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Sikh man Kulwinder Singh, a 47-year-old taxi driver from Southampton, welcomed the protest and those who were marching.
He said: ‘I’m part of the Sikh faith so I welcome them. They are my brothers and sisters. I’m not worried at all, they’re welcome at the Gurdwara [Sikh temple].
‘It’s nothing to do with the faith. We should keep people together.’ Mr Singh shook hands with protesters as they marched.
Jamie Smith, from Southampton, said: ‘I am here for Henry.
‘I saw the video online when he was handcuffed and dragged on the floor after being stabbed and I want the police to be held accountable.’
At nearby Portswood Police Station, demonstrators were seen throwing glass bottles at police cars.
Later in the evening, protesters chased riot squad police officers and launched wheelie bins at them.
Around a dozen officers were verbally abused and pelted with objects including beer cans.
Protesters forced the blockade of officers back 20 metres as they charged at them.
One incident saw crowds hurl a flare at police before others stormed at them while shouting: ‘Justice for Henry.’
Activist Rebekah Warne said: ‘I’m here because I fear for the safety of my child.
‘He’s ten and I worry for his future. He’ll be 20 in ten years and he’ll have to defend himself.
‘The streets scare me now as a woman. I can protect myself but it scares me for my son. Something needs to change.’
Sir Keir Starmer said the footage of Mr Nowak’s arrest made him ‘feel sick’ as he warned officers have ‘serious questions’ to answer over their treatment of the teen – adding it is ‘absolutely right’ that the police watchdog is investigating how officers handled the case.
Earlier yesterday, while giving a statement in the House of Commons, Ms Mahmood warned of a ‘dangerous undercurrent’ of threats against the police.
She continued: ‘Threats against police officers are utterly unacceptable. There can be no justification for intimidation, abuse or attempts to take the law into one’s own hands.
‘A police officer unrelated to this case has been misidentified online and subjected to death threats. He has been forced to relocate to protect himself and his family.
‘Misinformation and inflammatory commentary is making a dreadful situation even worse. We must all, together, condemn it.’
She added that the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) will report on the case within three months.
Hampshire Constabulary said: ‘We know there has been significant commentary following the sentencing of Vickrum Digwa yesterday afternoon, and we recognise the desire for answers about the police response that night.
‘However, what we cannot accept is the significant spread of misinformation online by those intent of causing further fear and division by making threats to officers and sharing names that are simply not true.’
Protesters wave flags outside Southampton Central Police Station at 6pm yesterday
Demonstrators later began a march through the centre of the city while chanting ‘I can’t breathe’
Footage appeared to show crowds trying to storm the station as officers formed a blockade outside
Hampshire Police Federation also called for an end to ‘mob or vigilante justice against officers’ as the backlash over the case grew.
Footage released on Monday night shows officers pulling Mr Nowak along the ground as he begs for help, telling them he cannot breathe at least seven times before he is put in handcuffs.
The student died from drowning in his own blood shortly after his wrongful arrest, Southampton Crown Court heard.
Following the case, the UK Sikh Federation stressed the blade was not consistent with the Kirpan, a small, curved blade which many Sikhs wear close to their person. While it is legal for them to carry the weapon for religious reasons, it is deemed an offensive weapon if it is drawn in an act of aggression.