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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2018/dec/20/anna-soubry-accosted-pro-brexit-supporters-hitler
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| 'You're on the side of Hitler': Anna Soubry accosted by pro-Brexit supporters | 'You're on the side of Hitler': Anna Soubry accosted by pro-Brexit supporters |
| (30 days later) | |
| The Conservative MP Anna Soubry has urged police to clamp down on “far-right” protesters outside parliament after a group of pro-Brexit supporters harassed her, shouting that she was a traitor and “on the side of Adolf Hitler”. | The Conservative MP Anna Soubry has urged police to clamp down on “far-right” protesters outside parliament after a group of pro-Brexit supporters harassed her, shouting that she was a traitor and “on the side of Adolf Hitler”. |
| Soubry said that while she had not been harmed, she was worried about the safety of MPs and reporters if the group was left unchallenged by police, citing the murder in 2016 of the Labour MP Jo Cox by a far-right terrorist. | Soubry said that while she had not been harmed, she was worried about the safety of MPs and reporters if the group was left unchallenged by police, citing the murder in 2016 of the Labour MP Jo Cox by a far-right terrorist. |
| “What happens if one of those people had a knife, or a handgun? The police say, ‘Oh, they’re protesters, so they’re fine.’ But they’re doing something in your face, calling you a fucking traitor, calling you lots of other weird stuff,” she said. | “What happens if one of those people had a knife, or a handgun? The police say, ‘Oh, they’re protesters, so they’re fine.’ But they’re doing something in your face, calling you a fucking traitor, calling you lots of other weird stuff,” she said. |
| “One of these people could be a proper, serious threat. A member of parliament was murdered by somebody. Police should have an absolute duty to intervene, to keep members of the public safe – and that includes me.” | “One of these people could be a proper, serious threat. A member of parliament was murdered by somebody. Police should have an absolute duty to intervene, to keep members of the public safe – and that includes me.” |
| Soubry, a vehement critic of Brexit who has previously received death threats, is the latest prominent figure to be abused by groups of protesters wearing yellow high-vis jackets, modelled on the French gilets jaunes movements. | Soubry, a vehement critic of Brexit who has previously received death threats, is the latest prominent figure to be abused by groups of protesters wearing yellow high-vis jackets, modelled on the French gilets jaunes movements. |
| In recent days, the protesters have also blocked Westminster Bridge and harassed other politicians and journalists, including shouting racist and sexist abuse at a Sky News team. | In recent days, the protesters have also blocked Westminster Bridge and harassed other politicians and journalists, including shouting racist and sexist abuse at a Sky News team. |
| In the latest incident, live-streamed by one of the protesters, Soubry was surrounded by a group of shouting men as she walked from parliament to a TV interview on Wednesday afternoon, one of whom could be seen calling her “a disgrace to the people of the country”. | In the latest incident, live-streamed by one of the protesters, Soubry was surrounded by a group of shouting men as she walked from parliament to a TV interview on Wednesday afternoon, one of whom could be seen calling her “a disgrace to the people of the country”. |
| I know I'm going on about this, but I'm confused and disturbed at the fact this kind of behaviour continues to be tolerated. It's exactly the kind of menace and rhetoric that ended with the death of a sitting MP. pic.twitter.com/LlhB5BhVu2 | I know I'm going on about this, but I'm confused and disturbed at the fact this kind of behaviour continues to be tolerated. It's exactly the kind of menace and rhetoric that ended with the death of a sitting MP. pic.twitter.com/LlhB5BhVu2 |
| Someone who seemed to be holding the camera asked Soubry why she backs a second Brexit referendum, adding: “But we already had a vote. You lost the people’s vote. You are a traitor. You are a traitor to this country. You are on the side of Adolf Hitler.” | Someone who seemed to be holding the camera asked Soubry why she backs a second Brexit referendum, adding: “But we already had a vote. You lost the people’s vote. You are a traitor. You are a traitor to this country. You are on the side of Adolf Hitler.” |
| A protester called James Goddard, seen at a number of similar protests around Westminster in recent days, appeared to subsequently identify himself as the person shouting the abuse. | A protester called James Goddard, seen at a number of similar protests around Westminster in recent days, appeared to subsequently identify himself as the person shouting the abuse. |
| When Soubry tweeted that the protesters had expressed support for Hitler, Goddard replied to say: “Lying trollop, I personally told you that you’re doing the dirty work of Adolf Hitler, you morally repugnant scumbag.” | When Soubry tweeted that the protesters had expressed support for Hitler, Goddard replied to say: “Lying trollop, I personally told you that you’re doing the dirty work of Adolf Hitler, you morally repugnant scumbag.” |
| Goddard regularly broadcasts live video to his Facebook page, and solicits donations via Paypal. He has been seen at other protests, including the brief blockade of Westminster Bridge. | Goddard regularly broadcasts live video to his Facebook page, and solicits donations via Paypal. He has been seen at other protests, including the brief blockade of Westminster Bridge. |
| He has also been identified as a man who gave a speech at a rally in the summer supporting the then-jailed far-right activist Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, who styles himself Tommy Robinson. | He has also been identified as a man who gave a speech at a rally in the summer supporting the then-jailed far-right activist Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, who styles himself Tommy Robinson. |
| Goddard has also posted anti-Muslim messages on the social media site Gab, which is popular with far-right users. In one message he said, “wherever Islam exists you will find murder and rape”. Another calls for mass deportations of “illegals”, saying: “It’s about time the indigenous people of Great Britain were put first.” | Goddard has also posted anti-Muslim messages on the social media site Gab, which is popular with far-right users. In one message he said, “wherever Islam exists you will find murder and rape”. Another calls for mass deportations of “illegals”, saying: “It’s about time the indigenous people of Great Britain were put first.” |
| The group Hope Not Hate, which monitors far-right activity, said such messages showed Goddard was “a vile racist yob, pure and simple”. | The group Hope Not Hate, which monitors far-right activity, said such messages showed Goddard was “a vile racist yob, pure and simple”. |
| Goddard has also discussed in a tweet harassing the BBC’s political editor, Laura Kuenssberg, and another journalist. | Goddard has also discussed in a tweet harassing the BBC’s political editor, Laura Kuenssberg, and another journalist. |
| On Monday, a group of yellow jacket-wearing protesters shouted misogynist abuse at Sky anchor Kay Burley during a live TV broadcast, and yelled at the channel’s political editor, Faisal Islam, that he was “not British” and “a rapist”. | On Monday, a group of yellow jacket-wearing protesters shouted misogynist abuse at Sky anchor Kay Burley during a live TV broadcast, and yelled at the channel’s political editor, Faisal Islam, that he was “not British” and “a rapist”. |
| The police should have intervened with the group then, Soubry said. “That’s not protesting in some political way. That is racist, sexist, abusive, offensive behaviour, a clear breach of the Public Order Act.” | The police should have intervened with the group then, Soubry said. “That’s not protesting in some political way. That is racist, sexist, abusive, offensive behaviour, a clear breach of the Public Order Act.” |
| Soubry said she had been in contact with the Commons Speaker, John Bercow, and had asked the chief constable of her home police force, Nottinghamshire, to urge the Metropolitan police to take more action. | Soubry said she had been in contact with the Commons Speaker, John Bercow, and had asked the chief constable of her home police force, Nottinghamshire, to urge the Metropolitan police to take more action. |
| The MP said she “should not have to plead” with officers for support: “People seem to think that if you just show bucketloads of empathy, that’s the job done. Actually, mate, what are you going to do to stop it?” | The MP said she “should not have to plead” with officers for support: “People seem to think that if you just show bucketloads of empathy, that’s the job done. Actually, mate, what are you going to do to stop it?” |
| She added: “This is serious, serious stuff, and it’s not going to get better. In the next few months there are so many consequences to all of this, and people have to be safe going about their lawful business in Westminster, and not be left open to intimidation, harassment, abuse and threats from a bunch of free-roaming, far-right extremists.” | She added: “This is serious, serious stuff, and it’s not going to get better. In the next few months there are so many consequences to all of this, and people have to be safe going about their lawful business in Westminster, and not be left open to intimidation, harassment, abuse and threats from a bunch of free-roaming, far-right extremists.” |
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