Anti-racism protesters have began to march in direction of a thousands-strong Tommy Robinson rally in central London.
The counter-demonstrators will find yourself in lower than 400 metres from a ‘patriotic rally’ amid a heavy police presence and warnings from the Met that any troublemakers shall be arrested.
‘Uniting The Kingdom’, which has been organised by Robinson – whose actual title is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon – has seen 1000’s of individuals march from the Royal Courts of Justice to Trafalgar Sq..
The march has been described by organisers because the ‘largest patriotic rally the UK has ever seen’, and there have been cries of ‘England’ and ‘Rule Britannia’ from these within the sea of British and English flags, in addition to some anti-Islam chants.
Lower than two miles away in Russell Sq. 1000’s of counter-demonstrators gathered at a rally organised by Stand Up To Racism and commerce unions to listen to speeches from anti-racism campaigners in addition to former Labour chief Jeremy Corbyn.
They’ve since set off on a march which is able to see them find yourself in Whitehall in view of the Tommy Robinson occasion, however separated by hordes of cops.
In the meantime there’s additionally a separate Trans Pleasure demonstration going down lower than two miles away at Wellington Arch on a busy day for the police.
Individuals maintain indicators which learn ‘no to racism, no to hatred’ and ‘Free Palestine’ as they stroll alongside Whitehall
Anti-racism campaigners maintain commerce union banners as they stroll by way of central London in the present day
Counter-demonstrators stroll alongside Whitehall as they protest in opposition to the Tommy Robinson rally
The counter-rally was organised by Stand Up To Racism, commerce unions and marketing campaign teams akin to Cease the Battle Coalition
British and English flags fly within the air as individuals at Trafalgar Sq. take heed to a speech by Tommy Robinson
Hundreds of individuals have gathered in Trafalgar Sq. waving British flags for the rally
The occasion, known as ‘Uniting The Kingdom’ has been organised by former English Defence League chief Tommy Robinson, pictured in the present day
Among the many crowd on the Tommy Robinson occasion is actor-turned-political activist Laurence FoxÂ
Huge crowds of individuals collect in Trafalgar Sq. to take heed to speeches on the ‘Uniting The Kingdom’ occasion
Counter-demonstrators collect in Russell Sq. this afternoon forward of a march to Whitehall
Organisers have billed the counter-demonstration as an ‘oppose Tommy Robinson’ occasion
Individuals waving Palestinian flags and holding banners studying ‘Oppose Islamophobia’ and ‘Smash Fascism &Â Racism’
The Met Police has additionally warned that the counter-protest will end in Whitehall, not Trafalgar Sq. as some leaflets have prompt
The march by Stand Up To Racism departed Russell Sq. with rallygoers strolling in direction of Whitehall
The Metropolitan Police has flooded the centre of Britain’s largest metropolis with 1,000 cops to maintain the peace, with roads closed and heavy restrictions put in place on these attending two of the rallies.
The power says the overwhelming majority of its officers on-duty in the present day shall be tasked with maintaining the teams, a few of whom have diametrically opposed views, aside from one another.
Police have warned that regardless of leaflets suggesting the counter-protest march will end in Trafalgar Sq., this isn’t the case and the rally should finish in Whitehall as a substitute.
Police have warned that they’ll maintain members of each protests aside from one another and warned that leaflets claiming the counter-demonstration finishes in Trafalgar Sq. are incorrect.
On X, previously often called Twitter, the Met wrote: ‘Some flyers on-line recommend the Stand Up To Racism march will end in Trafalgar Sq.. This is not the case. There are situations requiring it to complete in Whitehall.Â
‘We have to maintain opposing teams aside to maintain the peace. We’ll take motion in opposition to any breaches of situations.’
Earlier than the march started protesters heard speeches from commerce union officers and former Labour chief Jeremy Corbyn.
As marchers made their method to Whitehall there have been chants of ‘We’re the individuals. We gained’t be silenced. Cease the fascists. Now Now Now Now.’
In the meantime, there can even be a march in help of Trans Pleasure, with LGBTQ+ activists travelling from Langham Place to Wellington Arch.
Trans Pleasure protesters collect at Langham Place forward of their march to Wellington Arch
An LGBTQ+ activist holds an indication which reads ‘Trans Rights are Human Rights’ and ‘Trans Youth Are Cherished’
A pair of LGBTQ+ activists dressed as Barbie and Ken from the hit transfer Barbie maintain indicators studying ‘This Barbie says Shield Trans Lives’ and ‘Trans are Kenough’
A St George’s flag with the phrases ‘cease the boats’ and ‘do it for our children future’ is waved aloft in Trafalgar Sq.
A person waving a St George’s flag whereas sporting a Union Jack-themed prime hat and waist coat stands in entrance of the Nationwide Gallery in Trafalgar Sq.
Individuals attending the occasion organised by Tommy Robinson gathered outdoors the Royal Courts of Justice this morning
Many had been seen waving British, English, Welsh and Scottish flags as they arrived outdoors the courts
A lady holds a placard which reads ‘Not Far Proper, Simply Proper’ on the rally in Trafalgar Sq.
A demonstrator sporting Union Flag themed clothes waves an Israeli flag outdoors the Royal Courts of Justice
Marchers set off purple flares outdoors the Royal Courts of Justice earlier than the demonstration in the present day
A person sporting solely British flag-themed pants at Trafalgar Sq.
Three males chant songs as they arrive on the demonstration, which Robinson has stated shall be ‘largest patriotic rally the UK has ever seen’Â
A lady with two British flags behind her smiles on the demonstration in central London in the present day
A lady decked in British flag themed clothes together with sporting sun shades with the Union Flag on them gathers on the occasion
A British flag with the phrases ‘These Colors Do not Run’ is held aloft on the rally in central London in the present day
Tommy Robinson speaks down the digital camera whereas holding a microphone at this afternoon’s march
The ‘Uniting The Kingdom’ occasion, which has been billed as a ‘patriotic rally’ has seen individuals collect on The Strand, earlier than marching to Trafalgar Sq..
There was a sea of British, English, Scottish and Welsh flags, in addition to individuals waving symbols of Israel, the previous Shah of Iran and the army heraldry.
One demonstrator could possibly be seen climbing on prime of a cellphone field on The Strand in central London.
Different protesters held placards that learn ‘Not far proper, good’, whereas a purple flare was let off.
The gang, which incorporates actor-turned-political activist Laurence Fox, had been seen chanting ‘England, England, England’, ‘England until I die’ as they set off on the march.
Talking on a live-stream as 1000’s of individuals gathered outdoors the Royal Courts of Justice, Robinson stated a ‘line within the sand has been drawn’.Â
He stated: ‘That is the largest gathering of patriots Europe has seen, and it is occurring in Nice Britain. Get your individuals organised, unify your nations.
‘Sufficient is sufficient, a line within the sand has been drawn. We’re being changed not.’
There have been additionally anti-Islamic chants from some marchers as they walked alongside The Strand to Trafalgar Sq..
After reaching the historic venue they’ve heard speeches from Robinson and different members of his motion.
A person with a Tommy Robinson tattoo containing the face of the far-right chief and three lions with the phrases ‘Tommys Lions Roar’ on the march
Massive crowds of individuals collect on the Royal Courts of Justice earlier than the march set off this afternoon
Individuals waving British, English and RAF flags pose for a photograph in Trafalgar Sq. this morning
A topless man with a big tattoo that claims ‘England’ on his again, with a St George’s flag wrapped round his waist, stands at Trafalgar Sq. for the rally
Individuals waving British and Northern Irish flags collect at Trafalgar Sq. forward of the march
Individuals decked in ST George’s crosses and waving flags included these from Israel and Ukraine sit on the fountains at Trafalgar Sq.
A person holding a St George’s flag scales a lamppost outdoors the Royal Courts of Justice this afternoon
The rally, together with a counter protest, is about to convey central London to a standstill this afternoon
The Metropolitan Police is maintaining an in depth eye on all three protests going down in central London in the present day
This morning Robinson tweeted a picture of Trafalgar Sq. earlier than the rally, which is about to final till 5.30pm, accompanied by the phrases ‘Right this moment is the day, it will be lovely’, including that it will be the ‘largest patriotic rally the UK has ever seen’.Â
On Friday he reposted a video which talked about his protest being a couple of ‘power in numbers’ displaying the institution that ‘we are able to organise and don’t like the best way the nation is being run’.
The counter protest run by Stand Up To Racism with the help of the Commerce Union Congress (TUC) and 11 different commerce unions, Cease the Battle Coalition, Peace & Justice Challenge and Unite In opposition to Fascism will set off at 1.30pm.
Stand Up To Racism organisers stated: ‘We’re stressing the necessity to come collectively and construct as soon as once more the sort of broad united motion that may drive again the menace as we have now finished earlier than.’
Samuel Sweek, of the Peace & Justice Challenge, stated: ‘The rise of the far-right and fascist politics in Britain and throughout Europe is a explanation for nice concern for us all.
Law enforcement officials stroll down Whitehall from Trafalgar Sq. forward of in the present day’s protests, with steel boundaries within the highway to cease the demonstrations mixing
Three police vans sit in entrance of steel boundaries on Whitehall earlier than the rallies happen in the present day
Tommy Robinson tweeted that in the present day’s demonstration can be ‘lovely’ alongside a picture of Trafalgar Sq.
Police have put boundaries round landmarks on Whitehall forward of in the present day’s demonstrations. Pictured: steel boundaries and site visitors cones place round The Ladies of World Battle II memorial on Whitehall
Steel boundaries have additionally been positioned round The Cenotaph in Whitehall forward of the rallies in the present day
A rally organised by Tommy Robinson, whose actual title is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, will happen in central London in the present day. Pictured: Robinson throughout a march to Parliament Sq. in London on June 1
There can even be a Trans Pleasure march at Wellington Arch lower than two miles away on Saturday. Pictured: An individual holding up an indication studying ‘Imagine Trans Youngsters’ throughout a rally in Brighton on July 20
There may be anticipated to be a big counter-demonstration organised by Stand Up To Racism and commerce unions in central London on the similar time. Pictured: A counter-demonstrator at a earlier protest in London on June 1
Organisers of the counter-protest have billed it as a ‘Unite In opposition to Tommy Robinson’ march. Pictured: A person handing out leaflets in Tolpuddle, Dorset, calling on individuals to affix in the present day’s march in London
‘The political institution has allowed respiration area for hate and division in our communities, we should stand with these focused by the likes of Tommy Robinson and his thugs.
‘We refuse to cede any floor to bigotry, racism, Islamophobia, homophobia, transphobia or another type of hate they try and convey to our streets.
‘When the politicians fail, it’s the individuals who should battle again.
‘That’s the reason we shall be marching on Saturday.’
Police have put a bunch of restrictions in place in a bid to maintain attendees of those two occasions aside from one another, whereas roads throughout central London have been closed.Â
No situations have been imposed on the Trans Pleasure protest.
The Met have warned that individuals who breach these situations could possibly be arrested or face police motion.Â
Chief Superintendent Colin Wingrove stated: ‘This weekend sees quite a lot of teams with opposing views assembling in central London.Â
The Tommy Robinson rally will set off from The Strand earlier than shifting into Trafalgar Sq. the place there shall be speeches
The counter-protest will see attendees collect in Russell Sq. earlier than marching down Kingsway to Victoria, after which alongside Embankment earlier than massing in Whitehall, lower than 400 metres from the Tommy Robinson rally
The Met Police have closed roads in central London to accommodate the protests, with the areas shaded in purple, blue and inexperienced set to be significantly affected in the present day
‘In response we’re deploying a big variety of officers as a part of a fastidiously deliberate operation.
‘Our first precedence is to maintain the peace to make sure that these exercising their proper to lawful protest can achieve this safely.Â
‘We now have proactively used our powers below the Public Order Act to handle the timings and routes of marches and assemblies, making certain that the teams are saved aside.Â
‘Officers will intervene decisively to take care of any breaches of these situations, stop crime, and to reply to another incidents.
‘Everybody has a proper to really feel protected and be protected in London. Those that abuse the correct to protest in an effort to unlawfully intimidate others or to make use of hate speech can anticipate to face police motion.
‘The police presence shall be very seen and I’d urge anybody out and about in London, whether or not taking part in these occasions or not, to talk to an officer in the event that they really feel unsafe or want to report an incident.’
