Thousands hit the streets of London in a “Unite the Kingdom” march organized by activist Tommy Robinson.

Tens of thousands of protesters flocked to central London on Saturday for a rally organized by food activist Tommy Robinson, with supporters framing the event as a protest against the destruction of British identity.

Police estimated around 60,000 people attended the “Unite the Kingdom” march, making it one of the biggest far-right movements to be seen in Britain in recent years, although smaller than same meeting led by Robinson last September. Robinson is the founder of the Nationalist and anti-Islamist English Defense League and is one of the most influential figures on the right in Britain.

Crowds carrying flags in St. George’s Cross and the Union marched through London chanting “We want Starmer out” and “Christ is King.” Others wore red “Make England Great Again” hats, echoing President Trump’s Make America Great Again movement.

People gave a number of reasons for attending, but many described feeling neglected by the government and intimidated by the country’s approach.

Christian imagery was prominent throughout the show. Protesters carried large wooden crosses, waving crosses and some dressed as Knights Templar. Chris Wickland, who described himself as a priest of the Confessing Anglican Church, told CBS News that he was there “to stand up for Christianity,” adding that “something is disappearing in our culture and in our nation … and that was Christianity.”

Another man, wearing an Israeli flag, said he wanted to “return the values ​​of Christianity and Judaism to this nation.” He said he was neither Jewish nor Israeli, but described himself as a British Protestant who believed that Israel “used to be an ally of the United Kingdom.”

Others planned their presence around frustration with the state of public services and the decline of the country. One veteran told CBS News that he “fought for this country” but now feels “the way things are going” makes it feel like “a waste of time.” A woman in a wheelchair pointed to the National Health Service, saying the waiting times were “getting dull.”

There was also visible Iranian opposition, with some protesters waving pre-revolutionary Iranian flags. An Iranian man told CBS News that he was there to “oppose all the people who want to destroy the country.”

Speaking on stage in Parliament Square, Robinson urged supporters to get involved in politics ahead of the next general election.

“If we don’t send a message in our next election, if you don’t register to vote, if you don’t get involved, if you don’t become activists, we will lose our country forever,” he told the crowd.

Robinson also praised billionaire Elon Musk for his support of the community.

“None of this would have happened if it wasn’t for one man. Thank you Elon, on behalf of Great Britain,” Robinson said, prompting thousands in the crowd to chant “Elon.”

At a previous meeting led by Robinson in September, Musk appeared on video and urged supporters to “fight or die,” while calling for political reform in Britain.

Although Robinson stopped short of formally endorsing a political party, he encouraged supporters to get involved with British right-wing organisations, including Reform UK and other nationalist groups.

Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, is known for his nationalist and anti-immigrant views. He had also planned a “Unite the Kingdom” rally in 2024 but was unable to attend after being arrested for contempt of court in breach of a 2021 High Court order barring him from repeating negative allegations against a Syrian refugee who successfully sued him. He was previously jailed for assault and mortgage fraud.

The protest took place on the same day as a large Nakba Palestine Day march elsewhere in central London, prompting the largest Metropolitan Police operation in recent years amid fears of clashes between rival groups.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer accused organizers of the Unite the Kingdom rally of “peddling hatred and division,” calling it “a reminder of what we are up against.” He described some of the participants as “convicted criminals and racists,” and prosecutors warned that anti-cultural or racist songs would continue. There has been a rise in antisemitism in the UK, and the government raising the national threat level from “great” to “bad.”

Amid the faltering British economy and the disastrous results in this month’s general election, Starmer is facing growing calls for him to resign. A fifth of all UK MPs from Starmer’s Labor Party have called on him to step down, and four members of his Cabinet resigned this week in an attempt to force him to resign.

The Metropolitan Police has deployed around 4,000 officers across the capital, along with mounted police, drones, helicopters and live facial recognition technology in major transport areas. Police said officers were working to keep rival protests separate following heightened tensions after recent anti-religious incidents in London.

As of Saturday afternoon, the Metropolitan Police said 31 people had been arrested in both protests “on various charges,” although the force said the events had continued so far “without significant incident.” Deputy Assistant Commissioner James Harman said policing is expected to cost around £4.5 million, or about $6 million.

At the pro-Palestinian march, a protester told CBS News that he found the United Kingdom meeting “disturbing” and “intimidating.”

“I think there is violence in people who talk about the need to deport more people and the enemies inside,” he said. “A lot of people at that meeting want what’s best for their families; they’re scared and frustrated and I understand that. But at the end of the day, most of them want violence, and that’s scary.”

Robinson’s profile has extended beyond Britain. Earlier this year, he visited the US State Department in Washington, DC, where he was hosted by US Secretary of State Joe Rittenhouse, who later wrote in X that he was “honored” to welcome a “free speech hero” to the department.