Organisers of a major demonstration in central London have expressed optimism that the substantial turnout for the Together Alliance event has effectively "intimidated the far right" into avoiding any counter-protests. The rally, which took place on Saturday 28 March 2026, has been positioned as a direct stand against what participants describe as the "politics of division" currently influencing public discourse.
Massive Crowds Gather for Peaceful Demonstration
Huge crowds descended upon the capital for the Together Alliance event, with organisers anticipating thousands of attendees. The demonstration was designed to be peaceful, adhering to police-imposed restrictions that specified where and when gatherings could occur. The day's activities included a march through central London, a series of speeches delivered on Whitehall, and a music event held in Trafalgar Square.
Context of Previous Demonstrations
This event occurs seven months after the Unite the Kingdom rally, which was organised by right-wing activist Tommy Robinson, whose legal name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon. That previous demonstration attracted over 100,000 participants, while approximately 5,000 individuals joined an anti-racism counter-demonstration. The earlier event was marred by several incidents of violent disorder, resulting in injuries to police officers. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer condemned the rally at the time, stating it had left many citizens feeling "more scared than they were before."
Organisers Confident in Deterring Far-Right Presence
Sabby Dhalu, co-organiser of the Together Alliance event and joint secretary of the alliance as well as co-convenor of Stand Up To Racism, highlighted what she described as an "unprecedented growth" in support for far-right organisations across the United Kingdom. She remarked, "The Tommy Robinson-led Unite the Kingdom demonstration back in September 2025 was the biggest far-right mobilisation in British history. We believe that the majority of British people stand against the hatred and division and racism that was being encouraged at that demonstration and by these types of organisations, and it's time to act."
When questioned about potential counter-protests and the risk of disorder, Ms. Dhalu responded, "We're not worried about anything like that today. We haven't had any intelligence about anything like that is being planned. We're confident that the size of our mobilisation here today has actually intimidated the far-right, and I think they feel that they are not confident enough to stand against us because they know that we're going to be out in big numbers."
Protest Atmosphere and Key Messages
By mid-morning on Saturday, hundreds of participants had already assembled, chanting slogans such as "Say it loud, say it clear, refugees are welcome here" and "choose love." Many protesters carried placards with messages including "Migrants make our NHS," "No to racism, no to Trump," and "Refugees welcome, stop the far right." Ms. Dhalu assured that protesters had "no reason" not to comply with conditions set by the Metropolitan Police, emphasising that the demonstration would remain "peaceful."
Notable Attendees and Supporting Events
The event featured appearances by several notable figures. Singer Billy Bragg, who has previously criticised former US President Donald Trump as "a constant reminder of the cruel realities of the politics of division," was expected to attend. Other musical performers included former Little Mix singer Leigh-Anne Pinnock. Additionally, a separate march organised by the Palestine Coalition also took place on Saturday, merging with the Together Alliance route before both groups converged for a rally on Whitehall.
Officers imposed public order conditions that prohibited the joint rally from continuing beyond 5pm. A video message from London Mayor Sir Sadiq Khan was played to the crowd gathered at the Whitehall stage, and Green Party leader Zack Polanski delivered a speech. Mr. Polanski stated, "Our plan is simple… never back down in the face of hate – when they attack migrants, when they spew hate about our trans siblings, when they blame Muslims for our country's ills."
Broader Societal Concerns Raised
Daniel Kebede, general secretary of the National Education Union (NEU), spoke ahead of the Together demonstration, accusing certain individuals in power of "using racism to feather their own nests." He warned that the "toxic climate that is taking place in society festers into schools," noting an increase in racist incidents targeting teachers, support staff, and pupils, which he described as "incredibly difficult at the moment."
Rally co-organiser Kevin Courtney, chairman of the Together Alliance, expressed concern over "the growth of far-right ideas across the mainstream, as well as in the particular expressions, like Tommy Robinson."
Police Preparedness for a Busy Weekend
Met Police Deputy Assistant Commissioner Jon Savell confirmed that the weekend would be "busy for our officers," but assured that detailed plans were in place to ensure all protesting groups could demonstrate "lawfully and without causing serious disruption to other Londoners, businesses or visitors." In addition to the mass demonstration, the Metropolitan Police noted that several protests against the Iranian regime, including both static assemblies and marches, were scheduled to occur in the Westminster area on both Saturday and Sunday.
