Tommy Robinson Unite the Kingdom rally: Dozens arrested as tens of thousands join rival London protests
Tens of thousands of people gathered in London for Tommy Robinson’s Unite the Kingdom march and the pro-Palestinian Nakba Day rally as police mounted a £4.5 million operation to prevent clashes between rival groups.
The Metropolitan Police said at least 43 people were arrested at both demonstrations for “a range of offences”, adding that while this number “may appear high, to this point both protests have proceeded largely without significant incident”.
More than 4,000 police have been deployed in the capital, with 660 recruited from forces outside the Met to prepare for an “unprecedented” security operation. Armored vehicles, police horses, dogs, drones and helicopters were also at the scene.
It is estimated that more than 80,000 people took part in the marches and thousands more traveled to the capital for the FA Cup final at Wembley Stadium, making it one of the busiest days of policing in recent years.
At the Tommy Robinson protest, flocks of demonstrators set off from Kingsway carrying Union flags, while others held flags of opposition to the Iranian regime.
As protesters gathered on Kingsway in central London before the march, loud chants of “We want Starmer out” and “Tommy, Tommy, Tommy Robinson” were chanted.
Many of the protesters wore red hats with “Make Britain Great Again (Mega)” banners, and others draped themselves in Union flags.
Some protesters at the front lines of the march held wooden crosses and chanted “Jesus is King” slogans.
While speaking on stage, Mr Robinson appealed to the crowd gathered for his protest to get involved in politics locally.
He said: “Are you ready for the battle of Britain? We have an election in 2029. We’re not asking anyone to go out and fight but this is the most important moment of our generation.”
“If we don’t send a message in our next election, if you don’t register to vote, if you don’t participate, if you don’t become activists, we will lose our country forever.”
Other speakers included former Apprentice candidate Katie Hopkins, television star Ant Middleton, former actor Laurence Fox and former Conservative MP Andrew Bridgen.
Organizers estimate at least a quarter of a million people marched through central London to celebrate “Nakba Day”. Many held signs with slogans such as “Nurses, Not Nuclear Weapons,” “Free Palestine” and “Stop Arming Israel.” However, police had previously estimated that 30,000 people would attend.
MP Diane Abbott told demonstrators that those gathered faced a “common enemy” in the “far right”.
Former Labor leader Jeremy Corbyn, meanwhile, told supporters Westminster needed a change in “policy” not “personalities”.
The Your Party co-founder, who was greeted with loud cheers from the crowd, said: “Whatever happens to Keir Starmer, I don’t know if he will survive the coup, he needs to know coups. I know coups. I know what’s going on.”
“But I would say that if there is to be a change, it has to be a change in policy, not a change in personalities.”
He added: “I appeal to the Reformers and far-right extremists who have done so much to attack us all and our communities, your hatred may succeed in dividing people but your hatred will not build a town hall, improve a hospital, educate a child, end someone’s homeless life on the streets of London.
“The only thing that can change this is a change in economic, social and international policy; that’s what brings us together.”
Ahead of the demonstrations, Met Police Assistant Commissioner James Harman said the police operation would cost the force £4.5 million, with £1.7 million going to be used to bring in officers from other forces to boost numbers.
