London Protests: Tens of Thousands Join Separate Immigration and Pro-Palestinian Marches
Tens of thousands of people marched in central London on Saturday in two protests: one against high immigration levels and another supporting Palestinians. Police deployed 4,000 officers, marking their most significant public order operation in years, and made 11 arrests by noon.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer criticized the Unite the Kingdom march for spreading hate, which was organized by anti-Islam activist Tommy Robinson. The government prohibited 11 foreign far-right figures from entering the UK to address the protest. A previous Robinson-led march attracted around 150,000 participants and resulted in over 20 arrests. Supporters at the recent march waved British and English flags, expressing concerns about high migration numbers and criticizing net-zero policies.
Annual net migration peaked at nearly 900,000 in 2022 and 2023 but dropped to around 200,000 last year due to stricter visa rules. Immigration issues have impacted Starmer’s popularity and helped right-wing parties like Reform UK gain support. Some protesters expressed hostility towards Starmer, while Robinson called for peaceful actions during his rally.
Nearby, pro-Palestinian demonstrators commemorated Nakba Day, marking the loss of Palestinian land during the 1948 conflict. This march attracted those opposing Robinson’s protest and included displays of Palestinian flags. London has seen increased anti-Jewish incidents, leaving many Jewish individuals feeling unsafe in the area. The police have been making arrests for various public order offences related to these protests, and the government warned against antisemitic chants. Some slogans during the protest included calls related to the Israeli army that have led to previous arrests.
With information from Reuters