I’m a bit late with some of this. Earlier this month – milkshake hurling (no news whether the hurlers have been charged with assault)
This week has been busy for Tommy. Most important was probably the court case on Tuesday at the Central Criminal Court in London when Judges ruled that the case against him for Contempt of Court last week will be continued to (they hope) the bitter end.
Tommy Robinson will face fresh proceedings for contempt of court, High Court judges have ruled, as hundreds of his supporters gathered outside the Old Bailey today. The 36-year-old former English Defence League leader appeared at the Central Criminal Court to hear an application by the Attorney General to bring committal proceedings against him for the alleged offence.
After yesterday’s hearing, Robinson told The Telegraph: “This is a politically motivated case in which the British government are trying to silence me and the movement of people who support me.”
Outside the court hundreds of his supporters gathered to hear the decision alongside rival protesters who called Robinson’s supporters “racists” and “Nazis” during their counter-rally.
Robinson’s contempt of court conviction was quashed by Court of Appeal judges in August last year and he was released after serving two months of his sentence. They ruled that the decision to commit him to prison “so promptly” and without “due regard” to rules governing procedures surrounding someone alleged to have acted in contempt of court “gave rise to unfairness”.
Recorder of London Nicholas Hilliard QC referred the case to the Attorney General in October. Attorney General Geoffrey Cox QC announced earlier this month that it was in the public interest to bring fresh proceedings against Robinson.
Lady Justice Sharp, sitting with Mr Justice Warby, granted the Attorney General’s application to bring committal proceedings against Robinson.
His next hearing will be on 4 July at the Old Bailey.
The only good thing I can say is that he is at liberty and can continue campaigning in the North West as an independent candidate ahead of next weeks European elections. Some of us feared that he would be made to wait for the re-trial in custody, and thus campaigning would have to stop.
Tommy Robinson is being sued for £100,000 over comments about a Syrian refugee who was filmed being attacked in a school playground, the boy’s lawyer has said.
Tasmine Akunjee, a lawyer representing Jamal Hijazi, said his client lodged a claim against Yaxley-Lennon at the High Court on Wednesday. “It is for defamation out of statements made by Yaxley-Lennon last year about Jamal Hijazi,” he said. “He made some comments about Jamal being involved with attacks against young white girls at the school, which are untrue…”
I believe Tommy was at best mis-informed about the boy being involved in abuse himself, or at worst was set up as entrapment. It should be noted that Tasmine Akunjee, also known as Mohammed Tasnime Akunjee, is not a local solicitor to where the boy and his family live, but is a West London solicitor who previously acted for Shamima Begum and her coven of Bethnal Green jihadi brides, who has links with Cage and his own history of extremist thought.
The local newspapers of the NW towns and cities where Tommy is campaigning report any forthcoming visit in near identical terms, with a near identical reaction by the local worthies. This week the Bishop of Burnley, the Rt Rev Philip North warned Tommy Robinson ‘you’re not welcome in Burnley’.
The Rt Rev Philip North and Julie Cooper are among 14 signatories to a public statement opposing the former English Defence League leader holding a Euro-election rally in Burnley on Tuesday.
“Burnley and Padiham are proud towns. They are towns that reject hate and work tirelessly for the common good. We have established and thriving Pakistani, Bangladeshi, South Asian and Eastern European communities, living and working here. If we were to welcome this man we’d be dismissing the valued contribution they have made. We call upon our communities to reject the politics of division and hate. Yaxley-Lennon’s far-right political views are not welcome in our great towns.”
Mr Robinson did not respond to a Lancashire Telegraph request for a comment but has said he is ‘fighting for the forgotten people who have no voice’.
The other signatories are Cllr Bea Foster from Building Bridges; Peter Thorne, secretary of the North East Lancashire TUC; Peter Billington, Secretary of the Lancashire Association of Trades Union Councils; Andy Makin, from the Unite union; Maggie Smith of the Socialist Workers Party; and Richard Macsween from the Unison union.
In Preston a Milkshake party is planned
The Peace Garden, at the junction of Ringway and Friargate, will host the ‘peaceful milkshake protest’ from 6pm on Monday, May 20. The ‘protest party’ has been organised by Theo Clarke, from Preston, who said the event will “celebrate peace, love, diversity and positive vibes”.
Protesters are invited to enjoy music, singing and dancing – as well as free milkshake – in a cheeky nod to the milkshakes thrown at Robinson during recent visits to Bury and Warrington.
Mr Robinson is seeking to be elected as an MEP and is understood to be visiting Preston on Monday (20 May).
The far-right activist is expected to be met by protesters from Members of Stand Up To Racism and Unite Against Fascism, who will leaflet in Orchard Street from 11am.
However the Police are taking a more robust attitude
On two consecutive days, in Bury and Warrington, the English Defence League founder had a milkshake thrown over him by a member of the public. But Lancashire Police has warned that such incidents will not be tolerated during his visit to Preston.
A police spokesman said: “Our role is to facilitate a safe and peaceful event where Mr Robinson is allowed to exercise his right to campaign. Our policing style will be low key, fair and friendly but firm where we need to be. We are impartial and will act when needed to uphold the democratic process of the European Parliamentary elections…”
Yesterday Tommy was in Barrow in Furness. The Scottish Daily Record (the Scottish incarnation of the left-leaning, Hope not Hate bankrolling Mirror newspaper) is pleased to report that a man from Kilmarnock in Scotland followed him shouting “Tommy is a Nazi” through a loud hailer as Tommy walked about the town. Calling anti-brexit MP Anna Soubry the same thing has got yellow vest organiser James Goddard a criminal charge. The man from Kilmarnock gets a pat on the back from Stand Up To Racism. Double standards?
The Blackpool Gazette today
Tommy Robinson is giving a speech in Fleetwood.
That’s succinct. Brief. Concise.
All credit to the News and Star – they actually report Tommy himself, under the headline
Multicultural champion speaks of pride in Carlisle after Tommy Robinson stance
A PROMINENT multicultural campaigner has spoken of her pride in Carlisle for its peaceful stance against far-right activist Tommy Robinson. Saj Ghafoor, chief officer of Multicultural Cumbria, was among those present at an anti-fascism rally in the city centre on Wednesday.
Mrs Ghafoor said: “This was the first rally I have ever been to. The small number of Tommy Robinson supporters were under 200 present. Out of those I wonder how many people were brought in from non-residents.
Wednesday evening’s rallies saw the city centre taken over by two chanting crowds – one supporting the English Defence League founder in his bid to become an MEP and a second crowd opposing him, yelling accusations of racism at him.
Both sides were separated by dozens of police officers, some armed with video cameras.
Despite the strong and visible police presence, activists from both side loudly traded insults before Robinson addressed his supporters, and as he took to the stage.
Robinson himself hit out at the large number of police officers, saying he felt targeted.
Speaking before he went on stage, Robinson said: “I think they’re here to send a message that me being here is a bad thing. There’s been no trouble, there’ve been no problems.”
Widely regarded as far-right in his politics, he claimed the UK is being “Islamified”.
He added: “The British public need to send a message to the establishment. People have been censored; I’ve been censored. I’ve been taken off all social media. I’m now fighting an unfair election.” He insisted he was not racist – but opposed to Islamic “ideology”.
Among his supporters was Northumberland farmer Roy Henderson, who said he has given “thousands” of pounds in financial backing to Robinson. “He’s a wake-up call for politicians,” said Roy. “He speaks for the people. The authorities are terrified of him; that’s why they’ve blocked his every move.”
Cumbria police defended their policing of the event.
Superintendent Mark Pannone said: “A visible policing presence was deployed into Carlisle city centre today due to Tommy Robinson’s visit to the city as part of his election campaign. Our priority was the safety of all members of the public. Officers were there throughout the day and evening to ensure public safety and prevent any incidence of crime or disorder whilst campaigning was conducted.”
There were no reports of violence or disorder.
However I have heard informally that roads into Carlisle were blocked to hinder Tommy’s progress. Jessica Swietoniowski, a Rebel media reporter was in Carlisle. Rebel Media have this piece of video.
later Miss Swietoniowski interviewed local people who support Tommy. She was herself perceived as a Tommy supporter and not allowed to interview the ‘other’ group. That footage is below
Polling is on Thursday 23rd. The established order are obviously frightened and I don’t imagine they will reduce the pressure. I’ll keep my ear to the ground. The news bias and removal of outlets are not deterring people; we are imaginative and we won’t be stopped.
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One Response
I was most heartened to see the reference to the “Northumberland farmer, Roy Henderson” who has given Tommy substantial financial assistance. Blessings on Mr Henderson! I wonder how many other country people, as well as working-class city-dwellers, are among those who’ve figured out that the Ummah – the mohammedan mob – is a massive Fifth Column… the vanguard and local agents and colonists of the borderless Empire of Islam? I wonder whether, in the silence of her room, the Queen secretly prays for Tommy Robinson? he is among *the* bravest, most loyal and patriotic of all her subjects.