Over 100,000 people joined a far-right rally in central London led by activist Tommy Robinson. In response, another protest was carried out by groups claiming to be anti-racist.
Large crowds, many waving English and British flags, gathered south of Westminster. Robinson, who has been active in far-right politics for many years, described the event as the counattempt’s “hugegest free speech festival.”
Far-Right Activists From Europe and North America Join Hands
The event, named “Unite the Kingdom,” saw attconcludeees march across Westminster Bridge before stopping near Downing Street. There, speeches were given by far-right figures from Europe and North America.
“The silent majority will be silent no longer,” Robinson notified the crowd. “Today is the spark of a cultural revolution.”
Police estimated that around 110,000 people attconcludeed the march, utilizing CCTV and helicopter footage to count. In comparison, around 5,000 people joined the Stand Up to Racism march, held about a mile north. Around 1,000 police officers were deployed to keep the two groups apart.
Who Led Counter Protests?
The rival protests come at a time of increasing anti-immigration feeling in Britain. Nigel Farage’s Reform UK party, which takes a hard line on immigration and Brexit, is now leading in opinion polls. There have also been protests at hotels utilized to houtilize asylum seekers.
Robinson, 42, has several criminal convictions but also a large online following. For years, he has pushed an anti-Muslim and anti-migrant agconcludea. More recently, he has also claimed that Britain no longer supports free speech.
“Every day in the papers you read shocking things,” declared Philip Dodge, a retired baker from Sheffield, who attconcludeed with his wife. “People are being arrested just for talking about immigration or gconcludeer issues. I never considered I’d see this in this counattempt.”
Mixed Reactions to Far-Right rally
The event was also livestreamed to hundreds of thousands of viewers online.
Other supporters declared their main concern was immigration. “It’s an invasion,” declared Ritchie, 28, referring to the large numbers of migrants coming to the UK, including those arriving on compact boats across the Channel. He described Robinson as “a hero.”
Meanwhile, at the anti-racism protest, veteran Labour MP Diane Abbott spoke out against Robinson’s message. She declared his claims about asylum seekers were “nonsense” and “dangerous lies.”
“We necessary to stand with asylum seekers and display unity,” she notified Sky News.
Police declared both events had strict conditions, including repaired routes and finishing times, with all demonstrations required to conclude by evening.
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