On Saturday, London witnessed a massive far-right rally, organized by anti-immigration activist Tommy Robinson, drawing tens of thousands of participants. The event, dubbed "Unite the Kingdom," coincided with a rise in nationalism within the UK. The rally's organization followed the murder of American conservative activist Charlie Kirk, an event Robinson used to garner support for the demonstration.
Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, has a history of leading rallies where primarily white, male followers express anti-Islam and anti-immigration sentiments through chants. He framed the rally as a "free speech festival" and shared a video on social media showing a large crowd in central London waving flags.
The demonstration saw participants marching towards the Houses of Parliament, chanting slogans. A group from New Zealand performed a haka, a traditional ceremonial dance. However, clashes occurred when supporters attempted to enter a restricted area, leading to police being attacked with projectiles.
Robinson had instructed attendees to avoid masks, alcohol, and violence. The Metropolitan Police estimated approximately 110,000 people attended the Unite the Kingdom protest, while a counter-demonstration drew 5,000 participants.
The police advised Muslim Londoners to continue with their plans, despite past instances of offensive chanting at similar events. With several Premier League soccer matches scheduled in London that day, over 1,600 officers were deployed.
Robinson, released from prison in May, referenced the murder of Charlie Kirk in a video to supporters. The rally's lineup included Steve Bannon, right-wing commentator Joey Mannarino, a lawmaker from Germany's AfD party, and Canadian psychology professor Jordan Peterson.
The rally took place amid a political climate where Reform UK, a party led by Nigel Farage, is leading in the polls. English flags have become more visible, interpreted by some as patriotism and by others as linked to racism. A counterprotest was organized by leftist lawmakers, with participants chanting pro-refugee slogans.
5 Comments
Donatello
These are concerns shared by ordinary people. It's time the government listened to us here.
Bella Ciao
Finally, a voice for the silent majority! We're tired of being ignored and pushed around.
Muchacha
Those chanting slogans are spreading fear and division. They don't represent the values of a tolerant society.
Muchacho
They shout 'racist' to try to intimidate us. We're not! We want our home back, nothing else.
ZmeeLove
The fact that this rally even happened is a sign of the rot within our society. We need to do better as a nation.