A national day of protest in the UK saw thousands of people show up to anti-racist counter-protests in response to a call to "stop the far-right."A national day of protest in the UK saw thousands of people show up to anti-racist counter-protests in response to a call to "stop the far-right."After more than a week of nationwide far-right riots, the anti-fascist organization Stand Up to Racism called for over 45 protests to take place on Saturday across the nation, drawing sizable audiences to cities like London, Edinburgh, and Cardiff. Anti-racists worldwide ultimately outnumbered the far-right as police prepared for further violence over the weekend, according to Stand Up to Racism.

Additionally, up to 15,000 people attended an anti-racism march in Belfast that was organized by the United Against Racism group. Protesters were heard yelling, "When migrants' rights are under attack, what do we do? " and brandishing placards with anti-racism and pro-migrant themes. Get up and retaliate.

Meanwhile, the thousands marching on Whitehall in support of refugees chanted “refugees are welcome here”. Stand Up to Racism estimated 5,000 people assembled at Reform UK’s headquarters in Victoria, where speakers accused Nigel Farage of “spreading racism”.

Those giving speeches later in Trafalgar Square then condemned X boss Elon Musk following recent criticism facing the social media company over the spread of disinformation on its platform.

"We turned it around this week after being outnumbered," a Stand Up to Racism speaker said to the assembly. "We feel like we have turned the tide," stated Samira Ali, who delivered the concluding remarks. Our ability to mobilize is evidenced by their failure to appear. Without our mobilization, they would not have been halted.

The group reported that hundreds, if not thousands, also gathered in many more towns and cities across the UK, including in the Scottish capital, Cambridge, Glasgow, Exeter, Sheffield, Liverpool, Newcastle, Hastings, Oxford, Manchester, and other areas of London – bringing the total number of anti-racist demonstrators potentially to the tens of thousands.

Demonstrators carried placards and banners displaying slogans such as “No to racism” and “Refugees welcome: Stop the far right” at the counter-protests outside Holyrood in Edinburgh and in George Square in Glasgow.

There were up to 3,000 gathered both in Glasgow and in Piccadilly Gardens in Manchester, according to Stand Up to Racism. As many as 2,000 people turned out in Edinburgh, according to the organisation, while 1,000 took to the streets of Liverpool as well as Newcastle, where a small number of far-right protesters did appear.