London [UK], September 14 (ANI): UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Sunday supported the right to protest following the “Unite the Kingdom” rally held on Saturday, while condemning attacks on police officers and denouncing racism.
In a post on X, he said, “People have a right to peaceful protest. It is core to our country’s values. But we will not stand for assaults on police officers doing their job or for people feeling intimidated on our streets because of their background or the colour of their skin. Britain is a nation proudly built on tolerance, diversity and respect. Our flag represents our diverse country and we will never surrender it to those that use it as a symbol of violence, fear and division.”
Over 110,000 people marched through London in one of the country’s largest right-wing demonstrations, with some protesters clashing with police and injuring at least 26 officers. Violence erupted as police sought to keep the right-wing demonstrators apart from around 5,000 rival protesters gathered at Whitehall in central London.
London’s Metropolitan Police said the march, organized by anti-immigrant activist Tommy Robinson, drew an estimated 110,000 to 150,000 participants, far exceeding expectations. The police reported officers faced “unacceptable violence” from some protesters, with four sustaining serious injuries, including broken teeth, a possible broken nose, a concussion, a prolapsed disc, and a head injury.
“There is no doubt that many came to exercise their lawful right to protest, but there were many who came intent on violence,” Assistant Commissioner Matt Twist said, according to Al Jazeera. “They confronted officers, engaging in physical and verbal abuse and making a determined effort to breach cordons in place to keep everyone safe.”
At least 25 people were arrested during the violence, Twist said, describing the detentions as “just the start.” He added, “We are identifying those who were involved in the disorder, and they can expect to face robust police action in the coming days and weeks.”
UK Secretary of State for the Home Department Shabana Mahmood also condemned attacks on officers and emphasized that “anyone taking part in criminal activity will face the full force of the law,” according to Al Jazeera.
Robinson’s march followed a highly charged summer in the UK, which included protests outside hotels housing asylum seekers after the arrest of an Ethiopian man later convicted of sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl in London. Demonstrators carried the Union flag, the St. George’s Cross, and flags of the United States and Israel, while some wore “Make America Great Again” hats.
Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, described the march as “a show of patriotic unity like nothing seen before.” “Today is the spark of a cultural revolution in Great Britain. This is our moment,” the 42-year-old activist told supporters. He framed the demonstration as one for free speech, British heritage, and culture, claiming migrants had more legal rights than the “British public, the people that built this nation.”
Other speakers included US billionaire Elon Musk via video link, French far-right politician Eric Zemmour, and Petr Bystron of the anti-immigrant Alternative for Germany (AfD) party. Musk called for a change of government in the UK, warning of “massive uncontrolled migration” and the “erosion of Britain.”
The rally also paid tribute to slain US conservative activist Charlie Kirk, observed in a moment of silence followed by a bagpiper playing Amazing Grace. Several attendees said immigration concerns motivated their participation.
A counterprotest, organized by the “Stand Up to Racism” campaign and attended by left-wing lawmakers Zarah Sultana and Diane Abbott, held signs reading “Refugees welcome” and “Smash the far right,” and chanted, “Stand up, fight back!” Abbott accused Robinson and his allies of spreading “nonsense” and “dangerous” lies about asylum seekers.
The number of arrests at Saturday’s rally contrasted with the 890 detained at the previous week’s Palestine Action protest, which remained largely peaceful. (ANI)
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