Antifascist campaign hopes not to hate the speech at a rally in London on Saturday, condemning the speech “extremely disturbing”.

Britain will “never surrender” to far-right protesters using the national flag as a cover for violence and intimidation, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said in decades after violent scenes in one of the country’s largest far-right demonstrations.

More than 110,000 people traveled across central London on Saturday to protest immigration led by far-right activist Tommy Robinson, named Stephen Yaxley-Lennon. Some participated in the Unity Kingdom rally and clashed with the police. Twenty-six officers were injured and at least 24 were arrested, according to Metropolitan Police.

Starmer said in his first public comment since the rally that peaceful protests were fundamental value for Britain, but he condemned attacks on police officers and intimidation of marginalized communities.

“People have the right to protest peacefully. This is the core of our values,” he said. “But because of their background or color, we do not represent attacks on people who are terrified of police work or are fearful on our streets.”

He added: “British is a country based on tolerance, diversity and respect. Our flag represents our diverse nation and we will never succumb to those who use it as symbols of violence, fear and division.”

Islam is the “real enemy”

Saturday’s protests were marked by nationalist symbols, melee and inflammatory speeches. Video shows police riding with bottles while the charges were used to return Robinson supporters and allow about 5,000 counter-demonstrators to leave the Whitehall area in central London safely.

A phase was built from the lineup of far-right figures. Leading Robinson, who told the crowd: “It’s not just the British being violated. It’s not just the British being raped.”

He added: “Every Western country faces the same problem: carefully planned, organized invasions and replacements of European citizens are happening.”

International spokespersons include French politician Eric Zemmour, who responded to the views raised by Robinson. “We are both subjected to a huge process of substitution by people from the South and Muslim cultures,” he said.

Zemmour added: “You and we are being colonized by former colonies.”

Similarly, Belgian far-right politician Filip Dewinter declared: “It must be clear that Islam is our real enemy. We must get rid of Islam. Islam does not belong to Europe, Islam does not belong to Britain.”

Other speakers include Morten Messerschmidt, leader of the Danish BJP, German MP Petr Bystron’s German alternatives and Polish politician Dominik Tarczynski.

Tesla CEO and X Chairman Elon Musk also attended the video link, telling protesters that Britain needs to “emergency change of government” and warns them to “fight back” or “death”.

Police, government and anti-fascist groups condemn violence

The rally has been seen in recent months in the far-right violence, including arson attack on hotel housing asylum seekers.

Experts say these events have attracted attention from the rise of far-right movements throughout the UK and Europe, driven by conspiracy theory, xenophobia and online disinformation.

Assistant Metropolitan Police Chief Matt Twist said violence against police was “completely unacceptable”. He added: “There is no doubt that many people come to exercise their legal right to protest, but there are many people who intend to commit violence.”

British Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood also condemned the violence, warning that anyone participating in a crime would “face the full power of the law”.

Starmer’s comments came after calls from the anti-fascist group, hoping not to hate, and several MPs urged the government to act on the surge in far-right mobilization. Hopefully don’t hate to describe the protests as “extremely disturbing.”

“While the turnout is significantly smaller than the millions claimed by Lennon and his supporters, it appears to be the largest far-right demonstration in Britain ever,” the group said.

It added: “For anyone who is concerned about the rise of far-right activism and the normalization of anti-immigration, anti-Muslim sentiment, this may be a sign of the coming dark times.”