Thousands of supporters for imprisoned far-right activist Tommy Robinson rallied in London on Saturday, creating a vibrant scene that was met by a nearby counter-protest organized by anti-racism groups. The gathering, dubbed the Unite the Kingdom march, aimed to advocate for Robinson’s release following his arrest for contempt of court the day before.
The atmosphere was charged as attendees, primarily composed of white men, shouted slogans such as “We want Tommy out.” Many carried flags representing England and the Union, while some brandished “Make America Great” banners as they assembled near a fenced statue of former Prime Minister Winston Churchill, situated directly across from the Houses of Parliament.
In contrast, thousands of counter-protesters from the organization Stand Up to Racism assembled nearby, showcasing signs that read slogans like “Refugees welcome” and “Oppose Tommy Robinson,” highlighting the division between the two groups. Robinson, who goes by his birth name Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, is known as the founder of the English Defense League, a nationalist and anti-Islamist organization, and remains a prominent figure in Britain’s far-right movements.
Robinson has drawn severe criticism for allegedly inciting protests that escalated into violence over a period of a week in various cities across England and Belfast, Northern Ireland. These disturbances were sparked by false social media posts that misidentified a suspect in a tragic stabbing incident that resulted in the deaths of three young girls in Southport as an immigrant and Muslim. Supporters of Robinson voiced their discontent over the sentencing of numerous rioters who had engaged in violent confrontations with the police, ignited fires, hurled racist attacks, and assaulted shelters for asylum seekers.
Notably, some demonstrators displayed badges proclaiming “I am Peter Lynch,” while another individual waved a fishing pole topped with a sign reading “Peter Lynch RIP patriot.” This was in memory of a 61-year-old man who passed away while incarcerated after admitting his involvement in a mob that vandalized a hotel in Rotherham, which housed migrants, harming numerous police officers in the process.
In a parallel event, a separate group of several hundred individuals, including family and supporters of those who have died while in police custody, held their own march. Many of these activists echoed sentiments from the anti-racism protest, holding placards that proclaimed, “No to hatred, no to fascism.”
According to reports from the Metropolitan Police, there were at least five arrests made during the primary rallies. Two arrests were made at the anti-racism demonstration on suspicion of assault, including one involving a police officer. At the Unite the Kingdom march, one individual was detained for a public order offense, while another faced allegations of a racially aggravated public order offense. A fifth person was arrested for allegedly making a racist comment toward an officer, although the police did not specify which protest this individual was associated with.
Tommy Robinson, who has faced jail time before for offenses including assault, contempt of court, and mortgage fraud, is scheduled for a court hearing on Monday regarding claims that he disregarded a 2021 High Court ruling that prohibited him from repeating defamatory statements against a Syrian refugee who won a legal case against him. After being banned from Twitter in 2018, Robinson returned to the platform, now known as X, post-Elon Musk’s acquisition, where he boasts a following of one million.