LONDON PROTESTS DRAW LARGE CROWDS
On Saturday, more than 100,000 people gathered in London for a march organized by far-right activist Tommy Robinson.
The event, dubbed the “Ring Unity,” occurred alongside a smaller protest organized under the banner “March against Fascism,” which had fewer counter-demonstrators.
Over 1,000 police officers were deployed to monitor both events, creating a buffer zone near the government building to maintain order between the groups.
While the situation was mostly peaceful, there was an incident where some participants from the “Kingdom Unity” march reportedly threw objects at the police and attempted to breach the barriers intended to separate the demonstrations. Authorities indicated they had to intervene to keep the situation in check.
Police estimated the number of attendees at Robinson’s event to be around 110,000, with around 5,000 participating in the counter-protest.
The crowd stretched along the Thames from Big Ben, reaching beyond Waterloo Station—a distance of about three-quarters of a mile.
Although the turnout was impressive, it fell short of a prior pro-Palestinian rally held in November 2023, which attracted about 300,000 people.
Robinson, who goes by his real name Stephen Iaxley Lennon, used the march to advocate for free speech, claiming it was about protecting British heritage and culture.
Speaking to attendees, he contended that immigrants have greater legal rights than the British citizens who, as he put it, “built this country.”
This gathering took place amid ongoing debates in the UK regarding immigration, particularly concerning individuals crossing the English Channel in inflatable boats without authorization.
This summer has seen a surge in anti-immigrant protests, partially spurred by the arrest of an Ethiopian man convicted of sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl in London. Some protests turned violent, resulting in arrests.
Participants in the “Ring Unity” march displayed red and white St. George flags, along with the British national flag, chanting, “We want to reclaim our nation.” The British flag has gained prominence in events across the UK this summer.
Supporters of Robinson carried signs that included messages like “stop the boat,” “send them home,” and “enough is enough, save the kids.”
On the other hand, counter-protesters held signs stating “welcome refugees” and “smash the far right,” while shouting “Rise up and fight back.”
Robinson’s followers also expressed criticism towards British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and voiced support for Charlie Kirk, a murdered conservative U.S. activist. One demonstrator displayed a sign that read, “Free speech is dead. I’ll rip Charlie Kirk.”
Robinson had initially planned a rally to “unite the kingdom” last October but was unable to attend due to being imprisoned for contempt of court. This was related to violating a High Court order barring him from making false claims about Syrian refugees who had sued him. He has a history of serving prison time for various offenses.
Known for founding the English Defense League, Robinson remains one of the UK’s most prominent far-right figures. He advised his followers to refrain from wearing masks, drinking, or engaging in violence during the demonstration.
