A suspended Labour councillor has pleaded not guilty to encouraging violent disorder while addressing a crowd during an anti-racism demonstration in east London.
Ricky Jones, 57, allegedly committed the offence during a speech to a gathering that was organised in response to the nationwide violent disorder, in Hoe Street, Walthamstow, on 7 August.
A video emerged after the protest in which he appeared to call for far-right protesters’ throats to be “cut” during the demonstration. Jones was charged by police with encouraging violent disorder two days later.
He claims he didn’t know that was a bad thing to say.
Labour Councillor Ricky Jones pleads not guilty in court today over his “We need to cut their throats and get rid of them all” speech, as a woman next to him claps along wearing an amnesty international shirt.pic.twitter.com/NksbgDXJRj
— Lewis Brackpool (@Lewis_Brackpool) September 6, 2024
