It must have been a frightening sight for anyone who witnessed hundreds of masked men, and the occasional woman, descend on Basingstoke last week.
They arrived in their droves to protest the arrest of far-right anti-migrant activist Daniel Thomas, also known as Danny Tommo, who was reportedly being held at Basingstoke Investigation Centre.
The 37-year-old has pleaded not guilty to a charge of criminal damage after allegedly slashing a boat in the English Channel with an emergency responder on board.
The right to peaceful protest is a fundamental part of a democratic society. However, turning up with your face covered by a black mask feels intimidating. Hampshire Police were right to use their powers to require demonstrators to remove face coverings.
Reading comments from many of those who had travelled from across the country, it was clear that they were not protesting because they believed Mr Thomas was innocent. Instead, many appeared to be arguing that, if the alleged offence did take place, it was justified.
Whether Mr Thomas is found guilty or not, it is difficult to understand how we have reached a point where some people believe potentially putting others at risk is the right course of action.
While many residents may have felt uneasy seeing Basingstoke become the focus of national attention, there is perhaps some reassurance in knowing that most of those taking part were not local.
They had travelled from places including Manchester, Leicester and Hertfordshire.
The protesters arrived and left within a few hours.
But the question that remains is why so many people appeared willing to celebrate alleged actions that could have put others in danger.
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