LONDON: US tech billionaire
Elon Musk appeared via video link at a far-right rally in London Saturday, telling Britons to “fight back or you die” and urging them to overthrow their govt and dissolve Parliament.
The “Unite the Kingdom” march, organised by far-right activist Tommy Robinson, drew around 150,000 people. Violence broke out when a section of Robinson supporters allegedly tried to storm police cordons keeping them apart from a 5,000-strong counter-protest by Stand Up to Racism.
Twenty-six police officers were wounded — four seriously, with broken teeth, a suspected broken nose, concussion, a prolapsed disc and a head wounds. Police said 24 arrests were made, with more expected.
Musk told the crowd “the Left are the party of murder” and railed against what he called the “woke mind virus”. He alleged Britain faced “destruction” from uncontrolled migration and failures to stop grooming gangs. “Whether you choose violence or not, it is coming to you, you either fight back or you die,” he said. “The BBC is complicit in the destruction of Britain.”
Musk called for a change of govt and fresh elections, warning of “genuine risk of rape and murder and destruction of the country and dissolution of entire way of life”.
Reactions were swift. PM Keir Starmer condemned the violence: “People have a right to peaceful protest … But we will not stand for assaults on police officers … Britain is a nation proudly built on tolerance, diversity and respect. Our flag represents our diverse country and we will never surrender it to those that use it as a symbol of violence, fear and division.”
Protesters carried Union Jacks, St George’s flags and large wooden crosses. Some waved placards reading “Stop the boats” and “Save the kids.” One demonstrator held a light-up crucifix, while others displayed images of US activist Charlie Kirk. At Whitehall, the crowd recited the Lord’s Prayer before a Christian rock band performed.
Bottles, flares and other projectiles were allegedly thrown as police used batons, shields, horses and dogs to push crowds back. Mounted units and police dogs were deployed.
Assistant commissioner Matt Twist said many had protested lawfully but “many came intent on violence”.
Business secretary Peter Kyle called Musk’s remarks “slightly incomprehensible and totally inappropriate”. He praised the scale of the rally as proof of free speech but acknowledged Robinson had “tapped into a sense of disquiet and grievance in society”.