Dartford LabourA Labour councillor had been “rabble rousing” a crowd which could have turned violent when he called for far-right protesters to have their throats cut, a court has heard.
Ricky Jones, 57, described far right protesters as “disgusting Nazi fascists” at a demonstration in Walthamstow on 7 August last year, according to a video of the event shown to jurors.
At the start of his trial at Snaresbrook Crown Court, Mr Jones was also shown telling the anti-racism protest “we need to get rid of them all”.
The Dartford councillor, who denies encouraging violent disorder, had been advised not to attend the event, which was attended by “tens of thousands” of people, the court heard.
Opening the case for the prosecution, Ben Holt said Mr Jones had received a flyer warning of a planned protest outside the immigration centre by activist Tommy Robinson, and his supporters.
Messages on Mr Jones’ phone showed he was invited to attend a counter-protest organised by Stand Up to Racism.
Mr Holt told the court that Labour representatives had received communication advising them against joining public protests and counter protests, but Mr Jones elected to go anyway.
‘Violence readily anticipated’
He said: “Rumour had spread there might be a protest outside an immigration centre of Hoe Street during this event.
“Mr Jones made a speech that was amplified through a public address system to the crowd.
“During this speech Mr Jones referred to the other side, if you like, as disgusting Nazi fascists, and he said that their throats needed to be slit and as he said that he drew his finger along his throat.
“This is, the prosecution say, in a setting where violence could readily have been anticipated.”
Mr Holt said Mr Jones was “rabble rousing” a crowd which has been described as “tens of thousands” in size.
He said the video clip “went viral and came to the attention of the police and others and led to Mr Jones being arrested on the following day”.
Mr Jones was also suspended by the Labour Party.
‘Razor blades’
Supt Jack May-Robinson told the court that he had “real concerns that there would be disorder in Walthamstow”.
H said from his recollection nobody from the far-right group showed up, but there was a “tinderbox” atmosphere.
Mr Holt told the court at the time of the unity rally violent protests had already taken place in the UK, in response to the murder of three children in Southport.
He said: “There were violent confrontations in Southport itself and those confrontations spread across the country including to London.
“The focal point of some of these issues were mosques and immigration centres.”
There were “fears that disorder or trouble could break out at any moment”, he added.
Mr Holt claimed that the councillor, particularly given his position at the time, was fully aware of the national climate at the time.
He said: “In August last year Mr Jones was a Labour councillor for Dartford and as a result, received, authored and at the very least co-signed documents about the state of flux the country was in at the time.”
The court was also told Mr Jones had been sent images of stickers on trains which advertised the far right “National Front”. Those stickers had razor blades concealed inside them.
This was said to have “upset” the councillor, Mr Holt said.
The trial continues.
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