Photos from this weekend's far-right rally in London
- Text by Theo McInnes
- Photography by Theo McInnes
Central London came to a standstill this weekend, as far-right protestors took to the streets of the English capital. Incensed by the arrest and conviction of hate preacher Tommy Robinson (aka Stephen Christopher Yaxley-Lennon aka Andrew McMaster aka Paul Harris) for contempt of court last month, his supporters are, as per usual, extremely angry.
Robinson, who is now serving a 13 month prison sentence, founded the English Defence League back in June 2009. The group is known for its Islamophobic rhetoric that has often turned violent, and the protest this weekend was no exception.
Hundreds of his far-right supporters congregated in and around Trafalgar Square on Saturday afternoon, donning Union Jacks and chanting nationalist slogans to express their discontent, both at multicultural Britain and at their leader’s arrest.
Robinson, 35, was sentenced on 29 May 2018, after broadcasting on social media about an ongoing trial at the court in Leeds.
The predominantly white and male crowd (who’d have thought it?) clashed with police officers in the hope of securing Robinson’s release from jail. Riot police blockaded an entrance to the Mall, while bottles, metal barriers and other objects were lobbed at police officers. There’s something a little bizarre, it has to be said, about a group of people who claim to care so deeply about “British values” taking to the street in an angry mob to protest a man being imprisoned for breaking British laws.
Photographer Theo McInnes headed down to document the rally.
Enjoyed this article? Like Huck on Facebook or follow us on Twitter.
Latest on Huck
Inside the UK’s first festival dedicated to East and Southeast Asian alternative culture and music
From dancefloor heat to post-punk, Margins United is a showcase of creativity and a bubbling underground community.
Written by: Isaac Muk
The Female Gaze: Eve Arnold’s intimate portrait of Marilyn
A reprint of ‘Marilyn Monroe By Eve Arnold’ with a new introduction from Arnold’s grandson revisits the pair’s extraordinary collaboration.
Written by: Miss Rosen
The film celebrating 40 years of queer resistance
Alongside the re-issue of Bronski Beat’s iconic ‘Age of Consent’, the band have worked with acclaimed filmmaker Matt Lambert to create a powerful new video for single ‘Why?’ exploring four decades of struggle.
Written by: Ben Smoke
A tribute to Erwin Olaf, the visionary photographer and LGBTQ icon
A recent exhibition offered an intimate look back at the artist’s poignant and provocative four-decade career.
Written by: Miss Rosen
Piracy in the UK: the failed war on illegal content
Twenty years since the infamous ‘You Wouldn't Steal a Car’ advert, knock-off media is more rampant than ever. But can we justify our buccaneering piracy?
Written by: Kyle MacNeill
We’re shutting down the government - here’s why
Hundreds of people have descended on Whitehall this morning to protest the British government’s complicity in the ongoing genocide in Gaza.
Written by: Cecilia fire