Mass Demonstration in London Aims to Counter Far-Right Mobilisation
Organisers of a major demonstration in central London have expressed optimism that their substantial turnout has effectively "intimidated the far right" from staging counter-protests. The Together Alliance event, framed as a stand against the "politics of division," drew huge crowds to the capital on Saturday, with expectations of thousands participating peacefully under police-imposed restrictions.
Event Details and Historical Context
The rally featured a march through central London, speeches on Whitehall, and a music event in Trafalgar Square. This gathering occurs seven months after the Unite the Kingdom rally, organised by right-wing activist Tommy Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon. That previous demonstration attracted over 100,000 attendees, with approximately 5,000 involved in an anti-racism counter-demonstration, leading to incidents of violent disorder and injuries among police officers.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer condemned the earlier event at the time, stating it left people feeling "more scared than they were before." In contrast, Saturday's Together Alliance rally emphasised a message of unity and opposition to hatred.
Organisers' Confidence and Statements
Sabby Dhalu, co-organiser of the event and joint secretary of the Together Alliance, highlighted an "unprecedented growth" in support for far-right organisations in the UK. She remarked, "The Tommy Robinson-led Unite the Kingdom demonstration back in September 2025 was the biggest far-right mobilisation in British history. We believe that the majority of British people stand against the hatred and division and racism that was being encouraged at that demonstration."
When questioned about potential counter-protests and disorder, Ms Dhalu responded, "We're not worried about anything like that today. We haven't had any intelligence about anything like that being planned. We're confident that the size of our mobilisation here today has actually intimidated the far-right, and I think they feel that they are not confident enough to stand against us because they know that we're going to be out in big numbers."
Protest Atmosphere and Participants
By mid-morning on Saturday, hundreds had gathered, chanting phrases such as "Say it loud, say it clear, refugees are welcome here" and "choose love." Protestors carried placards with slogans like "Migrants make our NHS," "No to racism, no to Trump," and "Refugees welcome, stop the far right." Ms Dhalu assured that participants have "no reason" not to abide by Metropolitan Police conditions, describing the demonstration as "peaceful."
Notable attendees included singer Billy Bragg, who has criticised US President Donald Trump as "a constant reminder of the cruel realities of the politics of division," and former Little Mix singer Leigh-Anne Pinnock. A separate march organised by the Palestine Coalition also took place, merging with the Together Alliance route before a joint rally on Whitehall.
Political Support and Broader Issues
A video message from London Mayor Sir Sadiq Khan was played at the Whitehall stage, and Green Party leader Zack Polanski delivered a speech, stating, "Our plan is simple… never back down in the face of hate – when they attack migrants, when they spew hate about our trans siblings, when they blame Muslims for our country's ills."
Daniel Kebede, general secretary of the National Education Union, accused some in power of "using racism to feather their own nests," noting that a "toxic climate" in society has led to an increase in racist incidents in schools. Rally co-organiser Kevin Courtney, chairman of the Together Alliance, expressed concern over "the growth of far-right ideas across the mainstream."
Police Coordination and Additional Protests
Met Police Deputy Assistant Commissioner Jon Savell described the weekend as "busy for our officers" but assured that detailed plans were in place to allow lawful protests without causing serious disruption. In addition to the mass demonstration, protests against the Iranian regime, including static assemblies and marches, were scheduled in the Westminster area over the weekend, according to the Metropolitan Police.
