Jamal Elaheebocus reports on the massive demonstration against the far right in London on Saturday

Half a million people took to the streets in London on Saturday in what was the biggest demonstration against the far-right in British history.

The ‘Together against the far right’ march was organised by a coalition of over 500 organisations in response to Tommy Robinson’s September demonstration of up to 200,000. Saturday’s demonstration, which had arrived at Downing Street long before the end of the march had left the assembly on Park Lane, was easily double the size of Tommy Robinson’s demonstration.

The crowds were diverse in age and race and arrived in coaches from across the country, from Glasgow to Plymouth and with ten from Manchester alone.

The march was vibrant and energetic and vibrant throughout, even right at the back of the march which had to wait over 2 hours to be able to leave the start point. There was a tangible sense of solidarity and a determination to restate that the streets, and the capital, belong to the anti-fascists and not to Tommy Robinson’s far-right and the fascists.

The movement was strengthened by the backing of every major trade union in the country and there was strong union representation on the march itself. Trade union leaders alongside Labour, Green and Your Party MPs all spoke at the start and end of the march, alongside activists and celebrity supporters.

Palestine solidarity was a strong feature of the march and the unprecedented Palestine movement undoubtedly helped ensure a huge turnout. A 30,000-strong feeder march organised by the Palestine Coalition marched along the south side of Hyde Park to join the main march; Palestine flags and chants of ‘Free Palestine’ were widespread. As convener of Stop the War, Linsdey German, highlighted in a speech to the Palestine feeder march, the issues of war and racism, particularly Islamophobia, are intrinsically linked and opposition to both must be at the heart of this revived anti-racist movement.

This is a huge step forward for the movement against the rising far-right and proves that a broad and united coalition is capable of mobilising en masse.

However, the task for the left remains significant and urgent. Outrageously, the Met Police have given fascist Tommy Robinson the use of Trafalgar Square, Whitehall and Parliament Square for their protest on 16 May, a date deliberately chosen to confront the Palestine movement near Nakba Day. This is an unprecedented move to allocate the entirety of the heart of London to the far-right and has happened despite the Palestine coalition giving the police notice of their planned annual march in December last year.

Therefore, it is crucial that we mobilise the largest number of people possible for the Nakba Day march. This must mean the anti-racist movement and the Palestine movement come together and that unions and activist groups mobilise to make the demo as large as possible.