After Stephen Yaxley Lennon, who styles himself Tommy Robinson, rocked up in Leeds last Friday, was subsequently arrested and then imprisoned, the paranoia among those out there on the far right has reached previously unheard-of levels. But one thing has been forgotten: the alleged victims of those on trial in Leeds, over 20 men who had been accused of being members of a grooming gang.
And that’s what Lennon’s followers cannot get their heads around: the Police, solicitors, barristers, prosecutors and many others had dedicated considerable amounts of time, and yes, public money to ensuring justice for those alleged victims. Lennon has claimed many times in the past to be on the side of those people. Now, those who run his social media outlets while he is in prison are making it not about them, but about him.
Think about that. Lennon has banged on incessantly about “Justice for …” whoever he claims to be supporting. But when it comes to his being taken into custody, primarily because of the danger of prejudicing at least one of the three trials taking place in Leeds (there were so many defendants that they were split between three separate, although intrinsically linked, trials), it becomes “Justice for … Tommy”. And no-one else.
So there has been a petition to have Lennon freed; the due process of law should be suspended for The Great Man. It won’t be. His followers are told of “Protests happening all over the world and it also looks like Banksy supports Tommy. Please send us any pictures of your local protest”. Nothing about grooming gang victims.
Plus there is the ever-present paranoia: “Tommy posted this video on his youtube channel back in March. It was titled 'I will not be around much longer'. He was predicting the worrying collusion between state and social media giants to remove his voice (fascism). It looks like the state decided to take it to the next level”. But there has been no collusion. Twitter banned him for breaking its terms and conditions. The state was not involved.
And now has come the ultimate brass neck: “There will be a #FREETOMMY peaceful protest in Whitehall, London on Saturday the 9th of June 3pm. If you have been on the fence previously now is the time to get off the fence. Bring your megaphones, bring your signs, be loud and proud and let the establishment know the people have had enough. They cannot make people just disappear because they do not like their views”.
One look at the reporting restriction placed on “REGINA v Stephen Christopher Yaxley-Lennon”, case S20180448, shows why this is bunk. Here is what it says: “Since it appears to be necessary for avoiding a substantial risk of prejudice to the administration of justice in these proceedings … The publication of any report of these proceedings … Shall be postponed until after the conclusion of the trial T20177360 and T20187130 Akhtar and others”. It is not a question of someone not liking Lennon’s views.
It is, as ever, a question of justice. Justice not for Lennon, but for all the alleged victims of those who are now on trial in Leeds. One of those three trials is still ongoing. Lennon and his supporters need to answer one question: do they want justice for the victims?
Because if they do, they should quit the shit-stirring and get real. What happened to Lennon will be reported after those trials have completed. That is all.
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