A major far-right protest in London, organized by political activist Tommy Robinson, attracted 8,000 protesters on Saturday. The event, called the Unite the Kingdom rally, led to violent outbursts with the police, leaving several injured and many arrested. Robinson, aka Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, is nothing if not a divisive character. He was recently released from prison, earlier this year, after being convicted of contempt of court.
The protest occurred against the backdrop of an increasingly hostile rhetoric toward immigrants and immigration, the UK government’s clearly visible anti-immigrant agenda. More than 110,000 turned out for the march, with union jack flags and St. George’s crosses everywhere. From there, they marched to Whitehall, home of some of the most important government offices. A heavily armed group of counter-protesters quickly gathered, adding to the volatile environment.
As tensions further intensified, police claimed officers were “attacked with projectiles” and “assaulted” at the rally. The Metropolitan Police acknowledged that 26 officers received serious injuries during the violence. Overall, law enforcement arrested 25 people contributing to the conflicts.
Assistant Commissioner Matt Twist was deeply critical of the violence, calling the attack “unacceptable in so many ways.” At the same time, he instructed his Attorney General to launch investigations to find out who was instigating the mayhem.
“Our post-event investigation has already begun – we are identifying those who were involved in the disorder and they can expect to face robust police action in the coming days and weeks.” – Assistant Commissioner Matt Twist
London Mayor Sadiq Khan echoed this sentiment, stating that “violence and attacking police officers is completely unacceptable.” The mayor stressed the importance of public safety at large events like these.
In fact, Commander Clair Haynes took action before protest even began. Specifically, she mentioned the apprehension of Muslim Londoners who may have felt particularly targeted by the Unite the Kingdom march.
“Everyone should be able to feel safe travelling into and around London.” – Unnamed police spokesperson
Protesters at the demonstration shared their strong sentiments with some very enacting chants. Others chanted slogans such as, “No justice, no peace! No fascists on our streets!” and “This is what community looks like!” These feelings are symptomatic of the increasing fault lines in many segments of British society over this contentious issue of immigration policy.
Robinson electrified his base during the rally. He provocatively claimed that Britain needed to adopt a different kind of attitude toward patriotism and borders.
“Britain has finally awoken. We’ve been waiting decades. Patriotism is the future, borders are the future, and we want our free speech.” – Tommy Robinson
The Unite the Kingdom protest is part of a broader trend of anti-immigration demonstrations occurring this summer throughout the UK. The events have raised questions about social cohesion and public safety as differing groups express their views on immigration and national identity.
