Tens of thousands of people gathered in central London on Saturday for two separate major protests. One demonstration, organized by far-right activist Tommy Robinson for his ‘Unite the Kingdom’ march, focused on high levels of immigration. Simultaneously, a rally took place to commemorate Nakba Day and show support for Palestinians.
To prevent disorder and keep the opposing groups separated, the Metropolitan police deployed more than 4,000 officers. Police warned that the day could be one of the busiest in recent years as the two demonstrations converged in the heart of the British capital.
Amid the demonstrations, Sara Husseini, director of the British Palestinian Committee, stated that British Palestinians feel unable to speak openly about Israel’s war on Gaza. Husseini noted a growing climate of hostility around Palestinian identity, reporting that some individuals have been afraid to display Arabic jewellery, wear keffiyehs in public, or use Palestinian symbols at work.