Tens of thousands of people have gathered in London to march against the far right in the biggest multicultural demonstration in UK history.<\/p>\n
Organisers claimed half a million people had travelled to the capital for the Together Alliance march. Police estimated the turnout was closer to 50,000, although they admitted it was difficult to judge the number due to the widespread nature of the crowd.<\/p>\n
Beginning in Park Lane, more than 100 charities, campaign groups and trade unions marched to Trafalgar Square via Whitehall in a show of unity against far-right politics.<\/p>\n
The protest was in response to Tommy Robinson\u2019s \u201cunite the kingdom\u201d rally in September, when 110,000 people marched through central London.<\/p>\n
The event was supported by a wide range of celebrities, including the actors Christopher Eccleston, David Harewood, Lenny Henry, Steve Coogan, Toby Jones, Lolly Adefope and Maxine Peake, the musicians Paloma Faith, Charlotte Church, Brian Eno and Beverley Knight, and the comedian James Acaster.<\/p>\n
Dozens of coaches had arrived from all over the country, including 10 from Manchester alone.<\/p>\n
Demonstrators saw performances from Self Esteem, Jessie Ware, Katy B, Joy Crookes, UB40 and Hot Chip.<\/p>\n
Speeches from the Labour MP Diane Abbott and the Green party leader, Zack Polanski, attracted roars from the crowd gathered on Whitehall.<\/p>\n
Polanski said in his speech that it was \u2018time to make hope normal again\u2019. Photograph: Aaron Chown\/PA<\/p>\n
Polanski told the crowd: \u201cGo back to your communities, to the community centres, to your trade unions, to your friends, to your neighbours.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe must organise in our communities. Local elections are coming in just a few weeks\u2019 time,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe will defeat hate. It\u2019s time to make hope normal again.\u201d<\/p>\n
Later, he said the tide was turning against the far right, adding: \u201cThere have been dark times, I know people have been scared and we have been afraid, but days like this are here to send a message \u2013 a message to Tommy Robinson, to Nigel Farage, to those who appease them.\u201d<\/p>\n
Attenders brought out some of their best costumes, including Jesus and the grim reaper.<\/p>\n
Woody, part of a group called Cut the Ties to Fossil Fuels and dressed in the grim reaper costume, told the Guardian he had come \u201cdressed as Big Oil\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cBig Oil are one of the major funders of Reform UK,\u201d he said. \u201cWe\u2019re here to make that link that we need to cut the ties to fossil fuels.<\/p>\n
\u201cBig Oil\u2019s tentacles reach across through many industries, and it\u2019s those enablers of the fossil fuel industry that, as a movement, Cut the Ties to Fossil Fuels, target.\u201d<\/p>\n
He added: \u201cI\u2019m mid-50s now, and I hear people talking about left and right in a way that I haven\u2019t heard since I was in school.\u201d<\/p>\n
Many environmental groups were present at the march. Photograph: Aaron Chown\/PA<\/p>\n
He said it was important to unite on the left and work together, which is something the right tend to do well \u201cdespite having massive differences\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a numbers game in a way. This is really important to send a message. So I\u2019m really excited about being here today and being part of a much bigger thing.\u201d<\/p>\n
Plenty of other environmental groups were also present. The red rebels, from Extinction Rebellion, walked silently in the opposite direction to the march with white painted faces and red robes. They said they were drawing attention to the climate crisis.<\/p>\n
The Metropolitan police said two people were arrested for climbing up the National Gallery columns and there were five other arrests.<\/p>\n
Separately, police arrested 18 people it said had staged a demonstration in support of Palestine Action outside New Scotland Yard.<\/p>\n