From all corners of the land they came, bearing flags and banners and pride – or was it rage – in their hearts. Hard-Right activist Tommy Robinson and his supporters are definitely not everyone’s cup of tea but it was they who gave the most vivid expression yet to the despair felt by many over the migration issue.
Not all among the 110,000 protesters who brought London to a standstill in his ‘free speech’ march and rally on Saturday would call themselves his disciples, of course. Many were there, said one man, because ‘patience with the migrant crisis has reached breaking point’ and this was an opportunity to vent frustration. Enough is enough came the simple, commonly expressed refrain.
This was also a chance to express outrage over the assassination of influential MAGA cheerleader Charlie Kirk at a Utah campus last week.
The day began with blue skies and optimism but ended with bruise-coloured clouds, rain and fighting.
Despite fears of bloody fights with anti-racism protesters, Robinson’s supporters mainly just scrapped with the police – or among themselves. As evening approached, more than 100 officers on foot, wearing protective gear and backed up by dozens of police horses, clashed with demonstrators as bottles and pieces of wood were thrown at them.
