LONDON – British activist Tommy Robinson on Saturday described a mass demonstration in central London as a “celebration of free speech,” drawing hundreds of thousands of supporters to the streets.
“Hundreds of thousands have already filled the streets of central London as we unite as one for our freedoms,” Robinson wrote on X, formerly Twitter.
Among his high-profile supporters is billionaire Elon Musk.
More than 1,600 police officers were deployed across the capital, including 500 reassigned from other regions.
Immigration has emerged as a dominant political issue in the UK, surpassing concerns over the country’s economic challenges.
The summer saw heightened tensions, with frequent anti-migrant protests and clashes outside hotels housing asylum seekers.
Since the start of the year, over 28,000 migrants have crossed the English Channel in small boats to reach British shores.