More than 1,600 police officers were on duty as supporters of Tommy Robinson and opposing demonstrators gathered in London.
Thousands participated in the “Unite the Kingdom” rally in central London on Saturday, organized by right-wing activist Tommy Robinson. The Metropolitan Police deployed a large number of officers.
The event was promoted as “the largest outdoor free speech event the UK has ever seen,” showcasing speakers from Europe and the US. Robinson shared footage on X of attendees chanting the name of American conservative speaker Charlie Kirk.
Robinson urged his followers to avoid violence, saying: “It’s not a time for riots. It’s not a time for violence… We have to control ourselves.”
The left-wing group Stand Up To Racism (SUTR) held a counter-protest called the “March Against Fascism,” which started at the same time. Samira Ali, national organizer for SUTR, stated: “We are united against the far-right threat.”
Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, is critical of Islam and mass immigration. He has highlighted the ‘grooming gangs’ scandal, involving the rape and torture of underage girls by groups of Asian men in northern England over the past two decades. The majority of perpetrators were Pakistani men, and the victims were white British girls.
The scandal was reignited in January after Elon Musk accused UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer of failing to protect children. In June, Starmer initiated a nationwide inquiry into the authorities’ handling of the matter, after his government initially rejected calls for action.
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