More than 100,000 people joined a far-right march in London on Saturday led by activist Tommy Robinson, while about 5,000 counterprotesters rallied nearby under the banner of “March Against Fascism.”
Police deployed over 1,000 officers and created buffer zones to keep the demonstrations apart. The events were largely peaceful, though the Metropolitan Police said some Robinson supporters threw objects and tried to breach barriers, forcing officers to respond with force.
Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, addressed the crowd in front of Parliament, accusing migrants of receiving more rights than British citizens. Supporters carried English and Union Jack flags and signs reading “stop the boats” and “send them home,” referencing the government’s struggle to deter unauthorized Channel crossings.
Some marchers also displayed signs invoking slain U.S. conservative activist Charlie Kirk, including one that read, “Freedom of speech is dead. RIP Charlie Kirk.”
Counterprotesters held placards saying “refugees welcome” and “smash the far right,” chanting “stand up, fight back.”
The march follows a summer of anti-migrant protests, some violent, outside hotels housing asylum-seekers. While significant, the turnout was smaller than a November 2023 pro-Palestinian rally that drew about 300,000 people.
Robinson, founder of the English Defence League and a frequent figure in British nationalist politics, urged his followers not to wear masks or act violently.
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