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Thousands of people are planning to take to the streets of east London to stage a protest in support of illegal raves.

Some 2,600 people have said they are going to the Freedom to Party event in Shoreditch on Saturday afternoon, which is being promoted on Facebook.

They say the aim is to “fight” for the right to hold “free party” warehouse raves across London.

The organisers say it will be a peaceful protest and will “portray the complete definition of peace, love, unity and respect”.

The Facebook invite says it’s time “to take back our right in the underground scene… Fight for what we believe in, let the Tory government understand our movement and culture and reasoning behind why we love the free party community.”

Protesters are due to gather at Shoreditch Overground station at 2pm on Saturday.

The organisers also said they want a stop to “the seizing [of equipment] and the shutdowns” of their events by police.

Officers have often shut down unlicensed raves which are usually held in empty warehouses.

In November last year, police clashed with ravers as they tried to close the annual Scumoween rave, which was held without a licence in Lambeth.

More than a dozen police officers were injured and 28 people were arrested.

The invite to tomorrow’s event recalls a protest in Trafalgar Square on January 27, 1990, in which “10,000 ravers danced… in a peaceful protest against the anti-party laws being introduced”.

“It’s now out time as the new generation to take back our right in the underground scene,” it says.

Scotland Yard said it was aware of the event but that attempts to speak to the organisers had “so far been unsuccessful”.

A spokesman said: “Police are aware of a pre-planned protest due to commence at 2pm on Saturday outside Shoreditch Overground station.

“Attempts by the Met's police liaison team to engage with the organisers have so far been unsuccessful.

“An appropriate policing plan will be in place.”