A small number of far-right protesters were met with a counter-demonstration on Portland.
Gathering at the Gateway Pillars on Victoria Square Roundabout the far-right group Patriotic Alternative (PA) held a demonstration which started shortly after 10am on Saturday.
Around a dozen members waved flags and held banners and were met by a counter-protest from Stand Up To Racism.
PA South West Regional Organiser Aaron Spreadbury, from Salisbury, said: "We are protesting against the migrant barge and migrants in general.
"We want the illegal migrants deported."
"It (the SUTR counterprotest) is sad and pathetic. They are just repeating what they have been told without thinking for themselves."
Joe Marsh from Swansea demonstrated with PA. He said: "All over the country these migrants who are criminals are being housed whilst our people are being put to the bottom of the queue.
"We just can't take all the world's waifs and strays, we just can't.
"These people haven't got a clue, they want immigration in unlimited numbers so long as it's not where they live."
Five police officers and three protest liaison officers were present for the protests.
At the same time Stand Up To Racism (SUTR) held a counter-protest with around 50 people. SUTR has called the group "modern-day fascists" and said that they are "not welcome".
The SUTR group put itself between the PA and the road in an attempt to block them from view using their greater numbers and chanted slogans such as: "Nazis off our streets, hate speech off our beach."
Lynne Hubbard, co-chair of Stand Up To Racism Dorset said: "We don't want to see nazis on Portland. They divide communities and are openly racist.
"Once the barge got here the far right saw it as an opportunity to prey on people's fears and try and recruit.
"We have a multicultural Dorset in which everyone should be welcome."
Claire is from Portland and she marched with SUTR. She said: "I love the island and I don't like the disruption and the hostility and the way the refugees have been treated.
"Portland is a beautiful peaceful place and I want to contribute in some way to keeping it that way.
"My grandfather fought against fascism. We should have grown out of racial hatred."
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