Thousands of anti-racism protesters have gathered outside Reform UK’s headquarters with some accusing party leader Nigel Farage of spreading “dangerous rhetoric”.
Demonstrators joined Stand up to Racism’s gathering which met outside the party’s headquarters in Victoria, central London, chanting in support of refugees before marching through Whitehall and towards Trafalgar Square to listen to speeches from activists.
Organisers said the turnout of about 5,000 people showed the depth of support for refugees and other minority groups targeted in recent disorder, amid fears of further violence this weekend.
Samira Ali, who made the closing speech, told the PA news agency: “We feel like we have turned the tide. It’s a testament to our mobilisation that they failed to come out.
“They would not have been stopped if it was not for our mobilisation.”
Another speaker, Gary McFarlan, 63, told the crowd: “A few days ago, the atmosphere was very different. Lots of people were very scared, worried about coming out on to the streets, thinking, ‘Will I get a half-brick in my head? Will I get kicked in the face by a Nazi?’. We turned it around this week.”
Mr McFarlan, a journalist from Haringey, north London, made historical comparisons to emphasise the significance of Saturday’s march.
Referring to the Battle of Cable Street, he said: “We smashed them in 1936. We gave our strength in the East End of London. We smashed them in the 1970s with anti-Nazi leagues.
“We’ve had our battles since then, against the British National Party, the English Defence League – the back of which was broken 12 years ago.”
Ms Ali said organisers had chosen Reform UK’s headquarters as the starting point for the demonstration because of Mr Farage’s stance on immigration.
She said: “We were protesting outside of Reform UK, against the likes of Nigel Farage and his dangerous rhetoric.
“The constant rhetoric about ‘stop the boats’, about immigration being a problem, about refugees and Muslims being to blame in society. This is all rhetoric that’s been replicated on the far-right riots. That’s created the toxic atmosphere in which the far right have been able to build.
“That’s why we brought the protest to his doorstep today, because we believe he has questions to answer for.”
Ms Ali dismissed the suggestion that Saturday’s demonstration would mark the end of the counter-protest movement after rioting.
She said: “We want this movement to reach into every area, every workplace, every community. The far right is on the back foot now, but we’re going to keep pushing.”
As protesters marched down Whitehall, a GB News reporter said his broadcast had been interrupted after a demonstrator “attacked” one of the crew.
Charlie Peters, who said he had been reporting on the “mostly peaceful” protest since it started, told PA: “As we approached Downing Street one of the protesters recognised us as GB News and people started chanting ‘GB News off our streets’.
“One man got close and started gesticulating towards the camera while we were filming and tried to stop us broadcasting. In doing so, he then attacked one of my colleagues.
“It’s a shame that journalists have to have security arrangements while broadcasting in central London.”
A man was briefly removed from the march by police.
In a statement posted on X on Saturday evening, the Metropolitan Police said: “A video has been shared online showing an incident involving a GB News camera crew and a protester in Whitehall earlier today.
“It is important that the press are able to report freely, including at protests, without being subject to harassment, abuse or intimidation.
“The footage released appears to show a protester trying to obstruct a GB News camera crew as they reported, by putting his hand up to the lens.
“As he does so, a man who was working as security for the camera crew intervenes and pushes him away.
“Officers moved in quickly to prevent any further escalation. No allegations were made at the time and both parties went their separate ways.
“We have confirmed with GB News that they do not wish to take the matter further.”
Officers said no arrests had been made.
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