Latest news with #NaziFascists
The Guardian
4 days ago
- Politics
- The Guardian
Suspended Labour councillor found not guilty of encouraging violent disorder
A suspended Labour councillor who called for far-right activists' throats to be cut at an anti-racism rally has been found not guilty of encouraging violent disorder. Ricky Jones, 58, used the phrase 'disgusting Nazi fascists' in a speech about last summer's far right protests after the Southport murders, his trial at Snaresbrook crown court heard. A video showing Jones addressing a counter demonstration in Walthamstow in east London on 7 August last year went viral on social media after the protest. The councillor, who was suspended from Labour party after the incident, was filmed saying: 'They are disgusting Nazi fascists. We need to cut all their throats and get rid of them all.' He also drew his finger across his throat as he spoke to the crowd. After just over 30 minutes of deliberation on Friday, jurors found Jones not guilty of encouraging violent disorder. Jones, who at the time was also employed as a full-time official for the Transport Salaried Staffs' Association (TSSA) union, was arrested on 8 August last year and interviewed by police. Ben Holt, prosecuting, previously told the court Jones used 'inflammatory, rabble-rousing language in the throng of a crowd described as a tinderbox'. He told jurors Jones's speech was amplified through a microphone and speakers and took place 'in a setting where violence could readily have been anticipated'. Giving evidence, Jones said his comment did not refer to far-right protesters involved in the riots at the time, but to those who had reportedly left National Front stickers on a train with razor blades hidden behind them. Before he made the comment, jurors were shown video where he said to crowds: 'You've got women and children using these trains during the summer holidays. They don't give a shit about who they hurt.' He told the court he was 'appalled' by political violence, adding: 'I've always believed the best way to make people realise who you are and what you are is to do it peacefully.' Jones had told the court that the riots had made him feel upset and angry and he felt it was his duty to attend counter-protests, despite being warned to stay away from such demonstrations by Labour. Giving evidence in his defence, Jones's friend Kevin Courtney, a retired teacher and former joint general secretary of the National Education Union (NEU), told the court his language was out of character. 'I had not heard him say those words or anything in any way similar to that,' Courtney told jurors.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Labour councillor cleared over cutting throats comment at rally
A Labour councillor who called for far-right activists' throats to be cut at an anti-racism rally in the wake of the Southport murders has been found not guilty of encouraging violent disorder. Ricky Jones, 58, faced trial at Snaresbrook Crown Court accused of the offence after he described demonstrators as 'disgusting Nazi fascists'. A video showing Jones addressing crowds on Hoe Street in Walthamstow, east London, on August 7 last year went viral on social media after the protest, which had been organised in response to plans for a far-right march outside Waltham Forest Immigration Bureau. The now-suspended councillor, wearing a black polo top and surrounded by cheering supporters, said: 'They are disgusting Nazi fascists. We need to cut all their throats and get rid of them all.' He also drew his finger across his throat as he spoke to the crowd. Jurors deliberated for just over half an hour and found him not guilty on Friday. The 58-year-old, who at the time was also employed as a full-time official for the Transport Salaried Staffs' Association (TSSA) union, was arrested on August 8 last year and interviewed at Brixton police station that night. Jones, who has been a borough councillor in Dartford, Kent, since 2019, was suspended by the Labour Party the day after the incident. Prosecutor Ben Holt previously told the court Jones, a father of four and grandfather, used 'inflammatory, rabble-rousing language in the throng of a crowd described as a tinderbox'. He told jurors Jones's speech was amplified through a microphone and speakers and took place 'in a setting where violence could readily have been anticipated'. Giving evidence in his trial, Jones said his comment did not refer to far-right protesters involved in the riots at the time, but to those who had reportedly left National Front stickers on a train with razor blades hidden behind them. Before he made the comment, jurors were shown video where he said to crowds: 'You've got women and children using these trains during the summer holidays. 'They don't give a shit about who they hurt.' He told the court he was 'appalled' by political violence, adding: 'I've always believed the best way to make people realise who you are and what you are is to do it peacefully.' Jones, who said he was on the left of the Labour Party, previously told jurors the riots had made him feel 'upset' and 'angry' and said he felt it was his 'duty' to attend counter-protests, despite being warned to stay away from such demonstrations by the Labour Party.
The Independent
4 days ago
- Politics
- The Independent
Labour councillor cleared over cutting throats comment at rally
A Labour councillor who called for far-right activists' throats to be cut at an anti-racism rally in the wake of the Southport murders has been found not guilty of encouraging violent disorder. Ricky Jones, 58, faced trial at Snaresbrook Crown Court accused of the offence after he described demonstrators as 'disgusting Nazi fascists'. A video showing Jones addressing crowds on Hoe Street in Walthamstow, east London, on August 7 last year went viral on social media after the protest, which had been organised in response to plans for a far-right march outside Waltham Forest Immigration Bureau. The now-suspended councillor, wearing a black polo top and surrounded by cheering supporters, said: 'They are disgusting Nazi fascists. We need to cut all their throats and get rid of them all.' He also drew his finger across his throat as he spoke to the crowd. Jurors deliberated for just over half an hour and found him not guilty on Friday. The 58-year-old, who at the time was also employed as a full-time official for the Transport Salaried Staffs' Association (TSSA) union, was arrested on August 8 last year and interviewed at Brixton police station that night. Jones, who has been a borough councillor in Dartford, Kent, since 2019, was suspended by the Labour Party the day after the incident. Prosecutor Ben Holt previously told the court Jones, a father of four and grandfather, used 'inflammatory, rabble-rousing language in the throng of a crowd described as a tinderbox'. He told jurors Jones's speech was amplified through a microphone and speakers and took place 'in a setting where violence could readily have been anticipated'. Giving evidence in his trial, Jones said his comment did not refer to far-right protesters involved in the riots at the time, but to those who had reportedly left National Front stickers on a train with razor blades hidden behind them. Before he made the comment, jurors were shown video where he said to crowds: 'You've got women and children using these trains during the summer holidays. 'They don't give a shit about who they hurt.' He told the court he was 'appalled' by political violence, adding: 'I've always believed the best way to make people realise who you are and what you are is to do it peacefully.' Jones, who said he was on the left of the Labour Party, previously told jurors the riots had made him feel 'upset' and 'angry' and said he felt it was his 'duty' to attend counter-protests, despite being warned to stay away from such demonstrations by the Labour Party.
Telegraph
5 days ago
- Politics
- Telegraph
Labour councillor's ‘cut their throats' comment out of character, says friend
A friend of a Labour councillor who called for the throats of far-Right protesters to be cut at an anti-racism rally said the language he used was 'completely out of character', a court has heard. In the wake of rioting following the Southport murders, Ricky Jones, 58, described demonstrators as 'disgusting Nazi fascists', his trial at Snaresbrook Crown Court was told. A video of Jones addressing crowds in Walthamstow, east London, on Aug 7 last year, went viral on social media after the protest. Wearing a black polo top and surrounded by cheering supporters, the now-suspended councillor said: 'They are disgusting Nazi fascists. We need to cut all their throats and get rid of them all.' He also drew his finger across his throat as he spoke to the crowd. Giving evidence on Thursday, Jones's friend Kevin Courtney, a retired teacher and former joint general secretary of the National Education Union (NEU), said: 'I had not heard him say those words or anything in any way similar to that. 'I think they are wrong. I was surprised that Ricky said them... I think it is completely out of character.' Both men have campaigned for anti-racism group Stand Up To Racism and have been at rallies together before, the court heard. Mr Courtney had been at the Aug 7 rally in Walthamstow, had met Jones and the pair had taken a selfie together, but Mr Courtney told the court he did not hear what Jones had said and only became aware of it when he saw videos later. Asked by Hossein Zahir KC, defending, whether Jones had ever encouraged any form of violence, Mr Courtney said: 'No, it was a complete shock when I saw that video.' 'Ricky's speech was wrong, but it didn't fit at all with the mood of the gathering that we were at. The mood was peaceful... Ricky's words just didn't gel with that at all.' The retired teacher added: 'Ricky's words didn't fit with that [mood], therefore people didn't respond to them as anything they should do, it just didn't fit with that at all.' The Aug 7 demonstration had been organised in response to plans for a far-right march outside Waltham Forest Immigration Bureau, jurors were told. It followed the nationwide violent disorder that occurred last summer after the Southport murders. Before the protest, the councillor had been warned to stay away from such demonstrations by the Labour Party. Jones previously told the court he would 'have attended anyway' despite this, adding: 'It's important for us to turn up to demonstrations like this to support our communities.' The 58-year-old, who has been a borough councillor in Dartford, Kent, since 2019, was arrested on Aug 8 last year and interviewed at Brixton police station that night. Jones, of Dartford, denies one count of encouraging violent disorder.
The Independent
11-08-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
Labour councillor called for ‘throats of far-right protesters to be cut', court hears
A Labour councillor called for far-right protesters' throats to be slit during a 'rabble-rousing' speech at an anti-racism protest, a court has heard. In the wake of rioting following the Southport murders, Ricky Jones, 58, described demonstrators as 'disgusting Nazi fascists', his trial was told. The now-suspended councillor had been told by the Labour Party to stay away from the protest, but turned up anyway, jurors heard. A video showing Jones addressing the crowd in Walthamstow, east London, on August 7 last year went viral on social media after the protest. Wearing a black polo top and surrounded by cheering supporters, the councillor said: 'They are disgusting Nazi fascists. We need to cut all their throats and get rid of them all.' He also drew his finger across his throat as he spoke to the 'tinderbox' crowd. The demonstration had been organised in response to plans for a far-right march outside Waltham Forest Immigration Bureau, jurors at Snaresbrook Crown Court were told. It followed the nationwide violent disorder that occurred last summer after the Southport murders. Prosecutor Ben Holt said Jones used 'inflammatory, rabble-rousing language in the throng of a crowd that we will hear described as a tinderbox'. Opening the case on Monday, Mr Holt said: 'Last summer, three young girls were killed at a dance-themed party in Southport. 'There was some hysteria… Some of that grief manifested itself in anger, and regrettably, violence.' The incidents brought out counter-protests, one of which Jones decided to go to, the prosecutor said. 'He attended in the face of considered advice not to do so,' Mr Holt added. 'At Walthamstow that day, rumours had spread that there was going to be a protest outside an immigration centre. 'During that event, he made a speech, amplified through a public address system, to the crowd. 'He called the other side disgusting Nazi fascists. He said that their throats needed to be slit. 'He drew his finger along his throat as he said that. 'This, in a setting where, we suggest, violence could readily have been anticipated. 'We ask rhetorically, what did Mr Jones think was going to happen?' In the days before the protest, the councillor had been warned to stay away by his party. A letter sent to him said: 'With heightened tensions in many areas of the country due to the threat of further violent disorder, we wanted to remind all Labour party councillors to follow the clear advice issued by the police which is not to take part in, attend or encourage others to attend, any sort of demonstration or counter demonstration.' Jones, of Dartford, who denies one count of encouraging violent disorder, told police he was 'sorry' he made the comments 'in the heat of the moment', and had not intended for them to be 'taken literally', Mr Holt said. The councillor also told police he was upset having been sent pictures of National Front stickers that had been left on a train, which had razor blades hidden behind them. Jones, who has been a borough councillor in Dartford, Kent, since 2019, was suspended by the Labour Party the day after the alleged incident. The trial continues.
