Protesters attend an anti-immigration rally organized by British anti-immigration activist Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, often known as Tommy Robinson, in London on Sept. 13, 2025.
Jaimi Joy | Reuters
More than 100,000 demonstrators packed London streets Saturday for a march organized by far-right activist Tommy Robinson.
The “Unite the Kingdom” rally bought underway as a lot smaller numbers of counterprotesters, organized by the Stand Up To Racism group, gathered below the banner of the “March Against Fascism.”
More than 1,000 law enforcement officials have been on responsibility to patrol the dueling demonstrations, and a buffer zone was established to maintain the 2 from participating close to the halls of presidency.
The marches have been largely peaceable, however at one level, police stated they have been attacked by some members of “Unite the Kingdom” march who tossed gadgets at them and tried to interrupt by means of the limitations set as much as hold the 2 teams separate. Officers had to make use of power to maintain a crowd management fence from being breached, the Metropolitan Police stated.
Police estimated the group on the Robinson rally at about 110,000 individuals. The rival protest had about 5,000 marchers.
The bigger crowd stretched from Big Ben throughout the River Thames and across the nook past Waterloo practice station, a distance of about three-quarters of a mile (round a kilometer).
While the group was giant, it fell far in need of one of many largest latest marches when a pro-Palestinian rally drew an estimated 300,000 individuals in November 2023.
Robinson, whose actual identify is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon and is thought for his nationalist and anti-migrant views, billed the march as an indication totally free speech, and in addition stated it was in protection of British heritage and tradition.
Robinson advised the group in a hoarse voice that migrants now had extra rights in court docket than the “British public, the people that built this nation.”
The marches come at a time when the U.Okay. has been riven by debate over migrants crossing the English Channel in overcrowded inflatable boats to reach on shore with out authorization.
Numerous anti-migrant protests have been held this summer season exterior lodges housing asylum-seekers following the arrest of an Ethiopian man who was later convicted of sexually assaulting a 14-year-old woman in a London suburb. Some of these protests turned violent and led to arrests.
Participants within the “Unite the Kingdom” march carried the St. George’s red-and-white flag of England and the union jack, the state flag of the United Kingdom, and chanted “we want our country back.” U.Okay. flags have proliferated this summer season throughout the U.Okay. — at occasions and on village lampposts — in what some have stated is a present of nationwide satisfaction and others stated displays a tilt towards nationalism.
Some Robinson supporters held indicators saying “stop the boats,” “send them home,” and “enough is enough, save our children.”
Members of the marketing campaign group Stand Up to Racism show towards a rally organized by the British anti-immigration activist Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, often known as Tommy Robinson, in London on Sept. 13, 2025.
Chris J Ratcliffe | Reuters
At the counterprotest, the group held indicators saying “refugees welcome” and “smash the far right,” and shouted “stand up, fight back.”
Robinson supporters chanted crude refrains about U.Okay. Prime Minister Keir Starmer and in addition shouted messages of help for slain U.S. conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
One demonstrator held an indication saying: “Freedom of speech is dead. RIP Charlie Kirk.”
Robinson had deliberate a “Unite the Kingdom” rally final October, however could not attend after being jailed for contempt of court docket for violating a 2021 High Court order barring him from repeating libelous allegations towards a Syrian refugee who efficiently sued him. He beforehand served jail time for assault and mortgage fraud.
Robinson based the nationalist and anti-Islamist English Defence League and is likely one of the most influential far-right figures in Britain. He urged followers to not put on masks, drink booze or get violent.