As you may well have already seen, the US President, Donald Trump, posted a series of tweets that were straight out of the Fascist handbook on the weekend – statements which were so disgusting, and so blatantly racist, that they were condemned right across the political spectrum.
In his series of appalling tweets, Trump said that Democratic Congresswomen who “originally came from countries whose governments are a complete and total catastrophe“, should effectively ‘go back to where they came from’.
The reason behind the US President’s attack was, in his own words, because these Congresswomen were supposedly “viciously telling the people of the United States, the greatest and most powerful Nation on earth, how our government is to be run“.
Although not specifically named in the tweets, Trump’s despicable attack appeared to be directed at four congresswomen of colour: Alexandrea Ocasio Cortez, Rashida Tlaib, Ayanna Pressley, and Ilhan Omar.
The President’s astonishing attack came despite 3 of the Congresswomen – Cortez, Tlaib and Pressley – actually being born in the United States, whilst Omar came to the US as a child refugee when she was 12.
Added to this, both Cortez and her father were actually born in the Bronx just a few miles from where Trump was born, whilst Trump’s Grandparents actually came to the United States as immigrants from Germany in the 1900s.
Furthermore, as if his comments couldnt be any more disgustingly hypocritical and deplorable, Trump’s own wife Melania is a first generation immigrant herself – having been born in Slovenia, only moving to the US in 1996.
So interesting to see “Progressive” Democrat Congresswomen, who originally came from countries whose governments are a complete and total catastrophe, the worst, most corrupt and inept anywhere in the world (if they even have a functioning government at all), now loudly……
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 14, 2019
….and viciously telling the people of the United States, the greatest and most powerful Nation on earth, how our government is to be run. Why don’t they go back and help fix the totally broken and crime infested places from which they came. Then come back and show us how….
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 14, 2019
….it is done. These places need your help badly, you can’t leave fast enough. I’m sure that Nancy Pelosi would be very happy to quickly work out free travel arrangements!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 14, 2019
Thankfully, Trump’s tweets have been widely condemned right across the political spectrum – including by the two usually invertebrate Tory leadership candidates, Boris Johnson and Jeremy Hunt.
However, had Hunt and Johnson failed to speak out against it, they would literally have been refusing to condemn words which could constitute a Hate Crime in both England and Wales.
Yes, according to the legendary legal guru and all-round Twitter hero, The Secret Barrister, if a politician from England or Wales had posted Trump’s racist tweets, they would be liable for criminal prosecution under numerous existing hate crime laws.
On Twitter, The Secret Barrister – whose identity is a well-guarded secret – stated:
“In England and Wales, a politician sending racist tweets like this would be liable for criminal prosecution.”
“As people have asked, there are several options. One would be publishing written material intending to stir up racial hatred, contrary to s19 of the Public Order Act 1986.”
“A second would be an offence contrary to s127 of the Communications Act 2003 of sending a grossly offensive message by use of a public electronic communications network.”
“A third would be an offence contrary to s1 of the Malicious Communications Act 1988.”
“For those who have read Trump’s tweet – which addressed ethnic minority, American-born political opponents and suggested that they “go back” to countries they “originally came from” – and are asking me to explain how it is racist, I fear you may be beyond help.”
In England and Wales, a politician sending racist tweets like this would be liable for criminal prosecution. pic.twitter.com/zmorjBByOQ
— The Secret Barrister (@BarristerSecret) July 14, 2019
As people have asked, there are several options. One would be publishing written material intending to stir up racial hatred, contrary to s19 of the Public Order Act 1986. pic.twitter.com/hFJ7vrkGqs
— The Secret Barrister (@BarristerSecret) July 14, 2019
A second would be an offence contrary to s127 of the Communications Act 2003 of sending a grossly offensive message by use of a public electronic communications network. pic.twitter.com/Y4bxg98IUq
— The Secret Barrister (@BarristerSecret) July 14, 2019
A third would be an offence contrary to s1 of the Malicious Communications Act 1988. pic.twitter.com/dYtgLXsCtc
— The Secret Barrister (@BarristerSecret) July 14, 2019
For those who have read Trump’s tweet – which addressed ethnic minority, American-born political opponents and suggested that they “go back” to countries they “originally came from” – and are asking me to explain how it is racist, I fear you may be beyond help.
— The Secret Barrister (@BarristerSecret) July 14, 2019
I will however gladly represent you when you inevitably appear in court. Because everyone, even people like you, deserves proper legal representation and fair treatment in the justice system. That’s how we roll.
— The Secret Barrister (@BarristerSecret) July 14, 2019
Incredibly, despite Trump’s words constituting a crime in many Western countries, Twitter has so far refused to remove them.
