London was braced for a demonstration by thousands of supporters of the far-right agitator known as Tommy Robinson on Saturday.
Mr. Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, is the highest-profile leader of Britain’s dispersed but growing far-right movement. His name was chanted at some of the anti-immigrant riots that shook the country in August.
Although Mr. Robinson, 41, organized and promoted Saturday’s rally, he will not attend as he was taken into police custody Friday ahead of a court hearing on Monday, where he faces charges of repeatedly libeling a Syrian refugee in breach of a 2021 injunction.
Antiracism activists have planned a counterprotest on Saturday. The police said in a statement on Friday that the two demonstrations would take place in different parts of central London and that officers would monitor closely to ensure those involved stayed “sufficiently far apart” to prevent serious disorder.
Here’s what you need to know:
- Who is Tommy Robinson?
- What is Saturday’s rally about?
- Why is Tommy Robinson due in court on Monday?
Who is Tommy Robinson?
The founder of the English Defence League, an Islamophobic, nationalist group known for its violent street protests in the late 2000s and 2010s, Mr. Robinson was until recently a marginal figure in British politics.
The New York Times
