Tommy Robinson’s Unite the Kingdom March Faces Unexpected Challenge
A planned march in central London by Tommy Robinson, known publicly as Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, was met with an unexpected twist. The event, organized under the banner of “Unite the Kingdom,” drew around 60,000 participants, many of whom were expected to support a strong British identity and anti-immigration stance. However, the day took an unusual turn when an anti-Brexit political campaign group, Led By Donkeys, executed a satirical stunt that caught many off guard.
Led By Donkeys, founded in 2018 by four fathers with ties to Greenpeace, has long opposed Robinson’s rhetoric. Their plan involved inserting an electronic screen into the march, which initially appeared to align with the patriotic theme. As the event progressed, the screen began displaying messages that directly contradicted the march's message, including the statement: “Immigration makes Britain brilliant.”
The initial display of the Union Jack flag went largely unnoticed, but as the pro-migration messages began to appear, several protesters turned their attention to the screen. One of the most notable statements was the repeated flashing of the word “brilliant,” which sparked confusion and curiosity among attendees.
The video shared by Led By Donkeys featured a series of British celebrities who either had foreign heritage or were born abroad. These included:
- George Michael, whose father was a Cypriot immigrant
- Mo Farah, an Olympic gold medallist born in Somalia
- Dua Lipa, whose parents are from Kosovo
- John Boyega, a Star Wars actor of Nigerian descent
- Moeen Ali, an England cricketer with roots in Kashmir
- Idris Elba, an actor whose parents came from Sierra Leone
- Freddie Mercury, the Queen frontman with Indian Gujarati heritage
- Rita Ora, a singer born in Kosovo
- Jessica Ennis-Hill, an Olympian with Jamaican heritage
- Nadiya Hussain, a Bake Off winner of Bangladeshi descent
- Sir Ben Kingsley, a British Indian actor
- Jude Bellingham, a Real Madrid star with Kenyan heritage
As more celebrities were displayed, the crowd began to realize what was happening. Some protesters started to jeer, while others expressed outrage. The screen then showed images of famous Brits like Queen Elizabeth II, Harry Kane, and Winston Churchill, leading to a final message: “If you go back far enough… We’re all immigrants.”
At this point, police officers stepped in, attempting to switch off the screen. Despite their efforts, the crowd continued to chant “off” as the message persisted. Eventually, the screen displayed a mock message: “Stay hydrated,” before reverting to its original message about immigration.
It remains unclear how long the video played before it was switched off. The Metropolitan Police deployed around 4,000 officers to manage the event, which also coincided with a counter-demonstration led by Stand Up To Racism and the FA Cup final at Wembley. During the speeches, some attendees waved flags with pro-Trump slogans and “Jesus is the way of life” signs. A strong smell of cannabis was noted, and many appeared to be under the influence of alcohol.
Tommy Robinson addressed the crowd, urging them to join political parties such as Reform, Restore, and the Conservative Party. He also endorsed Donald Trump, whose photos received widespread applause. However, when he mentioned Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, the crowd responded with loud boos.
In a statement released at 7:30 pm, the Met reported 43 arrests at the two protests and an additional 22 at the FA Cup Final. Four officers were assaulted, though none seriously, and six others were subjected to hate crime offenses. London mayor Sadiq Khan praised the police for their efforts and added a pointed remark about the march: “Londoners will always reject those who seek to divide our communities.”
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