LIVE UPDATES: Tommy Robinson on trial after being arrested at pro-Israel march
Tommy Robinson was arrested while attending a pro-Israel rally held in London, England, last November after an organizer demanded he leave — despite being at the event as a media member sympathetic to the rally's cause.
Censorship is a growing industry in the West. Kicking into high gear during the COVID-19 pandemic, the government's censorship apparatus in the United Kingdom was on display when independent reporter and activist Tommy Robinson was attending a rally in support of Israel.
After weeks of rallies supporting Hamas in London, a massive march against antisemitism was held. Among the estimated 100,000 people who showed up in support of Israel was Tommy Robinson.
There to cover the march with his videographer, the independent journalist ran afoul of a left-wing Jewish organizer of the rally, who demanded he depart. Police then confronted Robinson over his attendance at the rally, eventually arresting him and laying charges for failing to comply with an order excluding him from the march.
Rebel News' Chief Reporter Sheila Gunn Reid travelled to the U.K. to cover Tommy Robinson's court appearance, where he's fighting back against these charges. Follow along with live updates on X or on the page below:
In Westminster Magistrate's Court this morning for the trial of @TRobinsonNewEra. He was arrested, pepper sprayed and banned from London by police when he attended a pro-Israel rally. Hamas supporters are welcome. Tommy is not.
— Sheila Gunn Reid (@SheilaGunnReid) April 22, 2024
Live posts from the courtroom to come.
We're in courtroom 1 today. I'm told this is a high security terrorism courtroom. Five journos are here, including one from Sky News who had a humiliating interaction with @TRobinsonNewEra outside of the courthouse. I'll post that later.
— Sheila Gunn Reid (@SheilaGunnReid) April 22, 2024
Check for it at https://t.co/zwVkDULj3Z
Tommy's lawyers have successfully argued that he need'nt read his address in open court as it will endanger his family.
— Sheila Gunn Reid (@SheilaGunnReid) April 22, 2024
He has been subject to no fewer than 12 Osmon Warnings - a warning that someone is threatening to kill him.
Court is just getting underway. Tommy's team is finished setting up the video of the pro-Israel demonstration which will be shown in court today. Tommy is in the prisoners docket. He seems sadly comfortable in the courtroom. https://t.co/zw55bYnAO9
— Sheila Gunn Reid (@SheilaGunnReid) April 22, 2024
Last hearing, the Evening Standard insisted they have access to @TRobinsonNewEra address.
— Sheila Gunn Reid (@SheilaGunnReid) April 22, 2024
Today no journalists argued against keeping Tommy's address secret. They kept their weird voyeuristic tendancies to themselves.
There are about 30 supporters of @TRobinsonNewEra in the audience here today
— Sheila Gunn Reid (@SheilaGunnReid) April 22, 2024
Tommy's arrest, pepper spraying and banning took place on Nov 26. The police claim he was given a dispersal order after the organizer of the protest told them he didn't want Tommy there.
— Sheila Gunn Reid (@SheilaGunnReid) April 22, 2024
They say Tommy didn't want to leave and became resistant.
Oh but there's video. See it at…
This is wild for me as a Canadian. But it should be more of a warning to hear these UK laws read in open court.
— Sheila Gunn Reid (@SheilaGunnReid) April 22, 2024
You can be issued a dispersal order if your presence may cause members of the public alarm or distress.
If some left-wing crybully can't keep his soy-powered…
I should note the organizer of the march against anti-Semitism where @TRobinsonNewEra was arrested was @GideonFalter. The police did his bidding against Tommy and now he's mad at the police. Fickle. https://t.co/OwW7DRSn0T
— Sheila Gunn Reid (@SheilaGunnReid) April 22, 2024
Sounds like they found some body cam footage of Tommy's arrest. Police previously couldn't find any. It's a "miracle".
— Sheila Gunn Reid (@SheilaGunnReid) April 22, 2024
Hamas marches full of Hitler Youth 2.0 fill the streets of London each week. But @TRobinsonNewEra was the one receiving a dispersal order and banned from London for making a Gideon Falter feel uncomfortable.
— Sheila Gunn Reid (@SheilaGunnReid) April 22, 2024
Police offer involved in the arrest says he was concerned about a "right wing group" and the crowd laughs.
— Sheila Gunn Reid (@SheilaGunnReid) April 22, 2024
Officer says he thought back to Remembrance Day, with drunkenness, fireworks and anti social behaviour.
Says people were "afraid to come to London" and "worried about…
Officer reads his notes from the day:
— Sheila Gunn Reid (@SheilaGunnReid) April 22, 2024
"Concerned a right wing group would attend the march [against anti-Semitism]" and would cause a "clash between the two parties".
Was worried about drunkenness, shouting, aggression against the police and fireworks. Says that sort of…
This is the officer who issued the dispersal order. He claims to have given it "a lot of thought" and considered the right to free assembly, free expression before issuing it. To be "proportionate."
— Sheila Gunn Reid (@SheilaGunnReid) April 22, 2024
Claims he kept the order banning Tommy as small as possible, geographically…
(LOL the Sky News reporter who started her day off by putting on her bad idea jeans and challenging Tommy Robinson on who is is a journalist has left the courtroom. Probably for the best, she didn't know why she was here anyway)
— Sheila Gunn Reid (@SheilaGunnReid) April 22, 2024
Tommy's lawyer gets the officer to admit he should have been careful and considerate when restricting rights.
— Sheila Gunn Reid (@SheilaGunnReid) April 22, 2024
Officer, however, says he took two days to deliberate before issuing a dispersal order.
Context:https://t.co/SkYeAccpy3
There's a problem with the dispersal order, it doesn't seem to be properly signed or in effect.
— Sheila Gunn Reid (@SheilaGunnReid) April 22, 2024
Officer: there's a problem with the paperwork"
Tommy's lawyer: Do you have confidence there was a proper order in place?
— Sheila Gunn Reid (@SheilaGunnReid) April 22, 2024
Officer: (shrugs) no
Officers that day were told to deal with criminality and not peaceful assembly.
— Sheila Gunn Reid (@SheilaGunnReid) April 22, 2024
The officer -the one who issued the clearly flawed dispersal order- was 4 miles away from the protest at the Israeli embassy.
Tommy was attending the protest as a journalist and as a supporter of the Jewish people. The officer is shown a document about how to deal with journalists at protests.
— Sheila Gunn Reid (@SheilaGunnReid) April 22, 2024
Officer said he would need to see a press card.
But Tommy's lawyer shows him police advice which says…
Had a quick talk with @TRobinsonNewEra on my way into court to cover his latest trial, pepper-sprayed, arrested and banned from London for reporting at a pro-Israel protest.
— Sheila Gunn Reid (@SheilaGunnReid) April 22, 2024
pic.twitter.com/kZpl6Qyw5L
Oh ok. The officer explains he has dyslexia to excuse his paperwork errors.
— Sheila Gunn Reid (@SheilaGunnReid) April 22, 2024
On break for 15 mins.
— Sheila Gunn Reid (@SheilaGunnReid) April 22, 2024
I'm not sure dyslexia will make you edit a document after the arrest of @TRobinsonNewEra to make a dispersal order valid, retroactively.
— Sheila Gunn Reid (@SheilaGunnReid) April 22, 2024
But I suppose that's up to the judge today. But this is a mess.
Mr Bean levels of police work. https://t.co/OTniZLhBNa
Next officer is testifying by CCTV.
— Sheila Gunn Reid (@SheilaGunnReid) April 22, 2024
He sounds like he's in a sewer talking into a coffee can. But I'll do my best.
I think we picked up a half a dozen more in the gallery over the break. Must be 35 people in here
— Sheila Gunn Reid (@SheilaGunnReid) April 22, 2024
Officer says there were about 100k people by 1pm at the Nov 26 march against anti-Semitism wherein Tommy Robinson was arrested, pepper sprayed and banned from London while reporting.
— Sheila Gunn Reid (@SheilaGunnReid) April 22, 2024
This is the officer who saw Tommy Robinson at a coffee shop. Says a woman told him she left because she didn't like the person inside.
— Sheila Gunn Reid (@SheilaGunnReid) April 22, 2024
Oh ok. Lock him up then.
I'm joking but that's what they eventually did.
This is the officer who served Tommy Robinson with the dispersal order as Tommy finished his breakfast.
— Sheila Gunn Reid (@SheilaGunnReid) April 22, 2024
The officer says he engaged with Tommy while Tommy was arguing with the press. Says Tommy called a "female member" the press "a disgrace."
— Sheila Gunn Reid (@SheilaGunnReid) April 22, 2024
This all happened around 1:20 in the afternoon of Nov 26.
Tried to read dispersal order to Tommy. Says Tommy was angry, was "a lot of…
Officer is asked what he told Tommy about dispersing:
— Sheila Gunn Reid (@SheilaGunnReid) April 22, 2024
"I explained to him that his presence would cause harassment and distress to other people."
"Although he said he was a journalist, I'm not sure that the wider public know that he was involved in journalism."
24 officers plus the evidence gathering team and other metropolitan patrol members were involved in the arrest of Tommy.
— Sheila Gunn Reid (@SheilaGunnReid) April 22, 2024
Maybe 40 people.
To take away one journalist from his breakfast because he might report on something and make someone nervous.
Oh another 2 or 3 men ( so maybe 4 of 100k in attendance) complained Tommy might attend the march.
— Sheila Gunn Reid (@SheilaGunnReid) April 22, 2024
Lock him up!
Officer said people were shouting "shame on you"
— Sheila Gunn Reid (@SheilaGunnReid) April 22, 2024
He said he thought they were shouting it at Tommy until he realized it was at him.
Crowd laughs.
Tommy = Tommy Robinson
— Sheila Gunn Reid (@SheilaGunnReid) April 22, 2024
Lunch break now
— Sheila Gunn Reid (@SheilaGunnReid) April 22, 2024
Court's back in the trial of Tommy Robinson, arrested and pepper sprayed for trying to attend a march against anti semitism as a journalist and as someone who is pro-Israel.
— Sheila Gunn Reid (@SheilaGunnReid) April 22, 2024
Court is being shown footage of Tommy's arrest.
He's saying repeatedly "I'm a journalist" to the…
There were about 40 police involved in the arrest of Tommy Robinson. He's peaceful but terse in the video, despite the outrageous behavior of the London cops who took him away because he might cause someone "harassment and distress."
— Sheila Gunn Reid (@SheilaGunnReid) April 22, 2024
Says he's a member of the press,over and…
That was the miraculously found body camera footage.
— Sheila Gunn Reid (@SheilaGunnReid) April 22, 2024
The police officer said Tommy Robinson was shouting in his previous testimony.
He was not. He was calm, despite the police-induced chaos he was in. He was raising his voice to be heard amidst the mob of police and…
This police sergeant, a supervisor, admits he is unfamiliar with the Home Office guidance on the antisocial behaviour law, although he was enforcing it.
— Sheila Gunn Reid (@SheilaGunnReid) April 22, 2024
The officer is not from London, so he didn't know where, geographically, the [quite possibly illegal] dispersal order even…
The dispersal order says that Tommy Robinson must be informed by an officer that he must leave a defined area immediately "without reasonable excuse" but that's not what the police officer told him.
— Sheila Gunn Reid (@SheilaGunnReid) April 22, 2024
He said to Tommy Robinson that he had to comply with the dispersal order…
In the video, Tommy Robinson asks the officer "where are you taking me?"
— Sheila Gunn Reid (@SheilaGunnReid) April 22, 2024
Which Tommy's lawyer points out is Tommy complying.
Next in the video,Tommy turns to another officer asks the same.
Again indicating ongoing compliance.
Lawyer asks the officer for a reasonable excuse for not leaving the area and not complying with the dispersal order "apart from the fact that you live there?"
— Sheila Gunn Reid (@SheilaGunnReid) April 22, 2024
Officer can't come up with one.
(Work. It's work. And that's what Tommy Robinson was doing.)
When Tommy tried to explain to an officer he was trying to work ( in other words, offer a reasonable excuse as per the mandatory wording of the dispersal notice), another officer replied "I don't care."
— Sheila Gunn Reid (@SheilaGunnReid) April 22, 2024
It's on video.
There were 35 seconds between the presentation of the dispersal order and the arrest of Tommy Robinson
— Sheila Gunn Reid (@SheilaGunnReid) April 22, 2024
In those 35 seconds, Tommy is moving with officers, not resisting.
Repeatedly asking where he is going and where they are taking him. Never not complying.
One of the "reasonable excuses" to not comply with a dispersal order is for the purposes of work.
— Sheila Gunn Reid (@SheilaGunnReid) April 22, 2024
Tommy Robinson told the officers over and over he was at the march against anti-Semitism as a journalist.
He's seen on camera over and over saying "I'm at work. I'm at work."
Next police officer is also testifying remotely. I'll do my best but, again, he sounds like he's in a dungeon yelling into a pipe which leads into a pillow.
— Sheila Gunn Reid (@SheilaGunnReid) April 22, 2024
So much cctv tech in this city and this is the best the courts can do?
This officer says, despite video WE'VE ALL SEEN, that Tommy Robinson was refusing to walk.
— Sheila Gunn Reid (@SheilaGunnReid) April 22, 2024
This is the actual arresting officer.
Says he decided Tommy was not complying with the dispersal notice.
(In 35 seconds from service to arrest)
Follow along with my trial posts and support my trip here to cover @TRobinsonNewEra as he fights to hold the police accountable after being arrested at a pro-Israel protest for being pro-Israel at https://t.co/zw55bYnAO9 pic.twitter.com/Z8m8Rx5C21
— Sheila Gunn Reid (@SheilaGunnReid) April 22, 2024
This officer is also asked what would be a reasonable excuse to not comply with a dispersal order.
— Sheila Gunn Reid (@SheilaGunnReid) April 22, 2024
He does not say the obvious: work.
Officer thinks a minute and a half passed between Tommy Robinson being offered the dispersal notice and arrest.
— Sheila Gunn Reid (@SheilaGunnReid) April 22, 2024
(It was 35 seconds)
This is the second officer that Tommy Robinson asked "where are we going?" which indicates compliance.
— Sheila Gunn Reid (@SheilaGunnReid) April 22, 2024
This officer argues that Tommy Robinson steadying himself on a railing amounts to resistance. Although, he let go of the railing on his own.
Officer says he doesn't know if Tommy Robinson told him he was working as a journalist when he issued the dispersal order.
— Sheila Gunn Reid (@SheilaGunnReid) April 22, 2024
(He did. Multiple times)
Thank you for this important criticism.
— Sheila Gunn Reid (@SheilaGunnReid) April 22, 2024
I have curly hair and it lightly rained on me as I jumped on the tube to head to the courthouse. But work was calling and I must go.
Now back to the trial. https://t.co/Kz4XNXo3Hv
[It's so weird to hear anti social behaviour described as criminality. But as the UK goes, so goes Canada]
— Sheila Gunn Reid (@SheilaGunnReid) April 22, 2024
Crown is reading a statement from another officer, the one who pepper sprayed Tommy Robinson.
— Sheila Gunn Reid (@SheilaGunnReid) April 22, 2024
"I was concerned for my safety. ..I saw his left elbow move up in a striking motion. ...I was concerned he would flee and escape custody."
The crowd scoffs. Judge scowls.
Important to note that TOMMY ROBINSON WAS ALREADY HANDCUFFED when they pepper sprayed him.
— Sheila Gunn Reid (@SheilaGunnReid) April 22, 2024
A police statement read today confirms this. https://t.co/esjp6myveG
Another police statement notes that upon arresting Tommy Robinson, people got wild and agitated resulting in the police shoving marchers all over the place.
— Sheila Gunn Reid (@SheilaGunnReid) April 22, 2024
Meaning the actions of the police, and not Tommy, caused things to get out of control.
Tommy is standing in the prisoners dock as court is shown more video of his arrest and pepper spray.
— Sheila Gunn Reid (@SheilaGunnReid) April 22, 2024
Listening to audio of Tommy Robinson being interviewed by police post arrest and pepper spray.
— Sheila Gunn Reid (@SheilaGunnReid) April 22, 2024
It's just audio, but Tommy is struggling with the pain of the pepper spray. It's evident although he never complains.
Officer asks if he has a press card. Tommy says no.
On break for 10 minutes.
— Sheila Gunn Reid (@SheilaGunnReid) April 22, 2024
The most important thing I think I've heard today in court is that the officer who drafted the dispersal order against Tommy Robinson is not convinced the order was even valid when it was executed.
— Sheila Gunn Reid (@SheilaGunnReid) April 22, 2024
I can't believe this hearing went beyond that testimony.
But then we heard…
Judge will issue his ruling tomorrow morning at 10:30 am.
— Sheila Gunn Reid (@SheilaGunnReid) April 22, 2024
Tommy Robinson is reminded of his bail conditions, not to organize a protest in London and to leave London immediately (or nearly immediately).
I'll talk to him first.
This is the wild interaction between @TRobinsonNewEra and a Sky News journalist this morning. She challenged Tommy on being a journalist at all, but she didn't even know why he was at court today.
— Sheila Gunn Reid (@SheilaGunnReid) April 22, 2024
She's exactly why I am here. You can't trust the mainstream media to tell you the… pic.twitter.com/bNibC65AFB
To be clear: if the motion to dismiss fails tomorrow, then the trial of Tommy Robinson will proceed the rest of the day.
— Sheila Gunn Reid (@SheilaGunnReid) April 22, 2024
Either way, I'll be in court to tell you exactly what happens.
Follow our coverage at https://t.co/zw55bYnAO9.
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