Around 1,000 police officers are being deployed in London to prevent clashes between protesters with opposing views
Muslims across London are being urged to ‘remain alert, be vigilant’ and report any concerns as thousands of people are set to join a rally organised by Tommy Robinson. While some within London’s Muslim communities are advising others to not go into central London at the time of the march, the Met Police insist this is not their advice and they don’t want people to change their plans.
The ‘Unite the Kingdom’ march is being led by Steven Yaxley-Lennon, better known as Tommy Robinson, a prominent British anti-Islam activist. The rally from 11am on Saturday (September 13) will see demonstrators arrive in Stamford Street near Waterloo Bridge to march towards the southern end of Whitehall. The Met Police say they ‘recognise there are particular concerns’ for many in London’s Muslim communities and they want people to ‘feel safe travelling into and around London’.
Community groups, activists and councillors have sent an urgent letter to the Home Office, calling for the rally to be banned and Tiktokers have been warning people to remain cautious when travelling into London. The letter addressed to the newly-appointed Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood highlights the risks posed to Muslims in London.
It reads: “This event is being promoted as the ‘Biggest Free Speech Rally’, however, we know that this rally is primarily about attacking Muslims, pushing false propaganda to promote hostility against Muslims. This protest poses a significant threat to public safety, community cohesion, and national security and will have a fundamental impact on the Muslim community.”
Tiktok has been flooded with videos of influencers warning people due to the level of concern for safety within Muslim communities. This includes a video sharing tips on how to respond if you get stabbed on September 13. Tiktoker Rak told his community of 11.4k followers: “If you are doing anything on that day, just cancel it. It’s never worth risking your life over just going out.
“All the hijabis out there – obviously you are clearly representing Islam, you’ve got hijab on your head – don’t go outside. These sick people are just going to target you for no reason whatsoever. At the end of the day it’s never worth being in that situation.”
Another TikToker, “jaydensalaam,” shared a similar warning with his 2.1 million followers. He said: “I’m not Muslim, but I just wanted to make sure that my Muslim followers and my Muslim people are safe.
“There are things going around that apparently on Saturday (September 13), there are going to be protests against Muslims and that Muslims are basically in danger, and Muslims are not safe. Please be safe. Please be careful. Do not go out. Stay in your house.”
Concerns have also been raised on Reddit, with one Bosnian Muslim woman who wears a headscarf asking “Will I be at risk if I go to central London on Saturday?” People were quick to tell her to stay away from the protest.
One person said: “Tommy Robinson’s march is from Waterloo to Westminster, avoid the general area as much as possible and you should be fine. Since he is there himself this time and the mood in the country has shifted significantly in recent months I expect the police presence will be more prominent.”
Robinson has called on attendees of his rally to not wear masks, drink alcohol or be violent. In a video on X he said: “It’s not a time for riots. It’s not a time for violence. It’s a time where you come and you stand proudly for your country.” He added: “This is an imperative message and an important message: we have to control ourselves.”
‘Stay alert and vigilant’
Tell MAMA, a national project which records and measures anti-Muslim incidents, told Muslim communities to remain ‘alert and vigilant’. Director for Tell MAMA Iman Atta told MyLondon: “Everyone has the right to feel safe travelling in and out of London. We advise Muslim communities to continue with their weekend activities and plans, but we urge them to remain alert and vigilant. We also urge all communities to report any concerns to the police or/and to Tell MAMA’”
A ‘community safety alert’ poster, seen by MyLondon, is being shared on WhatsApp groups. It reads: “For your safety, please avoid travelling into London on this day, especially if you are visibly Muslim or from an ethnic minority background.”
Met Police said there will a ‘significant visible policing presence’ across the capital with a number of demonstrations, football fixtures and other events due to take place. More than 1,600 officers will be deployed as part of the overall public order policing operation, including 500 brought in from other forces. Around 1,000 officers will be responsible for ensuring that two demonstrations in central London take place safely.
Counter protest taking place with barriers to keep groups apart
Meanwhile, a counter protest dubbed March Against Fascism, organised by Stand Up To Racism (SUTR), will form up in Russell Square from midday before marching via Kingsway, Aldwych and the Strand to the northern end of Whitehall for a rally. The march will be led by hundreds of women, SUTR said, including independent MP Diane Abbott.
Samira Ali, national organiser for SUTR, said: “Our demonstration will be sending a message loud and clear: we are united against the far right threat. Women don’t need the far right to keep us safe.”
Barriers will be in place to keep a large sterile area between the two groups, with officers deployed there and on surrounding roads to minimise the risk of disorder if groups with opposing views were to come together.
‘Everyone should be able to feel safe’
Commander Clair Haynes, who is in charge of the public order policing operation in London this weekend, said: “We recognise that there are particular concerns for many in London’s Muslim communities ahead of the ‘Unite the Kingdom’ protest given the record of anti-Muslim rhetoric and incidents of offensive chanting by a minority at previous marches.
“There have been some suggestions that Muslim Londoners should change their behaviour this Saturday, including not coming into town. That is not our advice. Everyone should be able to feel safe travelling into and around London. Our officers are there to ensure that is the case and we’d urge anyone who is out on Saturday and feels concerned to speak to us.
‘No place for promoting hatred’
Mayor of London Sadiq Khan said protests must be ‘peaceful, lawful, and safe’. A spokesperson for the Mayor of London told MyLondon: “This weekend, more marches and protests are planned across the capital. The freedom to protest and express strong views is a key part of our democracy, but how it’s done matters.
“The Mayor is in close contact with the police, who will take action against any form of crime and violence. There is absolutely no place in our city for promoting hatred and spreading fear. As Londoners, we must reject all those who seek to sow division and discord in our communities and pull together so that we can continue building a better London for everyone.”
MyLondon has approached the Home Office for a comment.
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