French farmers protests mistaken for British anti-immigrant demonstration – Australian Associated Press

AAP FACT CHECK – A photo shows British farmers using tractors to stop migrant boats docking in the UK, social media posts claim.

This is incorrect. The photo shows a farmers’ protest across the English Channel in northern France that had nothing to do with migration issues.

The image has been shared thousands of times on Facebook, with many users linking it to anti-migration political messages.

The overlapping text on the image reads: “Farmers block boats.”

“Great to see the farmers blocking the boats in Dover,” read the captions of many posts.

The caption of another Facebook post read: “Jesus, farmers doing cross-border work! And producing food!! ..”

However, a Google search reveals that the image is a screenshot of a video posted to X (formerly Twitter) on January 27, 2024 by public radio station France Bleu Nord.

The broadcaster has given the location for the video as Le Touquet-Paris-Plage, northern France.

“Several dozen tractors gathered on the beach of Le Touquet,” the translated caption of the post read.

France Bleu Nord and public broadcaster France 3 reported at the time that the demonstration was part of a protest against agricultural regulations in January and February.

Le Touquet was chosen for the protest because French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte own a second home in the coastal town.

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