Tens of thousands of people marched through central London on Saturday in a rally organizers billed as a defense of free speech and British heritage that also paid tribute to U.S. conservative activist Charlie Kirk, who was fatally shot earlier this week.
The event, called "Unite the Kingdom" and organized by activist Tommy Robinson, drew large crowds carrying St. George's flags and Union Jacks. Organizers played a tribute video to Kirk that included a widely circulated clip of him speaking to a 13-year-old at a Turning Point USA event and described him as "one of our generation's greatest." Kirk was shot on Wednesday at the University of Utah; police have arrested 22-year-old Tyler Robinson in connection with the killing.
Police estimated the crowd at about 110,000, while organizers claimed the figure was in the "millions." A separate, smaller protest of roughly 5,000 people opposed the march. Aerial images showed dense streams of marchers, many chanting "We want our country back," and some carrying signs reading, "Freedom of speech is dead. RIP Charlie Kirk," according to The Associated Press.
Tommy Robinson, addressing the crowd, said the march was in honor of Kirk and in defense of British culture. "A man who inspired a generation of young men based on courage and based on faith," Robinson said, prompting chants of Kirk's name from attendees. Robinson told the crowd migrants now had more legal rights in court than the "British public, the people that built this nation," remarks that echoed wider national debate about migration across the English Channel.
Elon Musk appeared at the event via video link and condemned what he described as violence on the political left, saying during his remarks that "the left is the party of murder" in response to Kirk's killing. Musk, who purchased Twitter and has lifted bans on prominent right-wing commentators, warned that stifling free speech threatens democratic debate and said the U.K. faced a pivotal choice over its future. He also accused the BBC of being "complicit in the destruction of Britain" and said mass migration risked eroding the country's identity.
Robinson praised Musk for providing platforms that, he said, made the rally possible. Organizers framed the demonstration as a statement against what they described as establishment media and political failures on immigration and cultural issues. The marches took place amid heated debate in the U.K. over unauthorized migrant crossings of the Channel and the government's handling of asylum and border policy.
A small number of counter-protesters gathered near the main march, and police maintained a presence along the route. Authorities and organizers gave divergent crowd estimates, a common feature of large demonstrations, and Reuters and other news agencies captured images of banners and large photos of Kirk carried by participants.
Kirk's death prompted tributes from conservative figures in the United States and abroad. Organizers showed a video tribute at the London event that included the Turning Point USA clip and other footage highlighting Kirk's work on campus activism. Organizers said the tribute was intended to thank and honor his life.
Police in Utah have identified and arrested a suspect, 22-year-old Tyler Robinson, in connection with the fatal shooting at the University of Utah, and local authorities are continuing an investigation into the circumstances of the killing. U.K. law enforcement said they were managing public order at the London events.
Organizers and speakers at the London rally presented the event as part memorial and part political demonstration. They emphasized themes of free speech, national identity and opposition to what they described as a censorious political culture. Authorities and analysts said such events reflect growing tensions in several countries over migration, media trust and political polarization.
The wide public reaction to Kirk's killing has included emotional tributes, political commentary and large public gatherings in multiple countries. Investigations in the United States into the shooting continue, and demonstrations in the U.K. prompted renewed discussion among politicians, media and civil society about the balance between free expression and public safety.