The sentencing of Tommy Robinson has rocked free-speech advocates around the globe, angering hundreds of thousands for what has been called a ‘media blackout’ in the trial of an alleged child grooming gang in Great Britain.
On May 25th, Robinson was seen live streaming outside the courthouse, whom police later confronted and arrested for his infringement of the judge’s media embargo. Hence, his presence was seen as ‘breaching the peace’ and his subsequent arrest, ‘justifiable.’
Well hang on there—this is where things get interesting.
In Robinson’s live stream, a completely different picture is painted of the controversial right-wing figure than what one would come to expect—given his views of Islam in general.
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Despite saying nothing that could be seen as overtly provocative—to the point where anyone’s life would be at risk—let alone inciting ‘hate speech,’ Robinson’s live stream shows him pressing the suspects for answers, as they made their way to the courthouse. But unsurprisingly, nothing was said beyond slanderous remarks by the men in question.
At the 28:51-minute mark of his live stream, he states “In the early days…you see these big scandals, they make national news. Now, what’s happened, is, it makes local news. So there can be massive gang rapes, and just ask yourselves this—if someone says something racist, it makes national news, so why, every single time, are these [gang rapes] not being followed up by [media outlets] today?”
In a separate video, where Robinson is being escorted off the premises by police, he says to the them “How am I inciting people? This is free speech…Do you feel right what you are doing?, which was then followed by “I haven’t said [any incriminating during the livestream]. In fact, someone laid their hand and assaulted me outside the court.”
As seen at the start of the 75-minute live stream, a struggle of some sort ensued between one of the accused and Robinson, but no investigation has been made into his claims of an alleged assault.
Instead—shortly after his arrest—he was put on trial and later sentenced to 13-months in prison, which was proceeded by protests at 10 Downing Street and a petition to free Tommy Robinson, which has amassed over 395 000 signatures as of May 28th, 13:40 Pacific Standard Time.
For many, Tommy Robinson has been heralded as a protector of free speech, and as it pertains to this trial, a ‘defender of the truth.’ And with his presence at the courthouse, it showed not only his willingness to report on issues that are often overlooked by the mainstream but the need for us to hold the media accountable for what they choose to publish on and how they choose to do so.
We will continue to observe the situation and will inform our readership of any additional developments in the case of Tommy Robinson, as soon as they happen.
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