London hosts massive anti‐racism, far-right demonstrations

The far right is on the march again, in their biggest show of strength yet, led by Tommy Robinson, a so-called activist, who made his name scapegoating migrants and Muslims and spreading conspiracy theories.

Simultaneously, a counter demonstration was organized by rights groups and unions against what they call 'racism and the rise of fascism'.

Everyone should have free speech, but there's a defined line between free speech and hate speech, and some of the things he says is hate speech.

So we have the freedom of speech to speak up and speak out about what's right and what's wrong.

Anti-racism demonstrator 01

• London hosts massive anti‐racism, far-right demonstrations
  

  London hosts massive anti‐racism, far-right demonstrations

  Thousands gather in two opposing demonstrations in London: one organized by the anti-immigrant, Islamophobic far-right, and a counter-march by anti-racist campaigners.

I think it's a very cheap shot to point your finger at asylum seekers, people who are fleeing war torn countries, wars that are created by the West.

And, you know, I think we've got to show people like Tommy Robinson, who I hear is funded by Israel, you know, we have to show him what's what.

Anti-racism demonstrator 02

At the heart of the far right's rhetoric lies immigration. They blame immigrants, especially non-Europeans, as the reason behind their economic woes.

The counter demonstrators say the reasons should be sought elsewhere.

It's just a smoke screen! People need to wake up and realize that these people, these refugees who have come to seek solace in our country, are not the problem.

They are not the problem.

Look closer to home; your government is your problem.

Anti-racism demonstrator 03

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  ‘Welfare, not warfare’: Thousands protest in London against austerity cuts

  Thousands gather in central London to protest government spending cuts, amid rising military budgets.

That goes back to many, many years of austerity measures by the Tory government.

I mean, I'm not, I'm not hiding the fact that there's a lot of problems in this country in terms of, like the economy, everything's being crashed, but it's not the refugees and the migrants that are to blame, but actually the politicians and their hypocrisy and their lies and their mismanagement of this country.

Anti-racism demonstrator 04

For 14 years, conservative governments imposed economic austerity while whipping up anti migrant hysteria to distract from the damage. Under Labour, the promised change is yet to come.

They're angry and I understand some of the reasons they're angry, but I think they're blaming the wrong people.

And yes, you have the right to free speech, but I think it should be based in fact, and a lot of their free speech that they claim isn't factual, and it's done to whip up anger, more anger for their own means.

Anti-racism demonstrator 05

• Reform UK anti-immigrant party deemed a threat
  

  Reform UK anti-immigrant party deemed a threat

  In one of Britain

Also tapping into that anger is the right-wing Reform UK Party led by wealthy politician Nigel Farage, whose party is rising sharply in the polls, with tackling migration at the top of his agenda if elected in the next general election.

At the heart of the problem, the demonstrators say, is inequality, the failure of successive governments to look after the vulnerable, and the political system that fuels division rather than solving problems.

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