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More than 100,000 radical gathered successful cardinal London connected Saturday for a march and rally led by far-right activistic Tommy Robinson, portion anti-racism campaigners staged a smaller counter-demonstration nearby.
Crowds, galore of whom were draped successful English and British flags, assembled southbound of Westminster for what Robinson branded the UK’s “biggest escaped code festival.”
The event, titled ‘Unite the Kingdom’, saw participants march crossed Westminster Bridge earlier converging adjacent Downing Street, wherever far-right speakers from Europe and North America addressed the rally.
“The soundless bulk volition beryllium soundless nary longer,” Robinson declared to cheers.
“Today is the spark of a taste revolution.”
Police estimated the turnout astatine astir 110,000, citing CCTV and chopper surveillance.
Around 5,000 radical joined the rival Stand Up to Racism march astir a mile north, arsenic astir 1,000 officers were deployed to support some groups apart.
The demonstrations travel amid heightened anti-immigration sentiment, with Nigel Farage’s Reform UK enactment topping sentiment polls and protests targeting hotels lodging asylum seekers.
Robinson, 42, has aggregate transgression convictions but maintains a ample online following. His rhetoric often links anti-migrant and anti-Muslim themes with claims that escaped code is nether onslaught successful Britain.
“I’m precise concerned. I ne'er thought I’d spot this successful this country,” said Philip Dodge, a retired baker from Sheffield, who attended the rally with his wife.
Others cited migration arsenic their superior concern. “It’s an invasion,” said 28-year-old Ritchie, calling Robinson “a hero.”
At the anti-racism counter-rally, seasoned Labour MP Diane Abbott denounced Robinson’s message.
“We request to beryllium successful solidarity with asylum seekers, and we request to amusement that we are united,” she said.
Police imposed conditions connected some protests, including abstracted routes and extremity times, to forestall clashes.
Robinson’s rally featured placards with slogans specified arsenic “Stop the Boats” and images of American activistic Charlie Kirk, who was changeable dormant this week. Speakers included French person Éric Zemmour, Canadian scientist Jordan Peterson, and Petr Bystron of Germany’s AfD party.
Reports suggested erstwhile President Donald Trump’s advisor Steve Bannon would besides present a message.
The lawsuit took spot conscionable implicit a twelvemonth aft anti-immigration riots rocked respective UK cities, which constabulary linked successful portion to Robinson’s online activity.
It besides coincides with increasing statement implicit escaped speech, pursuing the government’s prohibition connected Palestine Action successful July and the apprehension of drama writer Graham Linehan for allegedly insulting transgender radical online.
Though Robinson’s power had appeared to wane aft years of ineligible battles, his illustration surged aft Elon Musk restored his X (formerly Twitter) relationship successful November 2023.
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