Thousands of people gathered in London on Saturday for a protest organized by far-right activist Tommy Robinson, as well as a counter-protest. The Metropolitan police deployed about 1,000 officers to maintain peace and prevent clashes between the two groups. Eight people were arrested, and several emergency workers were assaulted during the protests.
Robinson’s protest began at the Royal Courts of Justice and ended in Trafalgar Square, where attendees chanted nationalistic slogans and voiced anti-immigration sentiments. Videos shared online also showed racist and anti-Muslim chants that are under investigation by the Met.
The counter-protest, organized by Stand Up To Racism and Jeremy Corbyn’s Peace and Justice project, marched from Russell Square to Whitehall. Demonstrators carried banners promoting migrants’ rights and condemning Islamophobia and the war in Gaza. Chants denouncing Robinson as a Nazi were also heard at the event.
The day also included a Trans Pride march from Langham Place to Hyde Park Corner, where a ninth person was arrested for assaulting a steward. Altogether, there were nine arrests for various offenses, including assault on emergency workers and racially aggravated public order offenses.
Speakers at the protests included Corbyn and Eddie Dempsey, assistant general secretary of the RMT union. Despite the tense atmosphere and clashes, the police managed to keep the situation under control throughout the day.
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Photo credit www.theguardian.com
