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In June and July 2018 several protests were held in the United Kingdom demanding the release of anti-Muslim activist Stephen Christopher Yaxley-Lennon, better known as Tommy Robinson.[1] At a June 9 demonstration in London, over ten thousand protesters[2] blocked the roads around Trafalgar Square and some attacked police, injuring five officers.[1]

Robinson had been arrested about two weeks earlier, on 25 May 2018, for a breach of the peace while live streaming outside Leeds Crown Court[3][4] during the trial of the Huddersfield grooming gang because reporting restrictions had been ordered by the judge to avoid prejudging the outcome of the case.[5] During the live stream, Robinson talked for "more than an hour" about “jihad rape gangs”.[6]

A veteran far-right activist and co-founder and former leader of the English Defence League,[7] Robinson gained much more publicity and support after his arrest.[8][9]

Background

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2017 Contempt of court

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About a year earlier, on 10 May 2017, Robinson had been charged with contempt of court for posting prejudicial statements after he videoed himself inside Canterbury Crown Court while a jury was deliberating following a trial of a case of Child grooming. Amongst other things Robinson called the defendants "Muslim child rapists". According to Judge Heather Norton, Robinson had used "pejorative language in his broadcast which prejudged the outcome of the case and could have had the effect of substantially derailing the trial".[10] She added,

"this is not about free speech, not about the freedom of the press, nor about legitimate journalism, and not about political correctness. It is about justice and ensuring that a trial can be carried out justly and fairly, it's about being innocent until proven guilty. It is about preserving the integrity of the jury to continue without people being intimidated or being affected by irresponsible and inaccurate 'reporting', if that's what it was".[3]

The judge suspended Robinson's sentence on the condition that he commit no further crimes.[11] (A technical error was committed when the court then wrongly stated that Robinson had been sentenced to three months' imprisonment, suspended for 18 months and entered that incorrect result in the court records and later identified and corrected by the Court of Appeal.)[12][10][13]

Huddersfield grooming gang trial

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In Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, 27 men, mainly of Pakistani origin (the "Huddersfield grooming gang"),[6] were tried in 2017-8 for sexual offences, including rape and trafficking against 18 girls aged between 11 and 17, committed between 2004 and 2011.[14] The trials concluded in October 2018 with 20 of the men convicted of rape and abuse and sentenced to a total of 221 years.[15]

To avoid prejudice on subsequent trials, reporting restrictions were imposed on the trial in November 2017 under the 1981 Contempt of Court Act.[16] But the restrictions on reporting were criticised by the far right, who claimed that it was a cover-up as its perpetrators were "Asian" and "Muslims", and that it amounted to "state censorship".[17][18]

Robinson's live streaming

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Robinson was arrested on 25 May for a breach of the peace while live streaming outside Leeds Crown Court[3][4] during the second of the trials of the "grooming gang".[5] During the live stream, which was viewed by "hundreds of thousands" online on Facebook,[10] Robinson talked for "more than an hour" about the dangers of Muslims and “jihad rape gangs”,[10] and videoed some of the accused as they entered the court.[6][18]

Arrest, hearing, sentence

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Since this video was also in violation of legal reporting restrictions that had been ordered by the judge,[5] it led to another arrest and prosecution for contempt of court.[6][18]

Journalists (Lizzie Dearden) wrote that Robinson's video "violated blanket reporting restrictions imposed ... to prevent defendants claiming juries had been prejudiced against them ...", and warned that the video could mean "the case collapsing and rapists going free."[10] The restriction order was also due to be "automatically lift at the end of the third [last] trial.[10] On May 29, Robinson was sentenced to 13-months in jail for contempt of court.[19] (That sentence was later overturned,[20] and he was given a nine-month sentence in July 2019 in a retrial.)[21]

Demonstrations and other support

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9 June 2018, Trafalgar Square: Protests for the release of Robinson

The jailing of Robinson drew condemnation from right-wing circles both in and outside of Britain.[22] According to the New York Times, Robinson's arrest was

a public relations coup: His backers portrayed him as a fighter against injustice, working to expose rapists. In reality, the men were already on trial, facing stiff sentences, and Mr. Robinson’s actions threatened to tank the case.[8]

The Guardian newspaper described the arrest as cementing Robinson’s journey from "fringe player" to what Rob Ford of the University of Manchester called “a valuable niche in the radical-right ecosystem”.[9]

The UK Independence Party leader Gerard Batten MEP expressed concern about the proceedings and the ban on reporting.[23] Robinson attracted sympathy from several right-wing politicians in Europe, including the Dutch Party for Freedom leader Geert Wilders[4] and the member of the German Bundestag for the far-right Alternative for Germany Petr Bystron.[24] In the United States, the highest rated Fox News prime-time host, Tucker Carlson, proclaimed freedom of speech “dying” in Britain. Donald Trump Jr. tweeted: “Don’t let America follow in their footsteps.”[2] Former Trump advisor Steve Bannon described him as “the fucking backbone of this country”.[9] The rightwing Philadelphia-based thinktank Middle East Forum (MEF), paid Robinson’s court defence costs, and paid for a U.S. Republican congressman, Paul Gosar, to fly to the UK to speak at the 14 July London protest in support of Robinson.[9] Over 630,000 signed an online petition calling for Robinson to be freed, 68% came from the UK.[9] The US anti-Sharia law organisation, ACT! for America emailed its 750,000 members about Robinson's plight and an alleged “battle for free speech in Europe, specifically England”.[9]

On the weekends following Robinson's arrest, his supporters held rallies in his support,[4][25] Including one in Belfast on[26]

London demonstrations

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The first demonstration in support of Robinson occurred May 26, 2018 when hundreds blocked traffic gathering outside Downing Street in London, later moving to Parliament Square. There were no arrests.[27]

On Saturday, June 9, 2018, "as many as 15,000 people" gathered along Whitehall and in Trafalgar Square.[2] Supporters blocked roads, waved British flags and wore “Free Tommy” T-shirts, demanding his release. (Included in the crowd were Donald J. Trump banners and MAGA hats.) The founder and leader of the far-right For Britain Movement, Anne Marie Waters denounced alleged “Islamic tyranny and supremacy that plagues our great country.”[8] According to Scotland Yard, protesters hurled bottles, metal barriers and other objects at police.[2] At one point protesters "swinging flag poles and other makeshift weapons" chased overwhelmed officers down a side street.[8] Another group of protesters commandeered a double-decker sightseeing bus.[8] More than 20 officers and members of the public were injured[28] and one man was charged with possession of an offensive weapon and eight others bailed for a range of offences.[2] Later Met police announced that fourteen people had been arrested for violence at the rally but were searching for another ten based CCTV images.[28] Demonstrators performed Nazi salutes, threw scaffolding, glass bottles and street furniture at police and damaged vehicles and buildings.[29] A protest was also held in Melbourne, Australia.[2]

Another free Tommy Robinson rally was held in July 14, 2018.[30] Crowds blocked a double decker bus driven by a Muslim woman in Trafalgar Square for almost 30 minutes before it was freed by police.[31]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Police officers hurt at 'free Tommy Robinson' protest". BBC News. 9 June 2018. Retrieved 24 April 2021.
  2. ^ a b c d e f Gayle, Damien; Ntim, Zac (11 Jun 2018). "Protesters charged after pro-Tommy Robinson rally in London". The Guardian. Retrieved 24 April 2021.
  3. ^ a b c Dearden, Lizzie (25 May 2018). "Tommy Robinson arrested for 'breaching the peace' outside court during grooming trial". The Independent. Archived from the original on 25 May 2018. Retrieved 25 May 2018. Judge Heather Norton handed him a three months imprisonment in May last year but suspended it for 18 months on the condition he did not commit further offences. […] "It is about preserving the integrity of the jury to continue without people being intimidated or being affected by irresponsible and inaccurate 'reporting', if that's what it was."
  4. ^ a b c d Daro, Ishmael N. (29 May 2018). "Who Is Tommy Robinson And Why Has His Arrest Captivated The Right Wing Media?". BuzzFeed News.
  5. ^ a b c Perraudin, Frances (29 May 2018). "EDL founder Tommy Robinson jailed for contempt of court". The Guardian. Guardian Media Group. Retrieved 29 May 2018.
  6. ^ a b c d Dearden, Lizzie (19 October 2018). "Huddersfield grooming gang: Men convicted of sexually abusing vulnerable girls and jailed for 220 years". The Independent.
  7. ^ "The EDL – Britain's Far Right Social Movement" (PDF). Radicalism and New Media Research Group, University of Northampton, 22 September 2011. Archived from the original (PDF) on 21 January 2012. Retrieved 2 February 2012.
  8. ^ a b c d e Bradley, Jane; Schwirtz, Michael (23 April 2021). "U.K. Far Right, Lifted by Trump, Now Turns to Russia". New York Times. Retrieved 24 April 2021.
  9. ^ a b c d e f Townsend, Mark (29 Jul 2018). "#FreeTommy – the making of a far-right English 'martyr'". The Guardian. Retrieved 26 April 2021.
  10. ^ a b c d e f Dearden, Lizzie (20 October 2018). "Tommy Robinson could have caused Huddersfield grooming trials to collapse and child rapists go free". The Independent. Retrieved 24 April 2021.
  11. ^ Dearden, Lizzie (1 August 2018). "Tommy Robinson case: Why EDL founder could be jailed again for contempt of court". The Independent. Retrieved 24 April 2021.
  12. ^ "R-v-Yaxley-Lennon Appeal" (PDF). Retrieved 14 August 2019.
  13. ^ Telegraph Reporters (20 June 2017). "Who is Tommy Robinson – the former EDL leader once branded a 'bigoted lunatic'". Telegraph. Retrieved 26 May 2018.
  14. ^ "Huddersfield child sex inquiry sees 29 in court". BBC. 12 April 2017.
  15. ^ Davidson, Tom (19 October 2018). "Huddersfield grooming gang whose court cases were protested by Tommy Robinson jailed for total 221 years". Mirrors.
  16. ^ Wright, Oliver (19 October 2018). "Huddersfield grooming: How the West Yorkshire gang operated". BBC.
  17. ^ Powell, Tom (19 October 2018). "Huddersfield grooming gang: How Tommy Robinson 'jeopardised sex abuse trial'". The Evening Standard.
  18. ^ a b c Perraudin, Frances (29 May 2018). "EDL founder Tommy Robinson jailed for contempt of court". The Guardian.
  19. ^ "Police officers hurt at 'free Tommy Robinson' protest". BBC News. 9 June 2018. Retrieved 26 April 2021.
  20. ^ Dearden, Lizzie (19 October 2018). "Tommy Robinson could have caused Huddersfield grooming trials to collapse and child rapists go free". The Independent.
  21. ^ Quinn, Ben (11 July 2019). "Tommy Robinson given nine-month jail sentence for contempt of court". The Guardian.
  22. ^ Selk, Avi (29 May 2018). "Conservative outrage after anti-Muslim campaigner Tommy Robinson secretly jailed in Britain". Washington Post.
  23. ^ "Right-wing activist Tommy Robinson reportedly jailed after filming outside child grooming trial". Fox News. 26 May 2018. Retrieved 27 May 2018.
  24. ^ Isitman, Elif (29 May 2018). "Duitse politicus wil politiek asiel voor Tommy Robinson". Elsevier (in Dutch).
  25. ^ Independent Reporter (27 May 2018). "Tommy Robinson protest: Hundreds demonstrate in Downing Street after far-right figure arrested". The Independent.
  26. ^ Madden, Andrew (16 July 2018). "Belfast 'Freedom Rally' marchers are outnumbered by protesters". Belfast Telegraph. Retrieved 26 April 2021.
  27. ^ "Tommy Robinson protest: Hundreds demonstrate in Downing Street after far-right figure arrested". Independent. 27 May 2018. Retrieved 26 April 2021.
  28. ^ a b "'Free Tommy Robinson' march violence images released". BBC News. 13 November 2019. Retrieved 25 April 2021.
  29. ^ Drury, Colin (23 July 2018). "Tommy Robinson protest: Police release pictures of nine people wanted after violence at London rally". The Independent.
  30. ^ "Scuffles as 'Free Tommy Robinson' and pro-Donald Trump rallies join forces | ITV News". ITV. 14 July 2018. Retrieved 25 April 2021.
  31. ^ Drury, Colin (15 July 2018). "Bus driver in headscarf shows far-right Tommy Robinson demonstrators everything that's great about Britain". The Independent.


Category:Protests in the United Kingdom Category:Protests in London Category:Anti-Muslim sentiment Category:English far-right politicians Category:English prisoners and detainees Category:Islamophobia in the United Kingdom Category:Opposition to Islam in the United Kingdom

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