Protests in London Highlight Divided Public Sentiment
Tens of thousands of people took to the streets of central London on Saturday, participating in two distinct protests. One focused on concerns about immigration and the perceived threat of Islam to British identity, while the other supported the Palestinian cause. These events reflected the deep divisions within the country over social and political issues.
Large-Scale Police Deployment
To manage the protests, police deployed 4,000 officers, including reinforcements from outside the capital. They emphasized their commitment to maintaining public order, calling it one of the largest operations in recent years. By 6:30 pm, after both marches had concluded, police reported 43 arrests for various offenses. They described both protests as “largely without significant incident.” Earlier estimates suggested a turnout of at least 80,000 people.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer criticized the organizers of the Unite the Kingdom march, accusing them of spreading “hate and division.” The march was organized by anti-Islam activist Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, known as Tommy Robinson. The government also barred 11 individuals it labeled as “foreign far-right agitators” from entering Britain to speak at the event.
A History of Controversial Protests
Robinson previously led a protest in September that drew around 150,000 people, with a video address from Elon Musk. That event saw 26 officers injured, including four seriously. On Saturday, only four officers were injured, none seriously.
Supporters of Robinson gathered in central London, waving mainly British and English flags. Allison Parr, a participant, expressed concerns about “too much migration,” which she believed disrupted the balance in the country. She also criticized net-zero environmental policies. Annual net migration reached nearly 900,000 in 2022 and 2023 but dropped to around 200,000 last year due to stricter work visa rules.
Political Tensions and Public Opinion
Concerns over immigration, particularly the arrival of asylum seekers via small boats, have affected Starmer’s popularity and helped boost the right-wing Reform UK party. Its leader, Nigel Farage, has distanced himself from Robinson. Some protesters chanted abuse directed at Starmer during the event.
Robinson, who has prior convictions for assault and stalking, claimed during the march that “we are awakening Great Britain – the cultural awakening, the cultural revolution, the spiritual awakening, it’s all underway.” Earlier this year, he traveled to the United States, where he met a state department official and spoke about the “dangers of Islam” and “the Islamification of Great Britain.”
Census data revealed that 6.5% of people in England and Wales identified as Muslim in 2021, up from 4.9% in 2011.
Pro-Palestinian Demonstrations
Nearby, pro-Palestinian demonstrators held a march to mark Nakba Day, commemorating the loss of Palestinian land in the 1948 war that followed Israel's creation. The term “Nakba” means “catastrophe” in Arabic. Protester Sharon De-Wit criticized Israel’s actions, stating, “After the Holocaust etc, all you can do is wish the Jewish people all the best. But they won’t be able to live in peace until they allow the Palestinian people to form their own state.”
London has seen a rise in arson attacks on Jewish sites, and two Jewish men were stabbed last month in an incident being investigated as terrorism. Police noted that repeated large pro-Palestinian marches—33 since the Hamas-led attack on Israel in October 2023—have left many Jewish people too intimidated to enter central London.
Diverse Views and Law Enforcement
While protesters held a range of views, police said the marches often resulted in arrests for racially and religiously aggravated public order offenses. Some protesters on Saturday chanted “Death to the IDF,” referring to the Israeli army. This language has previously led to arrests when directed at Jewish people.
Among those on the main stage at the end of the march were three French women from the anti-immigration feminist group Nemesis. They wore Islamic-style face veils and encouraged jeers before removing the veils, causing cheers from the crowd. They delivered a short speech critical of Muslims and immigration. Later, a cellist performed with what appeared to be rashers of raw bacon on his shoulders.
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