By james art Chants of “Oh Tommy Tommy” and “We want Starmer out” were heard outside Victoria Station ahead of the Unite The Kingdom rally on Saturday.
The demonstration is expected to be met with a counter-protest organized by Stand Up to Racism, which has called on its supporters to “take to the streets” in a “massive anti-fascist demonstration”.
And several hundred people gathered on the corner of Trafalgar Square ahead of a planned protest by the Campaign for Families and Friends United, with activists holding placards reading “No Justice”, “No One Forgotten, Nothing Forgiven” and “No to Hate, No to fascism”.
Family and friends of Chris Caba, who was fatally shot by police shooter Martin Blake – who was acquitted of murder on Monday – are expected to attend the march.
Robinson, 41, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, has been charged with contempt of court after a film was shown at a protest in Trafalgar Square in July.
He visited Folkestone police station on Friday, where he was detained ahead of a hearing at Woolwich Crown Court on Monday over allegations he breached a 2021 High Court order banning him from repeating defamatory allegations against a Syrian refugee who successfully sued him .
The screening of a film titled Silenced during a demonstration in Trafalgar Square is believed to be one of six acts alleged to have breached the order between June and July.
The movie is also pinned to the top of his X account.
Robinson was separately charged on Friday with failing to provide his mobile phone access code to police under Schedule 7 of the Terrorism Act 2000, Kent Police said.
The Metropolitan Police and British Transport Police are being supported by officers from other forces across the country for Saturday’s protests, and the Met said there would be a “significant police presence” to ensure the two groups were kept apart.
Those attending the protest, organized by Robinson, have started marching from Victoria Station to the south end of Whitehall, while a counter-protest is expected to start in Regent Street St James and finish at the north end of Whitehall.
The Uniting the Kingdom march takes shape on Victoria Street.
Working with the event organisers, we have moved the staging area north to the junction with Buckingham Gate to keep the area around the station clear. The hike will start at 12:30 p.m. pic.twitter.com/QVmBvxkARl
— Metropolitan Police (@metpoliceuk) October 26, 2024
Met said static rallies are expected at the end of both marches.
Many marchers at Robinson’s march raised Union and British flags — with several “Make America Great Again” flags in support of Donald Trump also in the crowd.
Some marchers wore “I am Peter Lynch” badges in reference to a 61-year-old man who died in prison after being jailed for shouting abuse at police outside a hotel housing asylum seekers.
The PA news agency understands that Robinson will be held in custody in Folkestone until his court hearing on Monday.
He was released on unconditional bail in July and subsequently left the country, with Adam Pater, representing the Attorney-General, telling the High Court there was “nothing stopping him from doing so”.
Mr Justice Johnson issued a warrant for Robinson’s arrest but ordered that it not be carried out “until early October” to give Robinson time to indicate that he will attend the next hearing voluntarily or apply for a “cancellation”. of the order.
Robinson posted a video of himself arriving at Luton Airport on October 20 and said he was surprised he wasn’t arrested.
He applied to set aside the order, but his application was rejected by Judge Johnson on Friday.
The separate charge under the Terrorism Act relates to his arrest in July at a port in Kent, where he was accused of “frustration” in police counter-terrorism powers.
He is alleged to have failed to provide his mobile phone access code to staff at the Channel Tunnel in Folkestone.
Under Schedule 7 of the Terrorism Act, police are allowed to stop anyone passing through a UK port “to determine whether they are involved or may be involved in the commission, preparation or incitement of terrorist acts”.
A detainee can be held for up to six hours, is required by law to answer questions and must provide the password or access number to electronic devices or be held for a felony if they refuse.
Robinson said he resisted a police request for his phone number because the device contained privileged information related to an ongoing Supreme Court case.