The Tommy Robinson rally drew in over 100,000 supporters in central London, while several thousand counter-protestors were nearby. Due to the rising tensions, police had a heavy presence throughout Whitehall.
Tommy Robinson Rally and Counter-Protest
Tommy Robinson’s rally, dubbed “Unite the Kingdom,” filled up Whitehall and included speeches from Steve Bannon, Donald Trump’s former strategists. Supporters waved union and St George’s flags as they cheered on stage speakers, including Katie Hopkins, Lawrence Fox, and Ant Middleton.
Nearby, there were roughly 5,000 people joining the “March Against Fascism”, organised by Stand Up To Racism (SUTR). Counter-protesters carried placards saying “refugees welcome” and “stop the far right”. The police kept the two groups apart with barriers and by the police being present.
The Tommy Robinson rally turned heated when officers began reporting projectiles being thrown at them. Police confirmed there had been a number of attempts to breach police cordons and restricted zones by the protestors. A number of officers were assaulted when they tried to breakdown the confrontation.
Tommy Robinson Rally: Heavy Police Presence
The Metropolitan Police provided approximately 1,000 officers for the day. They secured an additional 500 officers from other police forces, with vans arriving from Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire, and Devon and Cornwall.
By mid-afternoon, the police were separating the two protests. One side was populated by Robinson’s supporters waving national flags. The opposing side was populated by anti-racism campaigners under banners covering their rejection of far-right politics.
The Tommy Robinson rally was ordered by the police to finish by 18:00 BST, and the anti-racism campaigners were to finish at 16:00. These agreed times were arranged with the event organizers before the protests taking place.
Controversy and Concerns Over the Rally
In his speech, Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, claimed that UK courts are offering undocumented migrants more rights than local communities. Specifically, he referenced a recent deadline from a Court of Appeal which overturned an injunction preventing asylum seekers from being housed at a hotel in Essex.
The Metropolitan Police pointed out Muslim communities raised concerns before the march, Robinson had a record of anti-Muslim rhetoric, and some of the participants had chanted offensive slogans at an earlier demonstration.
Commander Clair Haynes said Muslim Londoners should continue with their plans, she assured the public officers would take firm action against discriminatory/hateful behaviour and noted policing would be done “without fear or favour.”
Political and Community Responses
The counter-protest organized by Stand Up To Racism had announced planned speeches from MPs Diane Abbott and Zarah Sultana. Campaigners said Robinson and his followers had incited division and hate. Critics though said the rally could inflame tensions at a time when community relations were already strained.
Others questioned why controversial speakers like Steve Bannon and Katie Hopkins were invited to speak. The police were adamant they would not use live facial recognition technology at the event. They made that stand to sidestep privacy issues raised by the level of people gathering.
Conclusion: Tommy Robinson Rally Pushes Division
The Tommy Robinson rally illustrated the deep division between the far-right supporters and the anti-racism campaigners in London. Speeches and flags brought tens of thousands to Whitehall, violence against police officers, and concerns about communities made evident the dangers associated with such events. The event ended in a police presence, but the debate has just begun.
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