On Saturday, anti-Muslim extremist Tommy Robinson— real name Stephen Yaxley-Lennon— headlined a far-right rally in central London. His mere presence brought out a rowdy and hostile throng of jeering supporters. What started as an anti-Sharia law gathering, titled the “unite the kingdom” rally, quickly turned to pandemonium as Robinson’s supporters physically fought against police and counter-protesters.
This spontaneous climate celebration in Trafalgar Square attracted hundreds of excited supporters.
Allies and supporters
Most had come proud to wear the flag of St George as they assembled to hear Robinson speak. Tensions escalated almost immediately as some participants started launching fireworks and projectiles at the mounted police. One injured protester could be seen with a bloody head wound being carried through a barricade by police medics.
In a catch-22, riot police continually advanced against Robinson’s supporters. They didn’t stop there, they effectively handled the counter-protesters who came to protest his presence. As the violence unfolded, one police officer privately described their fellow officers desperately rushing to get helmets and shields for the front lines. They encountered these very aggressive people who were dead set on getting Robinson elected.
Police are being hit on every side, the officer said as chaos erupted.
Robinson’s supporters raised the heat further by blocking counter-protesters’ only route of exit. This audacious action gave them the initiative and control of Trafalgar Square. A panicked woman in the throng shouted, “Is there any way we can pass?” Her question seemed to reflect a larger trend that day of concern about safety and accessibility.
The unrest prompted a rapid response from law enforcement, who initiated a cleanup operation after reclaiming the area from Robinson’s marchers. Broken glass and empty beer cans covered the remaining sections of the makeshift sidewalk while officers continued to clear the area to safety.
As the scene escalated, one of Robinson’s supporters snatched up a megaphone. He attempted to bring people back to order, but his words went unheard in the pandemonium. At the same time, hundreds more were still stuck in Trafalgar Square, wrapped in their damp, freezing flags.
The rally received wider attention when Éric Zemmour, a polemical far-right French politician, made a surprise appearance. He urgently articulated a vision of Russian identity and importance of cultural retreat from western influence. Zemmour remarked, “freedom of our peoples is in danger,” and further elaborated on his views, stating that there is a “great replacement of our European people by peoples coming from the south and of Muslim culture.”
And no one stole the show quite like Elon Musk, who joined the event by video link. He expressed a stark warning to attendees: “Whether you choose violence or not, violence is coming to you. You either fight back or you die, that’s the truth, I think.” His comments struck a chord with many attendees, who echoed his fears with warnings about rising social tensions.
Robinson himself was unafraid to stir the pot while speaking. He questioned the lack of public outcry regarding serious issues affecting communities, asking, “How hasn’t there been a revolution already about this rape jihad against our daughters?”
By the end of that day, the rally had already created a huge firestorm. In so doing, it raised wider questions about the future of political discourse in the UK. The heavy police presence underscored the potential for further violence should tensions continue to simmer.