The Metropolitan have arrested 25 people after what is believed to be “the biggest demonstration ever against the far right” in central London today. Of those arrested, 18 were detained for supporting Palestine Action, two for climbing the National Gallery’s columns and five for other reasons.
Half a million people are said to have rallied together for the Together Alliance event, which was presented as a stand against the “politics of division.” Flag waving protestors carried placards saying: “No to racism, no to Trump”, and “Refugees welcome”. The demonstrators marched through the capital to Whitehall amid a heavy police presence, with officers lining the streets.
Organisers of todays march said as many as 500,000 people had attended, although the Metropolitan Police estimated the figure to be closer to 50,000, adding precise figures were hard to determine due to the spread of the crowds.
That demonstration – organised by right-wing activist Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon – was attended by between 110,000 and 150,000 people, while about 5,000 were involved in an anti-racism counter-demonstration.
A separate march organised by the Palestine Coalition also took place, merging with the Together Alliance route before the two groups came together in Whitehall.
Elsewhere, 18 people held a protest outside New Scotland Yard in support of Palestine Action, a banned organisation.
Rally co-organiser Kevin Courtney, chairman of the coalition, told crowds gathered on Whitehall: “Our estimate is now that there are half a million people on this demonstration – the biggest demonstration ever against the far right.
“And it gives us all confidence to carry on. Thank you very much.”
Speakers included former Labour MP Diane Abbott, who now sits as an independent in Parliament.
She told a cheering crowd: “The turnout today is the largest anti-racist march that I have seen in my lifetime, and you should all be proud of yourselves for coming out in such numbers today.”
UB40 drummer Jimmy Brown stood beside his bandmates as he delivered a speech.
The musician said the reggae group has visited “all kinds of places” to perform, adding: “One thing that we’ve come to the conclusion of is that working people around the world have more in common with each other than they do with their elite, and the billionaire class.”
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