Thousands flock London streets for far-right march and opposing pro-Palestianian protest
Tens of thousands gathered in London on May 16, 2026, for a far-right march organized by Tommy Robinson and a combined pro-Palestinian and anti-fascism counter-protest, both taking place under heavy police presence. The events proceeded largely without major incidents, though 31 arrests were made during the day. The rallies occurred amid heightened tensions over immigration, free speech, and recent antisemitic attacks in the UK.
- ▪Tommy Robinson, a far-right activist, organized the 'Unite the Kingdom' march in central London, drawing tens of thousands of supporters.
- ▪A rival protest marking Nakba Day and opposing fascism drew several thousand and was organized in part by Stand Up to Racism.
- ▪London's Metropolitan Police deployed 4,000 officers and spent £4.5 million to manage the events, making 31 arrests.
- ▪Prime Minister Keir Starmer condemned the far-right rally as promoting 'hatred and division' and warned against public intimidation.
- ▪The UK government blocked 11 foreign far-right figures, including Valentina Gomez, from entering the country ahead of the rallies.
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In London, on May 16, 2026, during a rally organized by Tommy Robinson, an Islamophobic and anti-immigration activist. DYLAN MARTINEZ / REUTERS Tens of thousands of people rallied Saturday, May 16, in London at a march organized by far-right activist Tommy Robinson and a counter-demonstration fused with a pro-Palestinian protest, amid a huge police presence. London's Metropolitan Police mounted one of its largest operations in recent years, costing £4.5 million, as the British capital also hosted the FA Cup Final. Read more Subscribers only Tommy Robinson, a racist hooligan turned mass mobilizer In a late afternoon update, it said the dueling events "have proceeded largely without significant incident" and that officers had made 31 arrests in total up that point.
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