LONDON – Thousands of demonstrators packed London streets for several blocks Saturday for a march organized by far-right activist Tommy Robinson.

The “Unite the Kingdom” rally commenced while a smaller group of counterprotesters, organized by Stand Up To Racism, gathered under the “March Against Fascism” banner.

Over 1,000 police officers were deployed to manage the rival demonstrations, with a buffer zone established to prevent interaction between the groups near government buildings.

Robinson, whose actual name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon and is noted for his nationalist and anti-migrant positions, promoted the march as a free speech protest and a defense of British heritage and culture.

The marches occur amidst intense debate in the U.K. over migrants arriving unauthorized across the English Channel in overcrowded inflatable boats.

This past summer saw numerous anti-migrant protests outside hotels housing asylum-seekers following the arrest and subsequent conviction of an Ethiopian man for sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl in a London suburb. Some protests turned violent, resulting in arrests.

During the “Unite the Kingdom” march, participants waved the St. George’s red-and-white flag of England and the union jack, the national flag of the United Kingdom, while chanting “we want our country back.” U.K. flags have become more visible this summer across events and village lampposts in the U.K., which some interpret as a display of national pride while others see it as a shift towards nationalism.

Some Robinson supporters held signs saying “stop the boats,” “send them home,” and “enough is enough, save our children.”

At the counterprotest, the crowd held signs saying “refugees welcome” and ”smash the far right,” and shouted “stand up, fight back.”

Robinson supporters chanted crude refrains about U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer and also shouted messages of support for slain U.S. conservative activist Charlie Kirk.

One demonstrator held a sign saying: “Freedom of speech is dead. RIP Charlie Kirk.”

Robinson had planned a “Unite the Kingdom” rally last October, but couldn’t attend after being jailed for contempt of court for violating a 2021 High Court order barring him from repeating libelous allegations against a Syrian refugee who successfully sued him. He previously served jail time for assault and mortgage fraud.

Robinson founded the nationalist and anti-Islamist English Defence League and is one of the most influential far-right figures in Britain. He urged followers not to wear masks, drink booze or get violent.