Darlington rejects far-right agitator as town centre march fails

A laughably tiny group of far-right dickheads failed to spark a civilian uprising in Darlington.

Organisers expected crowds to flock to the town centre after months of aggressive online campaigning. Instead their ridiculous AI-produced flyer, filled with face-painted lions and flags, attracted less than 10 people to the Joseph Pease statue.

Shoppers completely ignored the ignorant display of ‘patriotism’.

Darlington subjected to paper trail of hate

The failed rally follows months of aggressive online campaigning from local far-right figures in Darlington — who are not pleasant people.

The main instigator, David Haji Abbot, has spent months going on massive online tirades. Most of them would be quite funny if they weren’t so racist. Abbot introduces his racist rants while talking about worthy issues like housing, and insults anyone who doesn’t agree.

But he doesn’t just keep it in his echo chamber. To the annoyance of likely everyone in Darlington, Abbot constantly takes his ‘activism’ to the streets.

Abbot has actively financed a flag campaign, which I think he believes is a way of marking his territory.

A handwritten ledger from August 2025 shows he crowdfunded about £157 from 18 contributors. Receipts show he then went on to use the money to buy 30 large St Georges’ flags for £149.70 to shove on public infrastructure.

The unauthorised flag campaign has altered the local landscape and people aren’t happy. This movement has encouraged widespread antisocial behaviour. Crude red crosses have been painted on bollards, causing health and safety nightmares for Darlington Borough Council.

Hitting the legal wall

Eventually, the law quickly caught up with Abbot when he was served a severe legal warning from Darlington Council in January. Posting the letter on his own Facebook, Abbot went on a tirade of racist bullshit again.

The letter from the council revealed that climbing lampposts posed a severe public safety issue, obviously. It also told Abbot how the cost to remove and store flags are placed on local tax payers.

To top it all off, the letter revealed that utility workers were facing threats and intimidation from Abbot’s supporters. Simply for doing their job.

Then Abbot received a call from the police on 6 March for a Community Protection Notice Warning. Once again, Abbot documented this all on his very open Facebook profile.

Authorities ordered this rat to stop his behaviour immediately, especially in regards to his online tirades.

PC Whitfield allegedly noted that Abbot was sanctioned for his online hate-filled content that incited violence and disorder. Honestly, you want to take a look at Abbot’s socials. They are a total cesspit of ranting racism and insults.

The dude has terrorised a local Darlington Facebook group up until today, when he was kicked out for good. His replies were full of racism and ableism, leading to a permanent ban.

Democracy wins in Darlington

Abbot tried to maintain a laughably respectable façade after this. He wrote a formal complaint to Green Party councillor, Matthew Snedker. Abbot does this frequently. Almost feels like he has some kind of schoolboy crush to me given the number of times he contacts Snedker.

That complaint was about minor political fly-posting. Abbot also tried to use the Freedom of Information Act to prove Darlo backed his actions, which backfired massively.

The official data humiliated Abbot when the council revealed it had received 146 complaints demanding the England flags around Darlington to be removed. Only six people wrote to support them. So, 96% of responding residents rejected Abbot’s shitty flag campaign.

Abbot’s agitation also targets vulnerable groups. He regularly uses transphobic rhetoric online and even rocked up to a council meeting wearing a Union Jack suit when councillors debated single-sex spaces.

He looked ridiculous as Darlington Borough Council rejected the policy, dealing another blow for his far-right agenda for the town.

I was there, and after facing aggression from Abbot’s gang in the gallery, it was hilarious to see them so sad when their motion was batted down.

Abbot’s never worn a mask to slip

It was hilarious to see that all Abbot could muster after months of online campaigning was a measly handful of supporters. Wrapped in Temu Union Jacks and plastering the street in juvenile slogans, it was a huge turn-off for the people of Darlington.

These demonstrators used tired phrases like “Save our Kids” to try to trick passersby into joining them. It didn’t work. The population of the town rejects Abbot’s politics of hate and his ridiculous flags.

Although he initially claimed he was happy with the turnout, it appears when he slept on it, Abbot wasn’t happy at all. He launched into a furious rant the next day.

His online meltdown was delicious as he completely broke his police warning. Dropping the fake concern for Darlington’s heritage, he went back to his white nationalist rubbish to demand deportations again.

But guess what? Abbot has already publicised another march next month with another AI poster. This time there’s less face-painted lions and more boats. It appears he’s changing tact this time.

The complete collapse of the rally last weekend proves one thing though. Digital manipulation cannot defeat real community solidarity. As these weird online trolls go back to their caves to lick their wounds and regroup, antifascists are keeping an eye on their next move.

Featured images via Facebook