense debate over free speech, racism, and migration policy.

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