Ex English Defence League (EDL) leader Tommy Robinson may be released from prison tomorrow. Robinson was of course jailed for contempt of court after putting the outcome of a highly sensitive trial at risk, in Leeds.
Supporters of Robinson claim he is a victim of an attack on free speech. The truth is very different, Robinson admitted he was guilty as charged!
Robinson is on record as saying ‘Islam is not a religion of peace’. Darren Osborne, the Finsbury Park murderer, in 2017, was someone who was a staunch follower of Robinson online. He has a long history as a violent, racist thug.
Internationally, the far right has mobilised behind Robinson. Ex Trump adviser, Steve Bannon, together with islamophobic MEP’S like Geert Wilders and UKIP, have held large demonstrations backing Robinson. The last London one saw veiled anti Semitic reference to George Soros made by Robinson allies and culminated in savage attacks on trades unionists, in a Westminster pub. A female muslim bus driver was subject to hideous racism and threats by drunken hooligans, on the ‘free Robinson’ event.
Stand Up To Racism and Unite Against Fascism have held a series of demonstrations in opposition to Robinson and the far right.
Robinson and his allies are receiving support and inspiration from the election of Trump. Robinson is the lynchpin of the far right. On release, it is thought Steve Bannon may hire him to rebuild the far right in Europe, as part of Bannon’s islamophobic, ‘international’, based in Brussels.
Weyman Bennett – joint convenor of Stand Up To Racism said:
‘The former BNP member Stephen Yaxley Lennon aka Tommy Robinson, has been a life long racist. He has a long criminal record. Robinson brought terror to the streets of Britain with EDl hooligans and islamophobic gangs. He is calling for the freedom to hate not free speech .Bullies and racists that encourage terrorism and racist attacks belong behind bars. We must stand in solidarity with the Muslim community which Robinson is scapegoating. We should not let history repeat itself, with this time, new targets by the far right.We mustn’t allow street movements such as the Democratic Football Lads Alliance and Robinson supporters to feed into electoral success for such as UKIP.Trades unions and other campaigners are responding to what is a serious threat. Robinson has been defeated before by anti fascists eg the EDL and Pegida UK. It is a central priority to push back the far right menace in the UK’
To discuss the way forward come to our international conference against racism and fascism on 20th October.
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