Protesters from across the UK are heading to London this weekend, with several major demonstrations planned across the capital.
Large-scale protests have become a common sight in recent months.
Social tensions over divisive issues such as immigration, the war in Gaza and climate action have spilled out onto the streets, with many demonstrations drawing counter-protests as well.
The biggest event this weekend is expected to be the Together Alliance march against the far right, kicking off at midday on Saturday, which organisers say could be the UK’s largest multicultural protest yet.
Other events include a Together for Palestine march, also starting at midday on Saturday from Exhibition Road near Hyde Park.
Here’s what you need to know about the protests taking place this weekend:
Saturday, March 28
Together Alliance march to stop the far right — meeting at 12pm on Park Lane
The Together Alliance rally kicks off at midday on Park Lane on Saturday, with the march officially setting off at 1pm.
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 from 2pm until the event finishes at 6pm.
Coaches will be arriving in central London just before midday, carrying people from across the country. More than 125 have been booked from cities including Birmingham, Liverpool and Plymouth, with ten alone are coming from Manchester.
Pall Mall East will be closed between 6am and 10pm on Saturday as the march takes place.
Organisers said the march seeks to send a message of hope and unity in response to the rise of far-right politics, which they say has caused deepening divisions in the UK by blaming Muslims, migrants and refugees for the UK’s economic challenges.
Celebrities including actors Steve Coogan, Toby Jones, Christopher Eccleston, Sir Mark Rylance, musicians Paloma Faith, Charlotte Church and politicians Zack Polanski and Sir Andy Burnham are set to join the march.
Together for Palestine March — Stop Bombing Iran — meeting at midday on Exhibition Road
The Palestine Solidarity Campaign has organised a “feeder” march to demand an end to the war in Gaza and the bombing of Iran.
Protesters will gather at midday on Exhibition Road (near to Hyde Park end) before going on to join the larger Together Alliance march, which is bringing together over 250 organisations.
The event is set to take place from midday until 5pm.
London TSW March — meeting at 11am at Archbishops Park, Lambeth
This is the fifth event organised by the Topical Steroid Withdrawal-Red Skin Syndrome Support Group to raise awareness of how topical steroid withdrawal (TSW) has affected people and their loves ones.
Protesters will meet at the Statue of Human Kindness in the park on Saturday morning.
There will be a meet and greet followed by a chance to speak, before attendees will travel to Parliament Square to hand in a petition to No10 Downing Street.
Iranian Academics in Exile - starting at 9am from Marble Arch
Around 1,000 to 1,500 people are set to join this march starting at Marble Arch at 9am and finishing at 4.30pm.
Protesters will start at Marble Arch along Edgware Road, finishing at the Hilton London Metropole hotel.
Earthlings Experience — meeting at 6pm in Leicester Square
Vegan activists will come together in Leicester Square at 6pm on Saturday using footage to spark conversations with members of the public.
The event is due to last two hours, from 6pm until 8pm.
Sunday, March 29
Let Women Speak - meeting at 1pm at Reformers’ Tree in Hyde Park
Protesters are set to gather at 1pm at Reformers’ Tree and Speaker’s Corner for a Let Women Speak event, discussing and advocating for women’s rights.
The event is not ticketed and participants are welcome to turn up on the day.
The event will run from 1pm until 3pm.
Deputy Assistant Commissioner Jon Savell, who is in charge of the policing operation this weekend, said: “This is going to be a busy weekend for our officers but we have detailed plans in place to ensure all groups protesting this weekend can do so lawfully and without causing serious disruption to other Londoners, businesses or visitors.
“We have imposed conditions under the Public Order Act to ensure only form up and rally areas that have been agreed in advance are used, to set fixed routes that must be followed and to determine required end times.
“I know there have been some concerns raised about the proximity of the Palestine Coalition form up point at the southern end of Exhibition Road, with a synagogue that is located just under a mile away.
“We know that in the past, concerns about being caught up among protesters have led some Jewish Londoners to avoid going to synagogues on days when protests have been taking place in central London. This is hugely regrettable and we have taken steps this weekend that we hope will provide reassurance to anyone with similar concerns.
“The conditions in place require participants to only form up south of the junction with Prince Consort Gardens which is half a mile away from the synagogue. In addition, we will have officers deployed in the vicinity who will ensure anyone arriving is directed to the appropriate location and prevented from gathering outside the conditioned area.
“Dispersal zones will be in place to ensure officers have the power to order people to leave the area if they gather in places away from the agreed form up locations that cause disruption or harassment and intimidation.
“I am mindful that it is less than a week since the appalling arson attack in Golders Green which will only have compounded already heightened fears in the Jewish community. We take these fears seriously and have carefully considered them in our planning, balancing them as we are required to do against the rights of others to lawful protest.
“Officers have been briefed to be alert to any behaviour that crosses the line from protest into criminality, including hate crime targeting any group. They are there for everyone’s safety and will intervene decisively where incidents and offences take place.
“Away from central London, we continue to have additional officers – both local teams and specialist units – patrolling in areas with significant Jewish communities. They are working closely with partner organisations, including the Community Security Trust, not just to provide reassurance but to disrupt and deter anyone wishing to commit offences and do harm.”
