Anti-EDL protest in London

Over 100 protesters gathered outside the Houses of Parliament at noon demonstrating against the English Defence League who were marching to Parliament in support of Dutch MP Geert Wilders visiting London. London UK, 05/03/2010.

After gathering where the EDL were meant to finish their march, the Unite Against Fascism protesters eventually tried to walk to the Tate museum but were quickly blocked off by police on Abingdon Street. People lay and sat across the road stopping all traffic and demanding it was their right to be there in order to stop the ‘Nazi’ demonstration from getting through.

The protesters were peaceful at all times but clearly outraged that the EDL were demonstrating in support of Mr Wilders visit to the UK after his ban was lifted. Eventually they were moved off the road to make way for the EDL to come through and cordoned for at least half an hour between police vans and officers. After this both groups of protesters were on opposite sides of the street outside the Houses of Parliament shouting back and forth to each other with a large police presence in between.