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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/feb/23/tommy-robinson-counter-film-protests-against-panorama-investigation-panodrama
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| Tommy Robinson protests at BBC HQ over Panorama documentary | Tommy Robinson protests at BBC HQ over Panorama documentary |
| (5 months later) | |
| Protesters gathered at the BBC’s Salford headquarters for a demonstration organised by Tommy Robinson during which his film Panodrama was shown on a big screen next to the broadcaster’s HQ. | Protesters gathered at the BBC’s Salford headquarters for a demonstration organised by Tommy Robinson during which his film Panodrama was shown on a big screen next to the broadcaster’s HQ. |
| The former leader of the English Defence League, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, was protesting against BBC Panorama’s investigations into him. | The former leader of the English Defence League, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, was protesting against BBC Panorama’s investigations into him. |
| Stand Up To Racism and Unite Against Fascism organised a counter-protest nearby on Saturday afternoon. There were speakers from Momentum, and anti-fascists held placards with slogans including “stop the fascist Tommy Robinson”. | Stand Up To Racism and Unite Against Fascism organised a counter-protest nearby on Saturday afternoon. There were speakers from Momentum, and anti-fascists held placards with slogans including “stop the fascist Tommy Robinson”. |
| “People of various backgrounds, age, gender and race assembled to share a message of hope, unity and community,” said Navendu Mishra, a Labour and Unite activist. “We will not allow anyone to divide us, as our nation faces new challenges globally and at home.” | “People of various backgrounds, age, gender and race assembled to share a message of hope, unity and community,” said Navendu Mishra, a Labour and Unite activist. “We will not allow anyone to divide us, as our nation faces new challenges globally and at home.” |
| Born Stephen Christopher Yaxley-Lennon in 1982, Luton-based Tommy Robinson was co-founder and leader of the English Defence League between 2009 and 2013. | |
| The EDL were described as the most significant far-right street movement in the UK since the National Front in the 1970s, staging a series of provocative marches in areas of the country with significant Muslim populations. Robinson had also been a member of the BNP. | |
| In 2013 Robinson left the EDL after a high profile BBC documentary "When Tommy Met Mo", which followed Robinson's relationship with Mo Ansar after the pair met while filming a debate about Islam on BBC One's The Big Questions. | |
| However, by October 2015 Robinson was once again campaigning against Islam, addressing a Pegida rally. He subsequently set up a British section of Pegida, whose name comes from the initials of the German phrase for "Patriotic Europeans Against the Islamisation of the West" | |
| Robinson was convicted of contempt of court in May 2017 for filming inside Canterbury Crown Court and given a suspended sentence. The sentence was put into effect after Robinson was arrested for live streaming outside Leeds Crown Court during the course of another trial. | |
| Robinson's case attracted high profile support from far-right figures including Steve Bannon and Geert Wilders. Donald Trump Jr retweeted Robinson's supporters campaigning for his release - Robinson himself was permanently banned from Twitter in March 2018. His supporters have also staged "Free Tommy" rallies, where there have been clashes with the police. | |
| In July 2019 he was given a nine-month jail sentence after he was found guilty of contempt of court for live streaming a video that according to the judge encouraged 'vigilante action' and 'unlawful physical' aggression against defendants in a sexual exploitation trial. | |
| Robinson has previously been convicted for "using threatening, abusive or insulting behaviour" during a fight between Luton and Newport County football fans. He was imprisoned for 10 months for using somebody else's passport to enter the United States, and for mortgage fraud. | |
| A number of police officers and vehicles were in the area and temporary metal barriers had been placed around the BBC buildings. Greater Manchester police said there had been no arrests, and that around 4,000 people had attended the demonstration. Anti-fascist organisers said around 800 people were at their counter-protest. | A number of police officers and vehicles were in the area and temporary metal barriers had been placed around the BBC buildings. Greater Manchester police said there had been no arrests, and that around 4,000 people had attended the demonstration. Anti-fascist organisers said around 800 people were at their counter-protest. |
| Michael Bradley from National Stand Up To Racism said: “Robinson and his [supporters] are trying to build off the backs of the growth of the far right in the US, Brazil and across Europe, but a united anti-racist and anti-fascist movement can stop them.” | Michael Bradley from National Stand Up To Racism said: “Robinson and his [supporters] are trying to build off the backs of the growth of the far right in the US, Brazil and across Europe, but a united anti-racist and anti-fascist movement can stop them.” |
| Members of the crowd sang “oh Tommy, Tommy” as Robinson arrived on stage and attacked the media. He went on to claim that “evidence of a corrupt media is that not one single journalist in Britain has reported on Panodrama”. | Members of the crowd sang “oh Tommy, Tommy” as Robinson arrived on stage and attacked the media. He went on to claim that “evidence of a corrupt media is that not one single journalist in Britain has reported on Panodrama”. |
| The Ukip leader, Gerard Batten, was one of several that spoke before Robinson aired his film. “He speaks up for things that are right, he tells the truth and he can mobilise lots of people like you, and that’s what they fear,” he told demonstrators. | The Ukip leader, Gerard Batten, was one of several that spoke before Robinson aired his film. “He speaks up for things that are right, he tells the truth and he can mobilise lots of people like you, and that’s what they fear,” he told demonstrators. |
| In a statement, the National Union of Journalists (NUJ) said they “roundly condemn Tommy Robinson … and his fellow, far-right thugs who intend to intimidate staff at the corporation, particularly those working on Panorama”. | In a statement, the National Union of Journalists (NUJ) said they “roundly condemn Tommy Robinson … and his fellow, far-right thugs who intend to intimidate staff at the corporation, particularly those working on Panorama”. |
| “BBC staff should be free to do their jobs without these threats,” the NUJ spokesperson said. | “BBC staff should be free to do their jobs without these threats,” the NUJ spokesperson said. |
| “Intimidation, threats and violence carried out by far-right protesters systematically targeting the media, especially photojournalists, are becoming more frequent and we will always call out this behaviour and report criminal activity to the police.” | “Intimidation, threats and violence carried out by far-right protesters systematically targeting the media, especially photojournalists, are becoming more frequent and we will always call out this behaviour and report criminal activity to the police.” |
| The BBC confirmed that Panorama is investigating Robinson and rejected the idea that their journalism was faked or biased. | The BBC confirmed that Panorama is investigating Robinson and rejected the idea that their journalism was faked or biased. |
| “Any programme we broadcast will adhere to the BBC’s strict editorial guidelines,” a spokesman said. | “Any programme we broadcast will adhere to the BBC’s strict editorial guidelines,” a spokesman said. |
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| English Defence League | English Defence League |
| UK Independence party (Ukip) | UK Independence party (Ukip) |
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