Supporters of far-right British figure rally as anti-racism demonstrators mount counter-protest

“We privation Tommy out,” the assemblage of mostly achromatic men chanted. The oversea of marchers toted Union and England flags and immoderate waved “Make America Great” banners arsenic they gathered adjacent a fenced-off statute of erstwhile Prime Minister Winston Churchill successful the quadrate other the Houses of Parliament.

The march was countered by thousands of radical organized by the radical Stand Up to Racism who held signs saying “Refugees welcome” and “Oppose Tommy Robinson.” Robinson, 41, whose existent sanction is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, is the laminitis of the nationalist and anti-Islamist English Defense League and remains 1 of the astir influential far-right figures successful Britain.

Supporters of a Pro-UK rally endorsed by Tommy Robinson march from Victoria Station to Parliament Square, successful cardinal London, Saturday, Oct. 26, 2024. (AP)

He has been blamed for stirring up protests that turned into a week of convulsive upset crossed England and Belfast, Northern Ireland this summertime aft societal media users falsely identified the fishy successful a stabbing rampage that killed 3 young girls successful the seaside assemblage of Southport arsenic an migrant and a Muslim.

Robinson supporters railed against the jailing of hundreds of rioters who assaulted constabulary officers, acceptable cars ablaze, screamed racist epithets and attacked hotels lodging asylum seekers.

Some participants wore “I americium Peter Lynch” badges and 1 antheral held a sportfishing rod with a motion speechmaking “Peter Lynch RIP patriot.” They were referring to a 61-year-old antheral who died successful situation aft pleading blameworthy for his relation arsenic portion of an aggravated mob that smashed windows astatine a edifice successful the bluish municipality of Rotherham lodging migrants and injured dozens of riot police.

A abstracted march of respective 100 household members, friends and supporters of those who person died successful constabulary custody besides took place. Some of those activists seemed to echo the anti-racism marchers by holding signs that said “No to hatred, nary to fascism.” At slightest 5 radical were arrested astatine the main rallies, the Metropolitan Police said.

Two were arrested connected suspicion of assault, including 1 allegedly connected a constabulary officer, astatine the anti-racism march. One idiosyncratic was arrested astatine the Unite the Kingdom march for a nationalist bid discourtesy and different connected suspicion of a racially aggravated nationalist bid offense. A 5th idiosyncratic was arrested for allegedly directing a racist remark astatine an officer, but the Met hadn’t confirmed which protestation the idiosyncratic attended.

Robinson, who has been jailed successful the past for assault, contempt of tribunal and owe fraud, faces a proceeding Monday successful a contempt-of-court proceeding for allegedly violating a 2021 High Court bid barring him from repeating libelous allegations against a Syrian exile who successfully sued him.

While Robinson was banned from Twitter successful 2018, helium was allowed backmost aft Elon Musk took implicit the societal web and rebranded it X. He present has 1 cardinal followers.