A British activist known as Young Bob was assaulted in Manchester city centre while hosting a public political debate inspired by conservative commentator Charlie Kirk's popular 'Change My Mind' format.
Details of the Incident
Gregory Moffitt, who operates under the name Young Bob, had set up a stand under a banner reading 'Reform should be more radical' and was engaging members of the public in discussions about immigration, colonisation and remigration.
During the debate, Moffitt argued that people from former British colonies should not automatically be entitled to settle in the United Kingdom. As tensions rose among onlookers, he challenged those throwing water at him, saying: 'All of you who throw water are cowards. You don't actually want to fight for what you believe in.' One member of the crowd responded by saying: 'I'll fight you,' before telling Moffitt to get a job. Moffitt replied that he had previously worked for McDonald's but claimed he was dismissed because of his political views.
Escalation to Violence
Shortly afterwards, the situation escalated into violence. Video footage circulating on social media appears to show Moffitt being kicked to the ground, while his phone was smashed and some of his equipment, including a camera, banner and chair, were reportedly stolen.
The footage shows several individuals surrounding the activist as he attempts to recover his belongings. At one stage, he curls into a protective position on the ground while the confrontation continues. The attack only came to an end after another man, who had earlier been debating with Moffitt, intervened to shield him from further assault.
Aftermath and Response
Speaking after the incident, Moffitt said: 'Both of the cameras I had on the day have been broken or stolen. My phone has been smashed. They stole some of my stand equipment, including a banner and a chair.' He also claimed police described the incident as 'by far the most high-profile assault case they'd seen.'
Despite the attack, Moffitt indicated he intends to continue holding public debates on issues such as migration and remigration. He said he would return to the same location in Manchester but would be accompanied by a 'team of lads' for security.
Commenting on the incident, he said: 'This is England. I do not want to become a demographically replaced hellhole. What I saw that day was a group of migrant lads being egged on by left-wing agitators.' Greater Manchester Police confirmed officers attended the scene and arrested three individuals, two youths and one person in their twenties, on suspicion of robbery and assault.
Background of the Activist
Moffitt has become a prominent figure within Britain's anti-immigration movement and has drawn support from high-profile right-wing figures including Elon Musk and Tommy Robinson. He frequently appears on television programmes and social media platforms, where he advocates for remigration policies and hosts public debates on issues such as immigration, abortion and gender identity.
Reflecting on previous incidents during his activism, Moffitt said: 'We've had bottles of urine chucked at us, glue chucked at us, cans of beans chucked in my face. But we must continue the fight regardless of what country we're in, because the West needs conservatism.'
He has also previously credited Charlie Kirk's debate format as a major inspiration, saying he would like the opportunity to thank Kirk's family for the ideas and approach that influenced his activism. Police investigations into the Manchester assault remain ongoing.
