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The June 9 听protest took a violent turn and ended with multiple arrests after pro-Tommy protesters assaulted police.

In a July 8 , Pipes and his organization claimed they funded and organized the event. MEF also announced they are helping fund Robinson鈥檚 legal defense and would be helping to organize another rally in support of him later this week.

The London rally was in response to听Robinson听being听听to 13 months in jail after he was found guilty of being in contempt of court听for听potentially spoiling a just trial. On May 25, in effort to whip up anti-Muslim hysteria, the far-right agitator showed up to make a scene at a courthouse in Leeds, England that was holding a criminal trial for individuals accused of involvement in child-sex abuse rings known as "grooming gangs" which allegedly target and exploit young girls.

Ignoring a court order barring coverage of the trial, Robinson live-streamed听defendants as they arrived for the trial. He was eventually arrested for breaching the peace and later sentenced that day. Robinson had been convicted for a similar offense last year but served no jail time after a judge suspended his sentence.

The former (EDL) leader鈥檚 sentencing sparked outrage among various right-wing movements, including U.S.-based anti-Muslim activists, who elevated him as a 鈥�free speech鈥� martyr. Far-right activists from around the world took to the streets to protest his imprisonment.

MEF is a think tank more known for its academic approach to fomenting anti-Muslim sentiment than organizing mass protests. But the group ended up organizing one of the ugliest rallies worldwide.

The London rally was reminiscent of past EDL rallies which were notorious for violence and attracting neo-Nazis. During the event, Robinson supporters with police, throwing objects like traffic cones and other projectiles at officers while calling them 鈥淣azi scum.鈥� Some of the pro-Robinson protestors were also throwing stiff-armed fascist salutes. According to , a UK-based anti-racist organization, the rally attracted various factions of the British far-right including which Robinson has with.

On June 19, a letter was published in The Guardian with over 50 signatories, including British parliamentarians, condemning the rally calling it a 鈥渞esurgent of the racist right.鈥�

鈥淭he racist right are using Robinson to reorganize,鈥� the letter states. 鈥淣azi salutes and Islamophobia were at the centre of the mobilisation. This is the first serious attempt since the collapse of the English Defence League (EDL) to develop a racist street movement and give it a political form.鈥�

Prior to the violence on June 9, several prominent European far-right figures kicked off the rally by addressing the crowd. One of the headliners was Dutch Parliamentarian Geert Wilders, whose inflammatory rhetoric about Islam had once him from entering the UK. Wilders , telling them, 鈥渙ur governments sold us out with mass immigration.鈥�

Pipes and MEF have a history with Wilders. Pipes has repeatedly on his support for Wilders and his hateful and divisive rhetoric. In 2009, MEF鈥檚 Legal Project Wilders with money and legal advice when he was accused of violating Dutch anti-hate speech laws. MEF its Legal Project also would help fund Robinson鈥檚 legal defense. Pipes is a fan of Robinson鈥檚 and called him a 鈥渓eader鈥� in a where he mentioned spending a day with Robinson last December in his home town of Luton. On top of his support of Robinson, Pipes continues to be an advocate for partnering with far-right parties in Europe.

MEF announced they are funding another 鈥淔ree Tommy鈥� rally in London on July 14. Wilders is once again scheduled to speak at the event where he is slated to share a stage with U.S. Rep. Paul Gosar (R-AZ), who is scheduled to attend courtesy of Pipes鈥� organization.

In its press release announcing the event, MEF made no mention or condemnation of the violence that erupted at the previous protest. And given the far-right thugs that are drawn to Robinson and his message, one can expect more of the same this weekend.听

Photo credit: Getty Images.

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