Elon Musk cautioned attendees of a Tommy Robinson rally that they may face violence, despite evidence showing that the only violence during the protests was instigated by far-right demonstrators. The multi-billionaire rallied Unite the Kingdom supporters to combat what he termed the “woke mind virus” and advocated for the “dissolution of Parliament,” warning them that violence could be inevitable.
Musk’s statement, “You either fight back or you die,” followed clashes between supporters of Robinson and the police in Whitehall. Presenter Sangita Myska criticized Musk’s remarks, highlighting that the violence observed at anti-racism demonstrations stemmed from far-right Robinson supporters posing as ‘patriots’ targeting predominantly white female marchers.
The Metropolitan Police shared videos showing Robinson supporters engaging in altercations with officers and throwing objects at them. The police reported being forced to use measures to prevent their cordon from being breached. Additionally, officers intervened at various locations to prevent Unite the Kingdom protesters from reaching counter-demonstrators, resulting in assaults on several officers.
Elon Musk, known for his political involvement, previously supported Donald Trump for the presidency before their fallout. He has also clashed with Reform UK leader Nigel Farage over the latter’s backing of Tommy Robinson. Musk’s appearance at the rally coincided with former Reform UK deputy Ben Habib’s leadership of Advance UK, a party that includes Robinson.
Expressing concern over the state of Britain, Musk emphasized the need for protection of innocent citizens, especially children, from crimes like gang rape, blaming the government for failing in its duty. He called for a new election sooner than scheduled, criticizing the government’s handling of issues like uncontrolled migration.
The rally, reportedly attended by around 111,000 demonstrators according to the Met Police, marked one of the largest far-right gatherings in UK history. Despite its size, clashes between Robinson supporters and law enforcement are not unprecedented, with at least nine arrests made during the recent rally.
Last year, a similar far-right event in London led to the arrest of four individuals. The ongoing clashes between Robinson supporters and authorities underscore the tensions surrounding such gatherings, reflecting a recurring pattern of confrontations.