Thousands of protesters took to the streets of central London, rallying against police custody deaths, rising far-right extremism, and to show support for anti-racism efforts.
The protests, which took place in three locations across the city on October 26th, saw activists from diverse backgrounds unite to oppose the growing influence of far-right groups.
One of the largest rallies of the day occurred in Trafalgar Square, where protestors gathered to remember individuals who have died in police custody.
The rally was supported by the family of Chris Kaba, a Black man who was fatally shot by police in 2022.
Protestors carried placards with messages such as "No one forgotten, nothing forgiven" and "No to hatred, no to fascism".
Among those at the rally was Shahrima Begum, who spoke about her motivations for attending.
She said: "I’m here to fight racism.
“Every cause is linked together so we are all fighting one enemy and one issue.”
Elsewhere in the city, far-right supporters of jailed activist Tommy Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, marched from Victoria Station to Whitehall under the movement called “Unite the Kingdom”.
Despite Robinson's absence, as he had turned himself into Kent Police earlier that week, his supporters continued their march, carrying signs that read "Stop the Boats".
In response, counter-protestors organised by the group Stand Up to Racism gathered at Regent Street before marching towards Whitehall.
Anti-racism activists carried banners reading "Refugees Welcome" and voiced their opposition to the far-right's.
Jason Langford, an anti-fascist protestor from Bournemouth, expressed his concerns about the growing influence of far-right groups.
The presence of the far-right is “gathering momentum at the moment”, he said.
“I feel like there’s a bigger fight coming and it’s important we make a statement right now.
“That we're not just going to let fascists march in London.”
Langford encouraged people to get actively involved, “you can be proud of who you are and proud of your country without draping yourself in a flag of racism and islamophobia and anti-Semitism”.
Protestors from across England, Scotland and Wales joined in solidarity against the rise of fascism and racism.
Alimamy Bengura, a protestor from Manchester, spoke about the importance of standing together against hate.
"We should live as families, as human beings, without being differentiated by colour or ethnicity.
“We are fighting for humanity to exist."
Activist Pete Wearden, a member of Stand Up to Racism in Bournemouth, emphasised the importance of continuing to challenge far-right extremism.
“You need to be clear that these people have a
Nazi ideology.”
He added: “Say no to racism, say no to fascism.
“We will not go back to the 1930s.”
The police maintained a significant presence at all protests, with Metropolitan Police and British Transport Police officers deployed to manage the demonstrations.
At least four arrests were reported during the course of the day.
The atmosphere remained largely peaceful, with protestors committed to making their voices heard.
Sijaad Hussain, a protestor from Walsall, stressed the urgency of standing up against racism and fascism.
“We know what happened when no one spoke out seventy years ago.
“People from Palestine have joined us, Islamic movements have joined us, Jewish movements have joined us.”
He added: “We got to raise our voice against them”
The protests are part of a larger national conversation about the rise of far-right groups and anti-immigrant sentiment in the UK.
Tommy Robinson and his supporters have gained attention in recent years.
In response, groups like Stand Up to Racism and other anti-fascist organisations continue to mobilise against what they view as a growing threat to the UK's values of equality and justice.
Maz Garsire, a participant from London, reflected on the strength of the protest.
“We’ve come out in our thousands to say we're not having fascists takeover.
“The British flag belongs to all of us, not just them.”
She added: “Immigration has made this country fantastic.
“It’s made it multicultural and amazing.”
As the protestors made their way through central London, the message was clear fascism and racism have no place in the UK, and the fight for justice and solidarity will continue.
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