London just witnessed a rather significant stroll, with what organizers are calling the largest anti-far-right demonstration in British history. Picture it: hundreds of thousands of people, from roughly 500 different groups, all converging near the Houses of Parliament. Because apparently, sometimes you just need to put your feet down, literally.
The Together Alliance march brought together a crowd so diverse it included everyone from trade unionists to anti-racism campaigners, all ages, from all corners of the country. Organizers floated a number around half a million attendees, which is a lot of confidence to carry on, as their chairman Kevin Courtney put it. The Metropolitan Police, ever the realists, estimated closer to 50,000, though they admitted counting that many spread-out humans is a bit like herding very opinionated cats.
Meanwhile, a much smaller group of counter-protesters showed up, waving Israeli flags and Iran's pre-1979 monarchical flag. Because, balance.
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Start Your News DetoxTrade union activist Aadam Muuse told Al Jazeera that racism and Islamophobia have gone from the fringes straight into mainstream politics. He pointed a finger squarely at Reform leader Nigel Farage, stating this march was “much needed to push back” and that Farage’s party “must be defeated at the ballot box.” Which, if you think about it, is a very British way of saying, “We’re not amused.”
Al Jazeera’s Milena Veselinovic reported that the mood was all about protesting “the politics of hate and division.” Activist Hamja Ahsan likened the atmosphere to Notting Hill Carnival, but with more placards and less reggae. He stressed the importance of showing that the tolerant majority is, in fact, the majority. Museum worker Charlotte Elliston echoed a common sentiment: “You think this would never happen here, and then all of a sudden this might happen.” Because history, it turns out, isn't always ancient.
A Unified Roar for Decency
Several left-wing politicians joined the throngs. Independent MP Jeremy Corbyn offered a refreshingly direct take: the problem isn't migrants, it's “an economic system rigged in favour of corporations and billionaires.” MP Zarah Sultana added that anger should be directed at “billionaires funding division.” Because nothing says unity like pointing out who profits from the opposite.
Amnesty UK, never one to mince words, called it a “historic demonstration” for a vision of society focused on dignity, compassion, and human rights. A separate march by the Palestine Solidarity Campaign even merged with the main event, adding another layer to the message. Though, eighteen people were arrested near New Scotland Yard in connection with a Palestine Action protest, because not all unity is perfectly harmonious.
This massive turnout arrives as racism is reportedly on the rise and Farage’s Reform party gains traction. Hope Not Hate, an anti-racism group, issued a stark warning: the British far right is now “bigger, bolder and more extreme than ever before.” Which means sometimes, the best way to make a point is to simply show up, en masse, and take over the streets.
