The persecution of Emma West

Politicians, media, law – they are all persecuting Ms West.

You may be aware that Ms West pleaded not guilty of a racially aggravated public order offence, and you may also be aware that she has been remanded in custody until Christmas – for her own safety.

This raises some serious questions – what about her children, what about her rights, who wants to attack her and why. And what sort of a society have we created that this women must be locked up because she may be killed for saying something someone does not like.

This was how the story was reported in the Times yesterday – “rant’ woman in custody for Christmas.

A women with a history of mental illness – was how they started the piece. So what?.

They are trying to say only a nutter would say something like that - look at her – she is mad!. What about Stephen Fry – they dont say a man with a history of mental illness.

She has pleaded not guilty – what courage – it is not her who is mad.

I recall a guy from Portugal who I was supporting – he was saying things that led me to be concerned about his mental health, and the safety of people he had a grudge against. he was assessed – by a Pakistani and a South African – remember that mental health is in part related to culture and time and place etc…

It was another experience that led me to believe we are in serious trouble as a country.

Stand up for Emma West – she may be as mad as a bunch of frogs, but that does not mean she can not say what she likes – if she upsets you, deal with it – if she has broken the law – she deserves the same treatment as anybody, if she is threatened she must be protected – and they who threaten her must be dealt with.

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