Eleven foreign far-right figures have been blocked from entering the United Kingdom ahead of a weekend of mass protests in London, Prime Minister Keir Starmer said on Friday.
One of them is Valentina Gomez, a US-based extremist accused of using “inflammatory and dehumanising rhetoric” about Muslim communities. The source did not name the other ten.
Thousands were expected in central London on Saturday for an anti-immigration march organised by Unite the Kingdom. A pro-Palestine counter-protest, joined by Stand Up to Racism, was planned as well. The Metropolitan Police called their safety and security operation “unprecedented.”
Starmer’s message
In a video posted to social media, Starmer urged the public to “fight for the soul of the country.” He was blunt about the march. “Its organisers are peddling hatred and division, plain and simple,” he said. “We will block those coming into the UK who seek to incite hatred and violence. For anyone who sets out to wreak havoc on our streets, to intimidate or threaten anyone, you can expect to face the full force of the law.”
He met police chiefs on Friday morning and repeated the government’s commitment to peaceful protest while calling for decisive action against every form of hatred.
What the Met will do
The far-right rally, organised by anti-Islam activist Tommy Robinson, was due to gather at Parliament Square. The Nakba Day march, held to mark the day in May 1948 associated with Palestinian displacement, was to assemble about one km away at Waterloo Place.
Deputy assistant commissioner James Harman said planning had gone on for months. “Thousands of officers will be deployed, taking a zero-tolerance approach supported by specialist resources including live facial recognition, helicopters, drones, dog units, police horses, armoured vehicles and dedicated investigative teams,” he said. Officers will act, he added, where they see or hear antisemitism, anti-Muslim abuse, incitement to violence or language that clearly points to support for terrorists.
The force has confirmed it will arrest people who incite hatred, including those using chants such as “globalise the intifada” because of its antisemitic connotations.
Prosecutors weigh in
The Crown Prosecution Service issued new legal guidance on prosecuting inflammatory placards, banners and chants. Stephen Parkinson, the Director of Public Prosecutions, said everyone has the right to protest, but that the right “does not extend to using words, images or symbols to spread hatred, incite violence or cause fear and intimidation within our communities.” He added: “This is not about restricting free speech. It is about preventing hate crime and protecting the public.”
