Tens of thousands of people gathered in London on Saturday for what organisers described as the biggest multicultural demonstration in UK history. The Together Alliance march, supported by over 100 charities, campaign groups and trade unions, was a show of unity against far-right politics.
Organisers claimed half a million people attended, but police estimated the turnout closer to 50,000, acknowledging the difficulty of counting due to the widespread nature of the crowd. The march began in Park Lane and proceeded to Trafalgar Square via Whitehall.
The event was a response to Tommy Robinson's 'unite the kingdom' rally in September, which drew 110,000 people. Celebrities including actors Christopher Eccleston, David Harewood, Lenny Henry, Steve Coogan, and musicians Paloma Faith, Charlotte Church, and Brian Eno supported the march. Performances came from Self Esteem, Jessie Ware, and UB40.
Speeches by Labour MP Diane Abbott and Green Party leader Zack Polanski drew cheers. Polanski urged the crowd to organise in their communities ahead of local elections. He said the tide was turning against the far right, sending a message to Tommy Robinson and Nigel Farage.
Environmental groups were prominent, including 'Cut the Ties to Fossil Fuels' with a protester dressed as the Grim Reaper representing 'Big Oil', and Extinction Rebellion's red rebels. The Metropolitan Police reported two arrests for climbing National Gallery columns and five others, plus 18 arrests for a pro-Palestine demonstration outside New Scotland Yard.
Separately, two activists from Green New Deal Rising disrupted a Nigel Farage speech at a Reform UK rally in Croydon, shouting 'You are not welcome in London' before being ejected by security.
