Around 200 self-proclaimed ‘patriots’ yesterday protested against forced integration that they say was endangering the Maltese identity.

With some waving Maltese flags and others holding up placards against ‘illegal’ immigration and multiculturalism, the crowd walked up to Castille in Valletta from the Christ the King Monument in Floriana, chanting Malta tal-Maltin u mhux tal-barranin.

“We don’t agree with integration and multiculturalism. The imminent large influx of immigrants in Malta is a threat and we will soon lose our identity,” Alex Pisani, from Għaqda Patrijotti Maltin, told this newspaper.

If need be, we are ready to shed our blood in the future

He said that, apart from illegal migrants, others from outside the EU were also settling in Malta and infiltrating society little by little.

When Malta joined the EU, it lost its independence and freedom and the country was now in danger of losing its identity, he added.

Later he told those who met for the protest that they were the true Maltese.

“If need be, we are ready to shed our blood in the future,” he told the crowd standing in front of Castille.

A placard with the words Kemm fadal inċarċru demm għal vera ħelsien (how much more blood do we have to shed for real freedom) bobbed in the crowd in front of him.

His speech prompted people from the crowd to shout “we want a quota” with reference to the number of migrants allowed into the country.

The protest was reminiscent of a ‘walk’ three weeks ago, when around 100 people marched to Castille after an anti-migration protest was cancelled. Mr Pisani, who attended that walk, organised yesterday’s protest and warned participants against offending any race, religion or public person.

Henry Battistino, from the same group, said forced integration had failed in the rest of Europe, bringing about fear.

“We are still able to prevent this from happening,” he said

“We are backing our authorities to put pressure on the EU.”