Supporters of Tommy Robinson have clashed with police at a Whitehall demonstration after hearing Dutch far right MP Geert Wilders call for the English Defence League founder to be freed.
Wilders, 54, who was banned from Britain in 2009 only to get it overturned, has attended today’s protest after the EDL founder was jailed for 13 months.
Robinson pleaded guilty to contempt of court and breaching the terms of a suspended sentence he was handed last May for a similar offence.
His supporters have gathered in huge numbers at a series of protests outside Downing Street, Leeds Crown Court and even at British embassies in Europe.
More than 593,000 people have also signed a petition urging Theresa May to intervene and set him free.
Protesters scuffle with police at the junction of Whitehall and The Mall during a gathering by supporters of Tommy Robinson in central London
Dutch Leader of the Opposition Geert Wilders of nationalist Party for Freedom surrounded by police during a ‘Free Tommy Robinson’ Protest where he spoke to the crowd in Whitehall
A police medic (left) sports a facial injury after Tommy Robinson (right) supporters fight with officers
Supporters of Tommy Robinson have clashed with police at a Whitehall demonstration
Speaking at the demonstration Wilders said: ‘I am here to tell you that you will never walk alone. And we are here to tell the world, and the UK government in particular: “Free Tommy Robinson!”‘
‘At this very moment thousands of people are demonstrating all over the world in front of British embassies…all with one important message “Free Tommy”.
‘So, Downing Street is just around the corner, so maybe once again, as loud as possible as we can, let them hear our message: “Free Tommy Robinson!”’
This prompted extended chats of ‘Oh, Tommy’ while Wilders continued saying to the crowd: ‘Tommy Robinson is a freedom fighter. He says what no-one dares to say. He has guts. He has courage.’
Traffic cones fly as protesters clash with police officers at the junction of Whitehall and The Mall in London
Wilders compared Robinson to Winston Churchill ahead of the protest on Whitehall in London where he spoke to more than a thousand protesters.
He told Breitbart: ‘Tommy Robinson was arrested on May 25 outside Leeds Crown Court after using social media to broadcast details of an ongoing trial which was subject to reporting restrictions.
‘He was arrested, brought before a judge, and sentenced within five hours. The judge ordered a media ban on his arrest and imprisonment, even forcing British publications to delete their articles about the case.
‘Such measures are common practice in North Korea and Saudi Arabia. It is sad to see how Britain, the cradle of Western democracy and the rule of law, is fast descending into tyranny’.
He added: ‘Tommy is a hero. It is a disgrace that he is still in jail. I have been invited to a major protest demonstration in London next week, and I will be coming. Free Tommy now’.
Right-wing activists in America have also rushed to support Robinson, after restrictions ordered by a judge initially prevented his court case and jail term being reported.
A host of conspiracy theories in the US then began claiming that he was imprisoned as part of a plot to silence the right.
Around 500 protesters chanted ‘let Tommy out’ at police officers outside Leeds Crown Court last week.
The march saw Robinson’s supporters brand police officers a ‘disgrace’, as chants of ‘you ought to be ashamed of yourselves’ broke out.
The event was organised by the group Proud British, which claims on Facebook that its purpose is to ‘voice freedom of speech’ and ‘stop the strain on the NHS, schools and our public services’.
On May 26 supporters flocked to Downing Street to demand the release of Robinson.
They waved ‘#FreeTommy’ and ‘Free the truth teller’ placards as others branded St George’s flags and banners with ‘Make Britain Great Again’ on them.
Some managed to mount the gates surrounding the Prime Minister’s home, but the Metropolitan Police told MailOnline there were no arrests made.
Hundreds of Tommy Robinson’s supporters previously gathered outside Leeds Crown Court to protest the former EDL leader’s jail sentence
Another protest previously saw Tommy’s supporters climbing the gates of Downing Street but there were no arrests
Wilder arrived in the UK in 2009 (pictured) only to be turned back and put on a flight to Amsterdam as he tested a ban on visiting Britain. He later won the right to visit
Robinson, 35, was jailed for 13 months on Friday May 25 for contempt of court after broadcasting on Facebook Live outside Leeds Crown Court — putting the major trial at risk of collapse.
The court heard how Robinson had filmed himself and people involved in the case, in footage that was watched around 250,000 times within hours of being posted.
Robinson, who was listed by his real name Stephen Christopher Yaxley-Lennon on court documents, was sentenced to 13 months in jail on the same day as his arrest.
He was given 10 months in jail after pleading guilty to contempt of court, and an additional three months for beaching a previous suspended sentence.
Judge Geoffrey Marson QC told Robinson at the time: ‘Everyone understands the right to freedom of speech but there are responsibilities and obligations.’
He added that if the jurors had seen his Facebook Live he would have been asked to end the trial.
A reporting restriction had initially prevented the media from reporting his conviction, but this was lifted at the same court four days later after an appeal by the media.
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