The former leader of the Labour Party, Jeremy Corbyn, is currently leading a counter-protest against a march that is scheduled to take place today through the central area of London by followers of Tommy Robinson.
An event that is being labeled as a “patriotic rally” is being led by Mr. Robinson, and it will take place from The Strand in London to Trafalgar Square, where speakers will be delivered.
The Peace and Justice Project, which was founded by the former leader, has made a commitment to be at the vanguard of a counter demonstration that will be described as a march to stop Tommy Robinson.
The following is an excerpt from a statement released by his organization: “We are proud to be supporting the ‘Stop Tommy Robinson’ demonstration alongside a host of unions and organizations.”
“Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, is a former member of the Nazi BNP and the founder of the English Defense League. He is currently in the process of organizing a considerable number of far-right thugs to take to the streets of London.
“On the first of June, he organized a gathering of more than five thousand people for an event that was strongly Islamophobic and had deadly rhetoric that recalled Nazi slogans. Now, he is asserting even more substantial statistics for the 27th of July. It is very necessary for us to respond with a large-scale demonstration in order to demonstrate that we will not allow fascism in our country.
He posted the following message: “On July 27th, we will unite the kingdom.” Our cause is either going to succeed or fail, therefore please take it seriously. Our ability to behave in a mature and reasonable manner will win us the hearts and minds of the general population.
He added the following in a post that he made last night: “Loud and proud but calm and disciplined.”
Concerns over potential conflicts between the two groups led the Metropolitan Police Department to announce Friday night that it had approximately one thousand personnel on standby.
In maps that were distributed by the Metropolitan Police Department last night, it was stated that Mr. Robinson’s party was required to gather along Fleet Street and The Strand before proceeding down Aldwych and then back along The Strand to Trafalgar Square, where they are required to remain until the event concludes at 5.30 p.m.
For the protest that is being organized by Stand Up To Racism, participants are required to refrain from beginning their procession until 1.30 p.m. or unless they are otherwise instructed to do so by a law enforcement officer.
Any individual who is taking part in the demonstration is not permitted to depart from the path that leads from Russell Square to Whitehall via Embankment.
Stand Up To Racism is the organization that is in charge of organizing the counter demonstration.
The statement read as follows: “On Saturday, July 27, fascist Tommy Robinson is calling on his supporters who are on the far right, racist, and Nazi thug to ‘take over’ central London.”
On June 1st, their demonstration was characterized by a strong anti-Islamic and racist sentiment.
“On July 27th, Robinson is planning to put even more people out on the streets,” the announcement read. For the purpose of uniting against him, we need to organize the largest possible demonstration. On that day, this means that various organizations, including unions, faith groups, campaigns and organizations, political figures, and cultural figures, who all opposed fascism, will come together.
“So, we need to stand together in united opposition against the fascist threat posed by Tommy Robinson and his far-right followers who aim to take over Trafalgar Square.”
In his posts on X, Mr. Robinson has expressed his optimism on the possibility of a peaceful demonstration.
Tommy Robinson counter demonstrators at a previous London march (Image: Getty)
Furthermore, a Trans Pride event is scheduled to take place, featuring a march starting from Langham Place and concluding at Wellington Arch, where remarks will be made.
The Metropolitan Police Department released a statement regarding the two protest marches, stating that certain conditions have been imposed in order to prevent any significant disruptions, in accordance with the Public Order Act.
We will need to temporarily close several roads in Westminster to prioritize the safety of participants in the various upcoming events.
“This is expected to cause a lot of inconvenience, so it’s a good idea for drivers to think about using public transportation or finding different routes.”
We are addressing the situation by deploying a significant number of officers as part of a carefully planned operation.
Our main goal is to ensure a peaceful environment for individuals who are engaging in lawful protests.
“We have proactively utilized our powers under the Public Order Act to oversee the schedules and paths of marches and assemblies, ensuring that the groups are kept separate from each other.
The officers are committed to taking swift and effective action to address any breaches of the conditions, deter criminal behavior, and handle any other unforeseen circumstances that may arise.
Feeling safe and being safe in London is an essential human right. If individuals misuse their right to demonstrate by engaging in unlawful intimidation or hate speech, they should expect to face consequences from law enforcement.
“The police presence will be very noticeable, and I encourage anyone in London, whether they are involved in these events or not, to approach an officer if they feel unsafe or need to report an incident.