Clashes erupt as police injured and counterprotesters rally against far-right movement
What happened?
Tens of thousands flooded central London on Saturday for the “Unite the Kingdom” march, organized by far-right activist Tommy Robinson. Metropolitan Police estimated the turnout at around 110,000, making it one of the largest right-wing demonstrations in modern UK history.
The crowd marched from Waterloo Bridge and Lambeth Bridge before converging on Whitehall, outside the UK Parliament. Officers reported 25 arrests and 26 police injuries, including four serious cases.
Flags, chants, and high-profile speakers
Protesters carried Union Jacks, England’s St George’s Cross, American flags, and even the Israeli Star of David. Many wore “Make America Great Again” hats and chanted insults aimed at Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
Speakers included Robinson, commentator Katie Hopkins, and Steve Bannon. Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, told supporters the march was about “free speech, heritage, and culture,” while accusing the UK government of giving migrants “more rights than British citizens.”
Police response and violence
More than 1,600 officers were deployed to control the event and keep demonstrators separate from a counter “Stand Up to Racism” protest of about 5,000 people. The Met described facing “unacceptable violence,” with officers punched, kicked, and hit by bottles and flares.
Assistant Commissioner Matt Twist said arrests were “just the start,” promising more action in the coming days.
Counterprotest pushes back
At the counter-demonstration, attended by lawmakers Zarah Sultana and Diane Abbott, protesters carried signs reading “Refugees Welcome” and “Smash the Far Right.” Organizers accused Robinson’s followers of attacking their group, calling them “far-right thugs.”
Context
The march followed a tense summer in the UK, where anti-immigration protests escalated outside hotels housing asylum seekers. Public anger has been fueled by cases such as the conviction of an Ethiopian man for sexually assaulting a 14-year-old in London, which Robinson and other activists have cited in their campaigns.
