The Green Brigade has spoken out after some of their members were detained by police while trying to join an anti-immigration demonstration in Glasgow at the weekend. The Celtic supporters’ group had headed to George Square to counter a far-right rally but were stopped in their tracks, kettled by police, and held for over two hours.
In a statement released via their social media, the Green Brigade highlighted what they see as the unfair treatment of their members by Police Scotland. They expressed concern over how they were specifically targeted while attempting to participate in an anti-racist demonstration. “On Saturday, anti-racist Celtic fans attempted to join an anti-racist demo in Glasgow but were prevented from doing so by Police Scotland,” the statement read.
The group also touched on what they believe to be an ingrained issue of institutional racism within Scotland, specifically towards Irish Catholics, which they feel still impacts Celtic supporters to this day. “It is equally important for all anti-racists to acknowledge the reason why Celtic fans are treated in this way. As Scotland’s original immigrants, Irish Catholics are familiar with a racism which is deeply institutionalised in Police Scotland and other institutions,” they said.
This sentiment is tied to a wider critique from the group, who believe that police action against them is reflective of a broader issue with how Irish Catholic identity is handled in Scotland.
The statement further thanked those who stood in solidarity with them during the event and called for continued action against far-right groups, stating: “Given our history, Celtic fans will always challenge groups, institutions, or agendas that seek to marginalise and oppress any community.”
The Green Brigade has never been shy about their political stance and often use their platform inside and outside Celtic Park to advocate for social justice issues.
However, this has also made them a controversial presence, with both praise and criticism coming their way in equal measure. Their targeting at this protest raises important questions about why they were singled out by the authorities, especially given the context of the demonstration.
