1 Lakh Protesters March in London Against Migration

The anti-immigration sentiment seems to be spreading like wildfire, with more and more countries joining the group. On Saturday, London witnessed a massive “Unite the Kingdom” rally, led by far-right activist Tommy Robinson. Over 1,10,000-1,50,000 people joined the rally and marched across the London streets. Sporadic incidents of the activists clashing with police were also registered.

The marchers reached London by train and coach and took part in the “festival of free speech”. Participants carried St George’s flags and the union jack and changed “we want our country back.”

Police Officers Kicked

Some police officers were punched, kicked and even hit by bottles. More than 1,000 officers were deployed, with reinforcements in helmets and riot shields. The size of the crowd was much larger than expected but smaller than the pro-Palestinian march in November 2023, when over 3,00,000 people participated in it.

Meanwhile, a rival protest, March Against Fascism, was organized by Stand Up To Racism, in which over 5,000 people participated.

Robinson, whose original name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, founded the English Defense League and is one of the most prominent far-right figures in Britain. However, the speeches on the occasion were focused on migration.

Elon Musk Supports

X owner Elon Musk joined the protest by video and criticized the UK government. “There’s something beautiful about being British and what I see happening here is a destruction of Britain, initially a slow erosion, but rapidly increasing erosion of Britain with massive uncontrolled migration,” he said.

Robinson’s supporters shouted slogans against UK PM Keir Starmer and expressed support for slain US conservative activist Charlie Kirk.

Amid political debate in the UK, the rally was led over migrants crossing the English Channel in small boats without authorization. Anti-migrant protests were witnessed outside hotels housing asylum-seekers this summer, after an Ethiopian man was convicted for sexually assaulting a teenager in London. 

Protesters held placards saying ‘stop the boats’, ‘send them home’ and ‘enough is enough, save our children’, counter-protesters carried signs reading reading ‘refugees welcome’ and ‘smash the far right’.