Former BNP leader Nick Griffin made a court appearance in London today, where he denied allegations of inciting racial hatred through a cartoon shared on social media. Griffin, aged 67, who headed the BNP from 1999 to 2014, is currently facing charges brought by activists from the Campaign Against Antisemitism. The charges include displaying material likely to stir up racial hatred and publishing/distributing similar content.
During the court session at Southwark Crown Court, Griffin formally pleaded not guilty to the charges. The trial date has been set for May 11 next year by Mr. Justice Swift. The allegations stem from a social media post on X (formerly Twitter) on December 6, 2021, featuring a cartoon of a large spider with a Star of David on its head. It is claimed that Griffin accompanied this cartoon with an allegedly antisemitic comment, with the intent to provoke racial hatred.
Griffin, residing in Welshpool, Powys, sat alongside his legal representative throughout the court proceedings and is expected to return for the trial. He was seen arriving early at the crown court near London Bridge station, displaying a relaxed demeanor.
In a separate incident last year, Griffin advocated for British nationalists to join the Army reserves for military training to prepare for a potential “civil war.” He suggested that keeping political opinions to oneself and enlisting in the Army Reserve would provide legal military training and financial compensation, contrasting it with involvement in extremist groups that engage in limited physical training.
