Anti-Immigration Rally- A large march in London organized by far-right activist Tommy Robinson turned violent on Saturday, as some of his supporters clashed with police officers and counterprotesters. The “Unite the Kingdom” rally attracted between 110,000 and 150,000 people, far exceeding expectations. However, the event became unruly when a small group of protesters started attacking police.
Clashes with Police
According to the Metropolitan Police, several officers were punched, kicked, and hit by bottles thrown by people at the edges of the rally. More than 1,000 officers were deployed, and extra reinforcements in riot gear were brought in to help control the situation.
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By the end of the day, 26 police officers were injured, with four of them seriously hurt. Injuries included broken teeth, a concussion, a possible broken nose, and a spinal injury. At least 25 people were arrested for crimes such as violent disorder, assault, and criminal damage. The police said the investigation is ongoing.
Assistant Commissioner Matt Twist said,
“There is no doubt that many came to exercise their lawful right to protest, but there were many who came intent on violence.”
He added that some protesters “confronted officers, engaged in verbal and physical abuse, and tried hard to break through police barriers.”
The Purpose of the Anti-Immigration Rally
The march was organized by Tommy Robinson, a well-known far-right activist whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon. Robinson founded the English Defence League, a nationalist group that is strongly anti-Islam. The rally was promoted as a free speech demonstration, but most of the speeches and slogans focused on opposing immigration.
Far-right figures from across Europe, including French politician Eric Zemmour, spoke about their fear of the so-called “great replacement” — the idea that European people are being replaced by migrants, especially from Muslim countries. Zemmour said,
“We are both subject to the same process of the great replacement of our European people by peoples coming from the south and of Muslim culture.”
Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla and owner of the X platform, also joined via video message. He criticized the UK government for what he called the “destruction of Britain” due to uncontrolled migration.
Tommy Robinson told the crowd that migrants now have more rights in court than “the British public, the people that built this nation.”
Counterprotest and Messages
At the same time, a smaller counterprotest called the “March Against Fascism” was organized by Stand Up To Racism, gathering about 5,000 people. Counterprotesters held signs reading “Refugees welcome” and “Smash the far right” while chanting slogans like “Stand up, fight back.”
Supporters of Robinson carried the St George’s flag of England and the Union Jack, chanting slogans such as “We want our country back.” Some held signs saying “Stop the boats,” “Send them home,” and “Enough is enough, save our children.”
The two groups remained separated by police cordons, but tensions ran high. At one point, supporters of the “Unite the Kingdom” march threw bottles and other items at the counterprotesters and tried to break through barriers. Police had to use force to prevent the fence from being breached.
Emotional Moments and Tributes
During the rally, several speakers paid tribute to Charlie Kirk, a conservative US activist who was recently killed. A moment of silence was held, followed by a bagpiper playing “Amazing Grace.” One demonstrator held a sign that read “Freedom of speech is dead. RIP Charlie Kirk.”
The Context of Rising Tensions
The march comes at a time when the UK is deeply divided over the issue of migrants crossing the English Channel in small boats. Many anti-migrant protests have occurred this summer, especially outside hotels housing asylum seekers. The arrest of an Ethiopian man, later convicted of sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl, sparked more protests, some of which turned violent.
UK flags have appeared widely this summer, seen by some as a symbol of national pride but viewed by others as a sign of growing nationalism.
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Although the “Unite the Kingdom” rally attracted a huge number of people, it was not as big as other recent protests. For example, a pro-Palestinian march in November 2023 drew about 300,000 people.
Tommy Robinson had planned a similar rally last October but could not attend because he was jailed for contempt of court. He had been banned from repeating false accusations against a Syrian refugee.
Saturday’s event ended with dozens of injuries, arrests, and a clear display of rising tensions over immigration in the UK. Police warned that the investigation into violent incidents is still continuing.
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