An estimated tens of thousands of people gathered in London for the "Unite the Kingdom" protest march organized by far-right activist Tommy Robinson. Police estimate the number of protesters to be 110,000, while Robinson himself estimates the number to be at least 3 million.

Aerial footage shows a huge crowd of people at Waterloo, a district in London, from where the march will depart for Whitehall in central London. The march is being billed as a"free speech festival" and will focus on anti-immigration, anti-Islam, and freedom of expression.

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Steve Bannon, a former adviser to Donald Trump, and Ant Middleton, a former member of the British special forces, were also expected to speak later.

The demonstration takes place in the aftermath of the murder of American far-right influencer Charlie Kirk, which Robinson is using to mobilize additional people.

There will also be a counter-protest from Stand Up To Racism UK to counter Robinson's march, but a much smaller turnout is expected.

The Metropolitan Police has deployed more than 1,600 officers, including 500 from other police forces, to keep the two rival groups apart and maintain public order. Barriers are being erected and strict security measures are in place to prevent confrontations. The police have also announced that there will be zero tolerance for violence or incitement.

So far, everything remains calm, and the police have not reported any incidents, neither at the"Unite the Kingdom" protest march, nor at the counter-demonstration.

Friend of Musk

Tommy Robinson, born Stephen Christopher Yaxley-Lennon, is a British far-right activist known for his anti-Islamic and nationalist views.

Robinson rose to prominence in 2009 as co-founder and leader of the English Defence League (EDL), a movement opposing Islamisation and Muslim extremism.

Although he left the EDL in 2013, he remained active in politics. He later founded the political party For Britain and, since this year, has been involved with Advance UK, a party founded by former members of Reform UK.

Many of his statements have led to accusations of hate speech and spreading disinformation. In 2024, for example, he was convicted of contempt of court after repeating false accusations about a Syrian refugee, resulting in an 18-month prison sentence.

However, he was released early after a review of his case.

Robinson has also attracted attention beyond the UK's borders, particularly from figures like Elon Musk, who has spoken out in favor of his release from prison. His influence extends to other countries as well, where he maintains contacts with far-right movements and politicians.

Why does VRT NWS call Tommy Robinson far-right? How does the radical right differ from the far-right? And the radical left (such as the Labour Party (PVDA)) from the far-left? The term"extreme" is primarily used by scholars for parties and groups that are anti-democratic and incite violence. Robinson has been convicted multiple times, including for violent crimes and public disorder, which has earned him a reputation as a provocateur and street activist who pushes the boundaries of the law.