opinion
Basit MahmoodFreelance journalist and bloggerSaturday 14 Jul 2018 8:54 pm
Thousands of far-right protesters gathered in London today to demand the release of Tommy Robinson, the former member of the British National Party who was arrested earlier this year.
By reporting live outside a criminal court during a trial, he risked influencing members of the jury – if they came across his videos, it could have caused an entire trial to collapse.
Yet, this is irrelevant to his followers, who see Robinsons arrest as a state cover-up. In their eyes, hes just a misunderstood free speech martyr.
Personally, I remember it differently.
Robinson came to prominence in 2009, following the establishment of the English Defence League (EDL) – a group he co-founded – after a small minority of extremists in Luton protested against the homecoming of the Royal Anglian Regiment in the same year.
The group carried out street demonstrations through areas with Muslim populations with marches that often sought to intimidate. And though Robinson left the organisation in 2013, it was only to continue his far-right activity, including making links with like-minded groups across Europe such as Pegida.
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I remember when his group started marching in Luton; people within the local community, especially women who wore headscarves like my mother, preferred to stay at home for fear of violence and disorder caused by a group of drunken yobs.
We couldnt walk the streets without fear of being targeted. For me, there was no difference between Oswald Mosleys Blackshirts – which sought to intimidate Jewish communities with similar marches in the 30s – and what we were now witnessing.
And lets not forget his public outburst, where he collectively held all Muslims to account for terrorism, and was filmed saying, Every single Muslim watching this… on 7/7 you got away with killing and maiming British citizens….
Away from the cameras he has also expressed xenophobic and anti-immigrant sentiments.
None of this matters to his followers.
Instead, he has been afforded the opportunity, including by some in the press, to repackage himself as a free speech martyr. He is invited on national TV and asked the same questions, as though some people are convinced that Tommy Robinson isnt actually all that bad.
In doing so, the media offered him a sense of legitimacy and air time that he so desperately craves. He is given the chance to discuss matters on his own terms, giving his views credence and normalisation.
If you grew up in Luton, like me, you dont need lecturing about how he is a misunderstood man from commentators who have only ever met him for a cup of tea.
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In 2011, the entire town braced itself for violence after the EDLs homecoming march, spearheaded by Robinson. My family was told not to venture into town.
Shops and businesses closed for the day as far-right activists – both from EDL and other European countries – marched and threw beer bottles and fireworks.
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The group was sending out a clear message – that these were not our streets, but theirs. Their actions cast a long shadow over the town, with other far-right groups like Britain First picking up where Robinson left off.
He made the far-right normal and many families like mine have had to live in fear of further demonstrations and potential violence.
Ive seen Tommy Robinson away from the polished image he wishes to present on TV cameras.
Ive seen the effects of him roaming around the town with his camera, marching up to South Asian youths, shouting obscenities and demanding they explain the actions of others.
Though Tommy isnt so keen to chat when hes asked to explain terrorism committed by white men.
This is why its breathtaking to hear people shout, Free Tommy.
When hes made families like mine feel threatened and unwelcome, when hes intimidated people going about their normal lives, it beggars belief that anyone can view him as a free speech martyr.
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MORE: Who is Tommy Robinson and what is the EDL?
MORE: Tommy Robinson rally finds a friend in pro-Trump demonstration
MORE: Why was Tommy Robinson arrested?
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