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Organisers say half a million are taking part - though police disagree
Getting an accurate picture of the number of people attending a march is always difficult, but today’s organisers say they believe half a million people have gathered in London.
Rally co-organiser Kevin Courtney, chairman of the Together Alliance coalition, told crowds gathered on Whitehall:
Our estimate is now that there are half a million people on this demonstration – the biggest demonstration ever against the far right. And it gives us all confidence to carry on. Thank you very much.
The Met Police say their initial estimate is more like 50,000 people. They concede, however, that it is hard to get an accurate number as marchers are so dispersed throughout central London.
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Together is an alliance of hundreds of civil society organisations united against the far right.
According to their website, its members represent over 7 million people. Its representatives work as teachers, firefighters, care workers, cleaners, midwives, engineers.
In the lead up to the protest, it’s promo ramped up and that has resulted in such a strong turnout for today’s march.
Here’s a video introducing them:
Police arrest 18 Palestine Action supporters outside Met headquarters
The Metropolitan police have arrested 18 Palestine Action supporters after announcing on Wednesday that it would resume taking action against those supporting the proscribed organisation.
The force said in a social media post on Saturday afternoon that 18 people are staging a protest in support of the banned group outside New Scotland Yard.
A picture shared on its X account shows the demonstrators sitting on the steps in front of the Westminster building and is accompanied with the caption: “Arrests are now under way outside New Scotland Yard.”
An estimated 1000 people joined the event to march against Christian nationalism.
The Bishop of Croydon, Rosemarie Mallett, told a church service before the demonstration that she stood with “all people of goodwill who seek to build diverse and inclusive communities” and she and other Christians are “committed to building bridges rather than barriers and to living out Jesus’s command to love our neighbours”.
In December, Tommy Robinson led another “unite the kingdom” event in London, with a carol concert claiming to “put the Christ back into Christmas”.
Earlier this year, a number of Church of England bishops voiced their rejection of “the use of Christian symbols” by people trying to intimidate others, in the face of community anxiety about the flying of St George’s and Union flags.
Members of UB40, the Birmingham reggae band who were active in the anti-fascist campaigns of the 1980s such as Rock Against Racism, attended and spoke at today’s demonstration.
The group’s drummer Jimmy Brown stood beside his bandmates as he delivered a speech.
The musician said the reggae group has visited “all kinds of places” to perform, adding: “One thing that we’ve come to the conclusion of is that working people around the world have more in common with each other than they do with their elite, and the billionaire class.”
He was met with cheers and thanked the crowd, adding: “There are more of us than there is them and I want to thank the organisers here. This has been such an amazing turnout, it’s absolutely incredible.”
Here’s some aerial footage of the march
Small group of counter-protesters present on route of march
A small group of counter-protesters have attended today’s Together Alliance march in central London.
They were pictured holding Israeli, American and Iranian lion and sun flags as the march began.
Organisers say half a million are taking part - though police disagree
Getting an accurate picture of the number of people attending a march is always difficult, but today’s organisers say they believe half a million people have gathered in London.
Rally co-organiser Kevin Courtney, chairman of the Together Alliance coalition, told crowds gathered on Whitehall:
Our estimate is now that there are half a million people on this demonstration – the biggest demonstration ever against the far right. And it gives us all confidence to carry on. Thank you very much.
The Met Police say their initial estimate is more like 50,000 people. They concede, however, that it is hard to get an accurate number as marchers are so dispersed throughout central London.
Here’s the Guardian’s Robyn Vinter with Woody, dressed as Big Oil…
Robyn Vinter
At the march
Attendees have brought out some of their best costumes, including Jesus and the grim reaper.
Woody, part of a group called Cut The Ties to Fossil Fuels, who was inside the grim reaper costume told the Guardian he had come “dressed as Big Oil”.
“Big Oil are one of the major funders of Reform UK,” he said. “We’re here to make that link that we need to cut the ties to fossil fuels.
“Big Oil’s tentacles reach across through many industries, and it’s those enablers of the fossil fuel industry that, as a movement, Cut the Ties to Fossil Fuels, target those enablers.”
He added: “I’m mid-fifties now, and I hear people talking about left and right in a way that I haven’t heard since I was in school.”
Woody said it was important to unite on the left and work together, which is something the right tend to do well “despite having massive differences”.
“It’s a numbers game in a way. This is really important to send a message. So I’m really excited about being here today and being part of a much bigger thing.”
Plenty of other environmental groups are also present.
The red rebels, from Extinction Rebellion, walked silently in the opposite direction to the march with white painted faces and red robes. They said they were drawing attention to climate change.
A reminder for those attending, police have imposed public order conditions banning the today’s marches from continuing after 5pm.
More pictures are coming in now that really show the scale of the march:
There are a number of notable politicians and activists across the progressive left engaging in today’s march. Green party leader Zack Polanski is expected to speak, while attendees are expecting to hear from the mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, and the Labour MP Dawn Butler, as well as trade union leaders.
Robyn Vinter
At the march
There are crowds as far as the eye can see along Park Lane, with people of all ages and demographics taking part in the march.
A cacophony of chanting, whistling and drum banging can be heard among the thousands gathered here.
A group from Leicester Stand Up to Racism is shouting: “No borders, no nations, stop deportations!”
Others carry signs reading, “You cannot divide us”, “refugees are welcome here” and “this world belongs to everyone”.
Robyn Vinter is north of England correspondent at the Guardian
