by&nbssertac aktan with AP
It’s published
More than 100,000 demonstrators took him to London’s streets on Saturday to march hosted by far-right activist Tommy Robinson.
Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Iaxley Lennon and known for his nationalist and anti-immigrant views, claimed the march as a free speech demonstration, saying it defended British heritage and culture.
Police estimates that the “Unified Kingdom” rally attracted around 110,000 people. Rivals in “March against Fascism.” The counter rest, organized by Stand Up to Rancism, was about 5,000 marchers.
More than 1,000 police officers were on duty to patrol competing demonstrations, but the Buffer Zone aimed to prevent both sides from colliding with each other.
Initially after a peaceful afternoon, protesters “Unifying the Kingdom” throw items at rival meetings, attempting to break through the barriers set to separate the groups. Officers had to use their strength to ensure crowd-controlled fences were not breached, police said.
At least nine people have been arrested, but police have determined that many other offenders have been identified and are accountable.
Some Robinson supporters held signs that “stop the boat,” “send them home,” and “sufficient enough, enough, save the kids.” Many raised the red and white flags of St. George in England and the British national flag, chanting “I want to reclaim our country.”
Rebelliously, the people held signs of “welcome refugees” and “smashing the far right,” and cried out “Rise up, fight back.”
The march comes when the UK is attacked by a debate about immigration across the English Channel in crowded inflatable boats to arrive on the coast without approval.
The crowds gathered were large, but when a pro-Palestinian rally attracted an estimated 300,000 people in November 2023, it was far short of one of the biggest marches in recent years.
Robinson had previously planned a rally to “unify the Kingdom” last October, but was unable to attend after being imprisoned in courtroom light empty for violating a 2021 High Court order that barred him from repeating allegations of honor libel against Syrian refugees he sued. He previously served prison time for attacks and mortgage fraud.