Half one million folks march in London for largest anti-far-right demonstration | EUROtoday

Half one million persons are estimated to have gathered in London on Saturday for “the biggest demonstration ever against the far right”, organisers mentioned.

Swathes of protesters marched by the capital to Whitehall carrying placards studying “No to racism, no to Trump”, and “Refugees welcome” on streets lined with cops.

Rally co-organiser Kevin Courtney, chair of the coalition, informed crowds gathered on Whitehall: “Our estimate is now that there are half a million people on this demonstration – the biggest demonstration ever against the far right.

“And it gives us all confidence to carry on. Thank you very much.”

Organisers mentioned they’d efficiently outnumbered the Tommy Robinson-led Unite the Kingdom rally in London final September, based on their estimates.

The far-right demonstration, organised by Robinson, actual identify Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, was attended by between 110,000 and 150,000 folks, whereas round 5,000 had been concerned in an anti-racism counter-demonstration.

There had been a number of incidents of violent dysfunction on the demonstration, which left some cops injured. Sir Keir Starmer condemned the rally on the time and mentioned it had left folks feeling “more scared than they were before”.

Numerous politicians attended the Together Alliance rally, together with Your Party MPs Jeremy Corbyn and Zarah Sultana, in addition to Green Party chief Zack Polanski and MP Hannah Spencer. Speakers included former Labour MP Diane Abbott, who now sits as an impartial in parliament.

She informed a cheering crowd: “The turnout today is the largest anti-racist march that I have seen in my lifetime, and you should all be proud of yourselves for coming out in such numbers today.”

Sabby Dhalu, joint secretary of the Together Alliance and co-convenor of Stand Up To Racism, mentioned the UK is seeing an “unprecedented growth” in help for far-right organisations – however that she believed the scale of attendance on Saturday had “intimidated the far right” away from a counter-protest.

“The Tommy Robinson-led Unite the Kingdom demonstration back in September 2025 was the biggest far-right mobilisation in British history,” she mentioned.

“We believe that the majority of British people stand against the hatred and division and racism that was being encouraged at that demonstration and by these types of organisations, and it’s time to act.”

As Saturday’s rally started, there have been shouts from a gaggle of round 10 counter-protesters. One member of the group was carrying an Israeli flag.

A separate march organised by the Palestine Coalition additionally happened and joined the route of the Together Alliance earlier than the teams fashioned up for the rally on Whitehall.

The Metropolitan Police arrested 25 folks by the top of the demonstrations, together with two for climbing up the National Gallery columns and 18 Palestine Action supporters. A gaggle of individuals staged a protest in help of the proscribed group exterior New Scotland Yard.

It comes days after the Met introduced they’ll resume arresting protesters for holding indicators in help of the banned group.

Officers imposed public order situations banning the joint rally from persevering with after 5pm.

Met Police deputy assistant commissioner Jon Savell mentioned this can be a “busy weekend for our officers but we have detailed plans in place to ensure all groups protesting this weekend can do so lawfully and without causing serious disruption to other Londoners, businesses or visitors”.

As nicely because the mass demonstration, quite a few protests towards the Iranian regime – each static assemblies and marches – had been going down within the Westminster space on each Saturday and Sunday, the Metropolitan Police mentioned.