Organisers say half 1,000,000 are taking part – although police disagree
Getting an correct image of the variety of folks attending a march is at all times tough, however in the present day’s organisers say they imagine half 1,000,000 folks have gathered in London.
Rally co-organiser Kevin Courtney, chairman of the Together Alliance coalition, instructed crowds gathered on Whitehall:
Our estimate is now that there are half 1,000,000 folks on this demonstration – the largest demonstration ever against the far right. And it provides us all confidence to hold on. Thank you very a lot.
The Met Police say their preliminary estimate is extra like 50,000 folks. They concede, nevertheless, that it’s arduous to get an correct quantity as marchers are so dispersed all through central London.
Key occasions
Here’s the Guardian’s Robyn Vinter with Woody, dressed as Big Oil…
Robyn Vinter
At the march
Attendees have introduced out a few of their greatest costumes, together with Jesus and the grim reaper.
Woody, part of a bunch referred to as Cut The Ties to Fossil Fuels, who was inside the grim reaper costume instructed the Guardian he had come “dressed as Big Oil”.
“Big Oil are one of the major funders of Reform UK,” he mentioned. “We’re here to make that link that we need to cut the ties to fossil fuels.
“Big Oil’s tentacles reach across through many industries, and it’s those enablers of the fossil fuel industry that, as a movement, Cut the Ties to Fossil Fuels, target those enablers.”
He added: “I’m mid-fifties now, and I hear people talking about left and right in a way that I haven’t heard since I was in school.”
Woody mentioned it was essential to unite on the left and work collectively, which is one thing the right are inclined to do nicely “despite having massive differences”.
“It’s a numbers game in a way. This is really important to send a message. So I’m really excited about being here today and being part of a much bigger thing.”
Plenty of different environmental teams are additionally current.
The pink rebels, from Extinction Rebellion, walked silently in the wrong way to the march with white painted faces and pink robes. They mentioned they have been drawing consideration to local weather change.
A reminder for these attending, police have imposed public order circumstances banning the in the present day’s marches from persevering with after 5pm.
More footage are coming in now that actually present the scale of the march:
There are numerous notable politicians and activists throughout the progressive left participating in in the present day’s march. Green social gathering chief Zack Polanski is anticipated to talk, whereas attendees expect to listen to from the mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, and the Labour MP Dawn Butler, in addition to commerce union leaders.
Robyn Vinter
At the march
There are crowds as far as the eye can see alongside Park Lane, with folks of all ages and demographics taking part in the march.
A cacophony of chanting, whistling and drum banging may be heard amongst the 1000’s gathered right here.
A gaggle from Leicester Stand Up to Racism is shouting: “No borders, no nations, stop deportations!”
Others carry indicators studying, “You cannot divide us”, “refugees are welcome here” and “this world belongs to everyone”.
Robyn Vinter is north of England correspondent at the Guardian
Some protesters have spoken to PA earmarking opposition to Reform UK, help for Palestine and anti-racism as drivers for his or her attendance.
Paige Horsford, 34, a media and English instructor from New Romney, Kent, mentioned she joined the Together march as a result of she has witnessed racist incidents at her college.
She mentioned: “This is my 10th year teaching, and it’s certainly the worst it’s ever been.
“Especially after the unite the kingdom rally in September, we had issues in our school surrounding that rally.
“Our kids’ parents had been, and then (pupils) were thinking that they could have free licence to be abusive in classrooms.”
Horsford mentioned pupils had been imitating accents and making “inappropriate” feedback, with younger folks blaming migrants for the nation’s ills.
Crawford Logan, 76, from Stirling, Scotland, mentioned he needed to help each the protest against the far right, and the pro-Palestine march happening in the present day.
He mentioned: “There is a kind of dual purpose to this: there’s this march about the far right, but there’s also the Stop the War coalition as well, so you’ve got two major events on, and they are in parallel I think with the No Kings protests that are going on in the States today.
“And of course, it’s just very dangerous times.”
Asked whether or not he’s frightened about the rise of Reform UK as a political power, Logan mentioned: “Absolutely. The people that think that Reform is the answer are not cottoning on to the fact that it’s actually just old Tories in disguise, and it’s still the same wealthy people who are stripping the country bare, and people who are being stripped bare still think that Reform is the answer.”
Together rally chief hopes to have deterred far-right
Co-organiser of Saturday’s occasion, Sabby Dhalu, who’s joint secretary of the Together Alliance and co-convenor of Stand Up to Racism, mentioned the UK is seeing an “unprecedented growth” in help for far-right organisations.
“We believe that the majority of British people stand against the hatred and division and racism that was being encouraged at that demonstration and by these types of organisations, and it’s time to act.”
Saturday’s occasion – that includes a march, speeches on Whitehall and a music occasion in Trafalgar Square – comes seven months on from the Unite the Kingdom rally.
That demonstration – organised by right-wing activist Tommy Robinson, whose actual title is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon – was attended by greater than 100,000 folks, whereas about 5,000 have been concerned in an anti-racism counter-demonstration.
There have been a number of incidents of violent dysfunction which left some law enforcement officials injured.
Asked if she was involved about potential counter-protests and dysfunction, Dhalu mentioned: “We’re not worried about anything like that today. We haven’t had any intelligence about anything like that is 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.”
Dhalu mentioned protestors have “no reason” to not abide by circumstances put in place by the Metropolitan Police, including that will probably be a “peaceful” demonstration.
The first spherical of pictures are coming by way of from the march, which is anticipated to have a powerful union presence.
Map of route for Together Alliance march
Here’s a map of the route for in the present day’s Together Alliance march.
Participants will march from Park Lane at 1pm, ending on Whitehall, with police anticipating all rallies to conclude by 5pm.
Those in energy utilizing racism to ‘feather personal nests’, head of NEU says
Daniel Kebede, normal secretary of the National Education Union (NEU), mentioned these in energy have been utilizing racism to “feather their own nests”, as he criticised Keir Starmer’s feedback round immigration.
In May final yr, the prime minister mentioned the UK risked changing into “an island of strangers”, in a speech about immigration.
Kebede mentioned earlier than the Together Alliance rally against the far-right on Saturday: “What we have seen – in the age of Trump in particular – is those in power using racism to feather their own nests, whether it’s Donald Trump, whether it’s Nigel Farage.
“And what’s even worse is we’ve seen the Prime Minister, instead of taking it on, tail-end it with the ‘island of strangers’ nonsense that he pedalled last year.”
He added: “The toxic climate that is taking place in society festers into schools. We’re seeing an increase in racist incidents, whether that’s directed towards teachers and support staff, or pupil-on-pupil, so it’s incredibly difficult at the moment.”
Kevin Courtney, chairman of the Together Alliance has mentioned shadow justice secretary Nick Timothy would have been “sacked” for his feedback about Muslim public prayer if he had made them 10 years in the past.
Earlier this month, the Conservative MP described Muslim public prayer as an “act of domination and decision”, referring to an open Iftar occasion held in Trafalgar Square.
Courtney mentioned: “Nick Timothy, who is a frontbencher for the Conservative Party, criticised the Muslim community, said they were taking over Trafalgar Square when they were having an Iftar event… they were praying as part of that.
“All faiths use Trafalgar Square. The idea that Nick Timothy picks on one particular community, and criticise it, demonises it, I would say… it’s disturbing that those ideas have cut into the mainstream.
“10 years ago, he would have been sacked from the Tory frontbench for saying that. He’s not being sacked now, so we are disturbed by the growth of far-right ideas across the mainstream, as well as in the particular expressions, like Tommy Robinson.”
Meanwhile, in the US, thousands and thousands of Americans are anticipated to take to the streets on Saturday for the No Kings protests against the Trump administration.
The protests, which haven’t any connection to the demonstrations happening in the UK, can be led by a coalition of organisers that features “anti-authoritarian” teams Indivisible and 50501, labor unions and different grassroots organisations.
More than 3,000 occasions are deliberate in all 50 states, plus in 16 international locations.
Saturday’s protest can be the third No Kings; the final one in October drew 7 million folks nationwide.
Protesters are anticipated to end up on the foundation of a large number of points, organisers mentioned, from ICE raids to voting rights threats.
“Since the last No Kings, we’re seeing higher gas prices and groceries, all while there’s an illegal war in Iran,” mentioned Sarah Parker, the govt director of Voices of Florida and a nationwide coordinator for the 50501 motion. “The people of America are pissed.”
Who are the Together Alliance?
Dozens of coaches will go away from throughout the nation on Saturday morning – together with 10 from Manchester alone – to start marching from Park Lane to Trafalgar Square at noon however who’re Together Alliance?
From musicians together with Brian Eno and Self Esteem to actors together with Christopher Eccleston and Maxine Peake, the breadth of help displays a well-known sample in British protest actions – moments when politics spills into tradition, and vice versa, and an opportunity for folks to show their progressive values.
The anti-discrimination group Stand Up to Racism are members of the alliance and Sabby Dhalu, a co-convener, has mentioned the Together Alliance’s formation was a direct response to rising far-right sentiment espoused in last September’s “unite the kingdom” demonstration.
Dhalu mentioned: “The overwhelming majority of people reject the racism, Islamophobia, division, hatred and violence promoted by Tommy Robinson and the far right.
“This Saturday we will demonstrate that clearly. Tens of thousands will take to the streets of central London, bringing the same spirit of unity that helped bring the racist riots of 2024 to a halt.”
Two levels – one on Whitehall for speeches and one in Trafalgar Square for music, that are each free to attend – will function cross-party audio system and award-winning musicians, together with Self Esteem, Jessie Ware, Katy B, Joy Crookes, UB40, Fontaines DC, the Charlatans and Hot Chip.
Billy Bragg mentioned that the “politics of division” might be countered when folks got here collectively, and he anticipated the turnout to exceed that of the “unite the kingdom” rally.
In case you missed it, the context of in the present day’s march was discussed in our First version e-newsletter
Met may have ‘vital policing presence’ as part of plan for weekend protests
The Metropolitan police have mentioned there can be a “significant policing presence” in Westminster on Saturday with numerous massive protests anticipated.
In addition to the marches organised by the Together Alliance and the Palestine Coalition, numerous protests against the Iranian regime – each static assemblies and marches – are on account of take place in the Westminster space on each Saturday and Sunday.
The power mentioned they’ve used circumstances beneath the public order act to make sure solely rally areas which have been agreed in advance are used and to set mounted routes that should be adopted and to find out required finish instances.
Dispersal zones can be in place if folks collect in locations away from the agreed type up areas that trigger disruption or harassment and intimidation.
Deputy Assistant Commissioner Jon Savell, who’s in cost of the policing operation this weekend, mentioned: “This is going to be a busy weekend for our officers but we have detailed plans in place to ensure all groups protesting this weekend can do so lawfully and without causing serious disruption to other Londoners, businesses or visitors.”
“I am mindful that it is less than a week since the appalling arson attack in Golders Green which will only have compounded already heightened fears in the Jewish community.
“We take these fears seriously and have carefully considered them in our planning, balancing them as we are required to do against the rights of others to lawful protest.”
Hundreds of 1000’s anticipated to collect in London for march against far right
Good morning. Hundreds of 1000’s of persons are to end up in central London to help what is anticipated to be the largest multicultural march in UK historical past on Saturday.
Scotland Yard mentioned there can be a major police presence in the capital on Saturday as two massive marches will converge in Westminster.
One march, adopted by speeches and musical performances, is organised by the Together Alliance and is alleged to have the help of celebrities together with comic Sir Lenny Henry and singer Paloma Faith, though neither are anticipated to be current.
Participants will march from Park Lane at 1pm, ending on Whitehall, whereas a music occasion can even take place in Trafalgar Square that includes artists together with former Little Mix singer Leigh-Anne Pinnock.
A separate march organised by the Palestine Coalition will type up at the southern finish of Exhibition Road from noon, marching in direction of Hyde Park Corner the place the demonstrators will flip onto Piccadilly, becoming a member of the route of the Together Alliance earlier than the teams type up for a rally on Whitehall.
A video message from London mayor Sadiq Khan can be performed to these gathered at the Whitehall stage and the chief of the Green social gathering Zack Polanski is anticipated to make a speech.
The musician, Billy Bragg told the Guardian on Friday contributors hoped to “send out a message to our fellow citizens that we are willing to take a stand against [the politics of hate] being imported into the UK”.
