The far-right activist Tommy Robinson “might face jail” after screening a documentary towards excessive court docket orders at an indication in central London on Saturday, in response to the anti-racism group Hope Not Hate.
The movie, Silenced, repeated false claims he made a couple of Syrian refugee that led to him dropping a libel case in 2021. Robinson is because of seem at a excessive court docket listening to on Monday accused of contempt of court docket for making the documentary.
Nick Lowles of Hope Not Hate wrote on X: “Tommy Robinson is at present screening the movie Silenced in Trafalgar Sq., simply 48 hours earlier than he seems within the Excessive Court docket accused of breaking an injunction stopping him from releasing the movie.. He’s heading to jail.
“The Legal professional Normal’s workplace have been made conscious of Tommy Robinson screening a movie he was banned from exhibiting. Such a flagrant disregard for the regulation might effectively see him dealing with the utmost two-year sentence. Solely himself responsible.”
The Metropolitan police stated: “We didn’t know what movies can be proven through the occasion. Organisers of protests usually are not required to share these particulars upfront. There isn’t any energy for us to compel them to take action.
“Officers on obligation for the occasion couldn’t fairly have been conscious of civil proceedings ongoing in relation to a selected movie, however having now been made conscious we’re making additional inquiries to find out what motion we have to take.”
1000’s of individuals marched in central London on Saturday as a part of a protest organised by Tommy Robinson, in addition to a counter-protest.
The Met stated upfront that about 1,000 officers had been being deployed throughout the capital to “preserve the peace” and make sure the two teams had been saved aside.
It stated eight folks had been arrested and a number of other emergency employees had been assaulted, although none had been significantly injured.
The gang for Robinson’s protest gathered outdoors the Royal Courts of Justice earlier than marching down the Strand to Trafalgar Sq., the place a rally was held.
Contributors had been heard chanting “Rule, Britannia!”, “England until I die”, and “We wish our nation again”. The Met additionally stated it was investigating movies shared on-line wherein “racist and anti-Muslim” chants may very well be heard.
Audio system on the rally denounced immigration and multiculturalism in addition to the Covid vaccines, whereas folks within the crowd waved British, English and Israeli flags and placards that learn: “Not far proper, excellent.”
The counter-protest, organised by Stand As much as Racism and Jeremy Corbyn’s Peace and Justice mission, started at Russell Sq. and marched to Whitehall.
Marchers carried banners studying “We’re all migrants” and “Cease Islamophobia” in addition to placards calling for an finish to the warfare in Gaza.
Chants of “Tommy Robinson we all know you, you’re a Nazi by way of and thru” and “Nazi scum, off our streets” had been additionally heard.
Audio system on the rally included Corbyn and Eddie Dempsey, assistant normal secretary of the RMT union.
Police stated two males had been arrested on suspicion of grievous bodily hurt after an assault on a counter-protester, whereas one other man was arrested on suspicion of assaulting an emergency employee and a racially aggravated public order offence after a police officer was kicked.
One other 4 folks had been arrested outdoors a pub in Whitehall on suspicion of assault on emergency employees after 4 law enforcement officials had been assaulted.
One man was arrested on suspicion of prison injury and a racially aggravated public order offence after allegedly snapping the pole of a Palestinian flag and making a racially abusive comment.
The day additionally noticed a Trans Satisfaction march from Langham Place, close to Oxford Circus, to Hyde Park Nook. The march was initially deliberate to start out at Trafalgar Sq., however organisers modified the path to keep away from Robinson’s protest. Police stated a ninth particular person was arrested on suspicion of assaulting a steward at that occasion.