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UK man arrested over posts on social media that allegedly contain “anti-establishment rhetoric”
By isabelle // 2024-08-19
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A British man has been arrested and is facing criminal charges over posts he made on social media that authorities claim contain “anti-establishment rhetoric.” 40-year-old Wayne O’Rourke of Salix Approach, Lincoln, was arrested this weekend over material he published online that the police claim seeks to stir up racial hatred. Although it is not known what specific post has drawn these charges, he “allegedly expressed support for the recent riots and offered advice on how to remain anonymous to his 90,000 followers.” The Nottingham Magistrates Court was told that his posts contained both anti-establishment and anti-Muslim rhetoric. O’Rourke chose not to enter a plea and is scheduled to appear in front of Lincoln Crown Court on Friday. An X profile that is believed to belong to him indicates that he is right wing and supports Brexit and former U.S. President Donald Trump. He also says in his profile that he loves his country and urges people to “Vote Reform.” O’Rourke actually predicted that he would be arrested for sharing his beliefs online, posting on X on August 11: “When I’m inevitably arrested for having an opinion and they ask if I speak English I’ll just say no, and they will let me go.” Many people are outraged over the harsh punishment. Chris Rose posted on X: "Anti-establishment rhetoric" is a criminal offence? If so, a lot of BLM, pro Palentine protesters and anyone with a SWP placard should have been jailed. #TwoTierBritain”. The UK has been coming down hard on people who dare to speak out against those who come to their country and commit crimes. These voices have been growing louder following the murder of three young girls in Southport at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class by the 17-year-old son of Rwandan migrants. This week, a 61-year-old British man was handed an 18-month jail sentence for chanting “Who the f—k is Allah?” and telling police “You’re not English any more” at a protest outside of Downing Street. The protest, which was attended by around 700 people on July 31st, ultimately turned disorderly. Body camera footage from police was played in court in which the man also made “hostile gestures” and called officers “c-nts”. He told the officers arresting him that he was opposed to the practice of housing illegal immigrants in hotels with the bill being footed by taxpayers, saying: “I didn’t go up to London to riot. I went to complain about people put up in hotels.” Another man was given a two-month prison sentence for a post of images of Muslim men with the caption “coming to a town near you” on Facebook. As appalling as it may be, this is something we can expect to see a lot more of in England in the coming months.

UK police warn that they will go after “keyboard warriors”

The head of the Met Police, Sir Mark Rowley, recently warned that people could face charges for inciting riots online, even if they never attended a protest or are currently living abroad. “And whether you’re in this country committing crimes on the streets or committing crimes from further afield online, we will come after you,” he cautioned. “Being a keyboard warrior does not make you safe from the law, you can be guilty of offences of incitement, of stirring up racial hatred, there are numerous terrorist offences regarding the publishing of material, all of those offences are in play if people are provoking hatred and violence on the streets…”, he added. Sources for this article include: Modernity.news BBC.com Modernity.news
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