In the wake of a significant far-right rally in London attended by an estimated 150,000 people, numerous social media posts have wrongly claimed that similar protests are proliferating across Europe, particularly reflecting anti-migrant sentiments. These assertions have drawn attention to various videos that purport to show widespread support for the rally’s ideologies, but EuroVerify, a fact-checking team from Euronews, has uncovered that many of these videos are unrelated to current protests. Instead, they serve to amplify false narratives of a growing Euro-wide acceptance of far-right views mirroring those expressed in London.
One of the misleading clips circulating is a drone video featuring a large procession of demonstrators waving Polish flags, falsely suggested to represent a massive anti-migrant protest in Poland. However, a reverse image search revealed that this footage is actually from Poland’s Independence Day celebrations in November 2023. While there have been anti-migration demonstrations earlier in Poland, linked to incidents of violence involving migrants, these gatherings have not drawn the same level of participation as the London event, contradicting claims of a broader, unifying protest movement across Europe.
Similarly, another video from Pamplona, Spain, has resurfaced, incorrectly claimed to showcase a “reawakening of Europe” and a resurgence of “Christian values.” This imagery is actually from the city’s annual San Fermín festival, highlighting how disingenuous interpretations can mislead audiences regarding the nature of protests across Europe. Furthermore, a video from Hamburg, Germany—previously misattributed to anti-migrant chants—was found to depict football fans marching in support of their teams, further illustrating the misinformation being spread in the context of the London rally.
Nonetheless, the London protest did resonate beyond the UK borders, featuring speakers like Éric Zemmour from France and George Simion from Romania. Influential figures, including Elon Musk, have amplified these sentiments, actively projecting far-right views onto European audiences. Musk’s endorsement of far-right candidates, along with his sharing of doctored images associating UK protests with purported European themes, exemplifies the cross-border ideation fueling this wave of far-right sentiments.
The rally, aptly named “Unite the Kingdom” and organized by prominent far-right activist Tommy Robinson, garnered more participants than authorities had anticipated, spotlighting a trend of nationalism marked by the display of UK flags in various communities. This rise in flag display, endorsed by the Labour-led UK government as a patriotic symbol, has incited polarization over migration issues, leading to calls for similar demonstrations in other European nations, notably France. Online platforms have reported a surge in campaigns urging the display of the French flag under hashtags like #OperationTricolore.
In France, a notable increase in posts related to this flag-raising initiative was identified, beginning on September 1, when 10,000 posts linked to the hashtag emerged overnight. This movement has gained traction among far-right influencers, particularly those associated with Éric Zemmour. The mobilization of nationalistic symbolism echoes the sentiments witnessed in London, signaling a potentially destabilizing trend driven by far-right factions across Europe. As this narrative unfolds, the interconnectedness between these movements raises critical questions about the rise of extremist ideologies and the implications for social cohesion within European societies.
