Thousands of marchers from different generations and regions of the UK flooded Trafalgar Square to the sound of ‘Give Peace A Chance’ played on trombones.
The Together Alliance demonstration in London, organized on Saturday, asserted that around 500,000 individuals had gathered to oppose the Far Right, making it the largest national protest against the Far Right in the UK, despite police providing lower estimates.
Banners displayed names of various locations such as ‘Chesterfield Dump Trump’ and ‘Nottingham Fights Back,’ showcasing solidarity from communities near and far.
The Extinction Rebellion’s ‘Red Rebels,’ donned in red robes and white-painted faces, walked in silence in a different direction from the march, while police vans lined the side streets along the route.
I joined the ‘Singing Resistance,’ a group of choirs and singers inspired by Singing Resistance Minneapolis, who had rehearsed songs for weeks across the country. The crowd sang, “I believe that one fine day, the power of love will rise above the love of power,” holding placards advocating unity and resistance against the Far Right.
Among the singers was a young girl in a colorful hat seated on her father’s shoulders, holding a sign that read ‘Be Nice, Don’t Fight,’ adorned with daisies.
The songs, learned from the United States, where anti-ICE protesters sing in extreme conditions, resonated in London, under the presence of police helicopters and the beats of Extinction Rebellion.
As the march progressed through London, America saw what was described as its largest-ever protest, the third No Kings protest, with over 3,000 events in 50 states.
The songs echoed solidarity across continents, highlighting the common fight against hatred and division. Tommy Robinson’s Far Right marches have faced counterprotests, but this time, no fascists opposed the massive gathering of 500,000 people in Britain, choosing hope over fear.