London protests see 25 arrested,18 over alleged Palestine Action links | UK | News
City arrests 25 people following what is believed to be the “largest incident” show 18 of those arrested were detained for supporting Palestine Action, two for climbing the columns of the National Gallery, and five for other reasons.
It is said that half a million people gathered for the Alliance Together event, which was presented as a stance against the “politics of division”. Flag-carrying protesters carried banners saying “No to racism, no to Trump” and “Refugees welcome.” Demonstrators marched from the capital to Whitehall under a heavy police presence, with officers filling the streets.
Organizers of today’s march said up to 500,000 people attended, while the Metropolitan Police estimated the number was closer to 50,000, adding that it was difficult to determine exact figures due to the spread of the crowd.
Between 110,000 and 150,000 people attended the demonstration organized by right-wing activist Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, while around 5,000 people attended an anti-racism counter-demonstration.
Before the two groups met in Whitehall, a separate march organized by the Palestine Coalition also took place, joining the Together Alliance route.
Elsewhere, 18 people staged a protest outside New Scotland Yard in support of banned organisation, Palestine Action.
Kevin Courtney, co-organiser of the rally and chairman of the coalition, told the crowd gathered in Whitehall: “Our estimate is that there are half a million people at this demonstration now – it is the largest ever demonstration against the far right.
“And that gives us all the confidence to keep going. Thank you very much.”
Speakers included former Labor MP Diane Abbott, who now sits in Parliament as an independent.
He told the cheering crowd: “Today’s turnout is the largest anti-racism march I have ever seen in my life and you should all be proud of yourselves for turning out in such large numbers today.”
UB40 drummer Jimmy Brown stood next to his bandmates as they gave a speech.
The musician said the reggae group visited “all kinds of places” to perform, adding: “We came to the conclusion that working people around the world have more in common with each other than with the elite and the billionaire class.”
