Hey amigos! Over 100,000 people poured onto the streets of central London on Saturday for the far-right "Unite the Kingdom" rally organized by activist Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, aka Tommy Robinson. 🚨
What was meant to be a march down Whitehall quickly turned chaotic. Police said the rally was "too big to fit" on the approved route, and roughly 1,600 officers—including 500 brought in from other forces—tried to keep order. But things got heated: protesters clashed with officers, hurling bottles, flares, and kicking and punching at police lines. In total, 26 officers were injured, four of them seriously.
The force made 25 arrests on the day, but warned it is just the beginning. "We are identifying those who were involved in the disorder, and they can expect to face robust police action in the coming days and weeks," said Assistant Commissioner Matt Twist.
On one side, rally-goers shouted "We want our country back, we want our free speech back on track." On the other side, counter-protesters held their own line, arguing, "The idea of hate is dividing us, and the more we welcome people, the stronger we are as a country." ✊
All this unfolds against the backdrop of a heated summer in the UK, where tensions over irregular immigration have been boiling. Last weekend alone saw over 1,000 migrants cross the English Channel in small boats, pushing the total to more than 30,000 so far this year. 🛥️
London's streets are now buzzing with debate: is this protest a wake-up call on immigration policy, or a sign of deeper divisions? Whatever your take, one thing's clear – Britain's immigration row is far from over. 🔥
Reference(s):
Over 100,000 turn up in far-right activist-led rally in central London
cgtn.com
