A host of celebrities are joining a massive march and rally against the far right in central London this weekend.
Steve Coogan, Christopher Eccleston, Toby Jones and Lenny Henry are among the stars headlining the Together Alliance march on Saturday, which organisers say will be the UK’s largest-ever multicultural protest.
Here’s everything you need to know:
When is it happening?
The Together Alliance rally kicks off at midday on Park Lane on Saturday, with the march officially setting off at 1 pm.
The procession will wind its way toward Green Park station before continuing along Pall Mall towards Trafalgar Square, and then turn onto Whitehall where it will finish.
There will be live music and speeches on stages in Whitehall and Trafalgar Square.
Thousands are expected to descend on the capital, including actors David Harewood, Lolly Adefope, Sir Mark Rylance and Maxine Peake; musicians Paloma Faith, Charlotte Church, Brian Eno and Beverley Knight; and comedian James Acaster.
Speeches are expected from the mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, the Green party leader, Zack Polanski, and the Labour MP Dawn Butler, as well as trade union leaders.
A video message from London Mayor Sir Sadiq Khan will be played to those gathered at the Whitehall stage.
Over 450 organisations, representing roughly seven million people, are mobilising, including major trade unions like UNISON and Unite, as well as Amnesty International UK.
The march seeks to send a message of hope and unity in response to the rise of far-right politics, which has caused deepening divisions in the UK by blaming Muslims, migrants, and refugees for the UK’s economic challenges, organisers say.
There will be two main stages at the end of the march route: a Whitehall stage and a Trafalgar Square stage.
The Whitehall stage will be dedicated to speeches beginning at 2pm, while the Trafalgar Square stage will be dedicated to music from 3pm to 6pm.
Who is taking part?
Headliners for the music event include Jessie Ware, Hot Chip (DJ Set), Katy B, Joy Crookes, Self Esteem, and Leigh-Anne.
Over 140 celebrities have shown their support for the Together Alliance march, including musician Brian Eno, actor Alex Lawther, actress Zawe Ashton, Sandi Toksvig, Juliet Stevenson, Frank Turner, Jordan Stephens and Clean Bandit.
Coaches will be arriving in central London just before midday, carrying people from across the country.
Over 125 coaches have been booked, including cities like Birmingham, Liverpool, and Plymouth, with 10 alone are coming from Manchester.
Pall Mall East will be closed between 6am to 10pm on Saturday as the march takes place.
Singer-songwriter Billy Bragg, who will be performing at the event, said the political situation in the UK and around the world was shifting.
“I think we’re in a situation where the idea of universal rights, the sort of postwar settlement after the Holocaust where we realised that rights had to belong to individuals if they were going to be protected…is being severely challenged by a policy that you might call ‘might is right’, where the strongest do what they want to the weakest,” he told The Guardian.
Mr Bragg said US President Donald Trump was championing this approach, calling him a “blaring horn that never switches off”.
As a key organiser of this weekend’s event, Mr Bragg said he estimated the turnout will exceed that of the ‘Unite the Kingdom’ rally in September last year, in which 110,000 people marched through the streets of London waving England flags and union jacks.
Trade union UNISON’s general secretary Andrea Egan said: “Trade unions have always stood on the side of unity and fairness. UNISON sees solidarity in action every day with people working side by side delivering public services in our care homes, NHS, schools, and councils.
“The politics of hate and division cannot be allowed to go unchallenged by those who are trying to divide us. UNISON has a long and proud history of challenging racism and all forms of discrimination.
“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.”
Controversy
Some Jewish groups have raised concerns about the march, notably the Board Deputies of British Jews, who fear some groups involved have previously expressed "extremist rhetoric and outright antisemitism".
Jewish leaders said they had been frozen out by organisers despite the event's focus on the far right, according to The Times.
They urged celebrities backing the event to reflect on whether their presence legitimises "deeply problematic groups" linked to the alliance.
David Toube, general counsel at the JLC, urged Scotland Yard to "use their powers to protect the safety and freedom of Jewish people in London" by imposing conditions on the march.
The Metropolitan Police are due to release their imposed conditions on the event later on Friday.
