Musician Billy Bragg is among the famous names backing the event

NHS workers, school staff, musicians, artists, faith leaders, politicians and trade union activists will join a march and rally against the far-right and racism tomorrow, Saturday, in what is expected to be one of the biggest demonstrations central London has seen in decades.

The Together Alliance event is a chance for the public to send a clear message in response to Tommy Robinson’s “Unite the Kingdom” demonstration last September.

More than 450 organisations – representing more than seven million people nationwide –will be joining the protest.

Leaving Park Lane from 1pm going to a rally with speeches outside Downing Street in Whitehall, the event has been backed by a wide range of celebrities including Leigh-Anne Pinnock, Billy Bragg, Charlotte Church, Paloma Faith, Christopher Eccleston, Sir Lenny Henry, Juliet Stevenson, James Acaster and former Newcastle footballer Shaka Hislop.

Ahead of the demo, Paloma Faith said: “There is no world that I want to live in where discrimination is acceptable for anything.

“No race, gender or class is superior to any other. This is why racism makes my blood boil.”
Organisers are urging people to bring their friends, colleagues, and banners and make some noise in a show of solidarity.

Co-convener of Stand Up to Racism Weyman Bennett warned that “wolves in sheeps’ clothing were threatening to take away our rights”, and added: “All across the world the far right is growing.

“We need to expose them for who they are. We have to be a generation that comes out together, that rises up in our millions, and says we are together and will not be divided.”

More than 100,000 people attended Tommy Robinson’s Unite the Kingdom rally in September that heard speeches from figures like Elon Musk and far right politicians from across Europe.

Several officers were injured after fights broke out between extremists and the police.

Robinson [full name Stephen Christopher Yaxley-Lennon] has earlier this month announced plans for a second march, on May 16, in social media posts saying the follow-up demonstration would bring “four nations” together “under one god”.

The Together Alliance march will begin gathering at 12pm on Park Lane, departing at roughly 1pm heading towards Piccadilly towards Green Park tube station.

A shorter, accessible march will begin gathering from 1pm at the top of Whitehall, outside Waterstones next to Trafalgar Square.

Unison general secretary Andrea Egan will address the rally at the national demonstration.

She said this week: “The politics of hate and division cannot be allowed to go unchallenged by those who are trying to divide us.

“We will continue to speak up for those being threatened by racism and hatred.

“The far right thrives on fear and division, but our values are built on the belief that when working people stand together, we are stronger. This weekend is about sending a clear message: there is no place for racism, hatred or the politics of division in our communities. Let’s be united in solidarity and unity.”

National Education Union (NEU) general secretary Daniel Kebede added: “The far right are spreading racism and division. They have no answers for the problems in our society except racism, division and Islamophobia.”

For more info see the Together Alliance website.