Tommy Robinson, known for his far-right political views, led a march titled "Unite the Kingdom" in central London. This event, however, was not without controversy as it became the target of a satirical stunt by the anti-Brexit group Led By Donkeys.
Founded in 2018 by four fathers with Greenpeace ties, this group is known for its opposition to anti-immigrant rhetoric. During the march, they managed to sneak an electronic screen into the event that displayed pro-migrant messages, catching many by surprise.
Police estimated around 60,000 people attended the march, which was organized by Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, better known as Tommy Robinson. He urged the crowd to prepare for what he called the 'battle of Britain' on Parliament Square.
The electronic screen appeared to align with the day's patriotic theme at first. However, as the event progressed, pro-migration messages began to appear. One such message read: 'Immigration makes Britain brilliant.' This statement caused several protesters to pause and take a second look, especially when the word 'brilliant' repeatedly flashed on the screen.
The video showcased a series of British celebrities with foreign heritage. Among them were the late singer George Michael, Olympic gold medallist Mo Farah, and singer Dua Lipa. As more celebrities appeared, including Star Wars actor John Boyega and actor Idris Elba, the crowd began to realize the screen's true purpose.
The list continued with other notable figures such as England cricketer Moeen Ali, Queen frontman Freddie Mercury, and Bake Off winner Nadiya Hussain. The final stars featured on the screen included British Indian actor Sir Ben Kingsley and Real Madrid star Jude Bellingham.
As the crowd's outrage grew, the screen displayed the message: 'If you go back far enough… We’re all immigrants.' At this point, police officers stepped in to block the view of the screen. Images of various famous Brits, including Queen Elizabeth II and Winston Churchill, appeared on the screen.
One man could be heard shouting 'smash it up' as the screen showed images of diverse Brits before reverting to the Union Jack. Police officers attempted to switch off the screen, but they were unsuccessful initially, prompting the angry crowd to chant 'off.'
When the montage ended, the screen mockingly told protesters to 'stay hydrated.' This message lasted for several seconds before the original message about immigration making 'Britain brilliant' reappeared before the recording cut.
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, along with a counter-demonstration by Stand Up To Racism and the FA Cup final at Wembley.
Before speeches, crowds waved flags with pro-Trump slogans and 'Jesus is the way of life.' A strong smell of cannabis was noted, with many appearing to be under the influence of alcohol.
Robinson endorsed Reform, Restore, and the Conservative Party during his speech. He urged the crowd to join a political party, stating, 'I don’t care if it’s Reform, if it’s Advance, or it’s Restore, or it’s the Conservative Party. We have to locally get involved in politics.'
Photos of Donald Trump received widespread applause. However, when Robinson mentioned embattled Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer's name, loud boos rang through the crowd.
In a statement at 7.30pm, 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 faced hate crime offenses.
London mayor Sadiq Khan thanked the Met officers for their work as the protests wound down. In a subtle jab at Robinson's march, he added, 'Londoners will always reject those who seek to divide our communities.'
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