Old Habits Die Hard: Tommy’s Tour of Canada Goes from Bad To Worse – HOPE not hate
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Canada: UK's Tommy Robinson Arrested for Alleged Immigration Breach
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The Facts
After giving a speech in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, earlier this week, right-wing British activist Tommy Robinson was arrested for what police said was an "outstanding immigration warrant."
Robinson, whose legal name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, was arrested by 10 officers outside the Carriage House Hotel and Conference Centre, where he gave a speech as part of an event with Canadian news website Rebel News.
The Spin
Left narrative
Tommy Robinson is an Islamophobic immigration hawk who ironically violated immigration laws. Given his criminal record, Robinson likely knew he would be arrested, which raises the question of whether this was a purposeful stunt aimed at raising money. His speaking tour has been an abject failure, so he certainly needed a way to raise funds from something other than ticket sales.
Right narrative
If Robinson was some dangerous, high-profile fugitive, why would he be allowed into Canada in the first place? Given the timing of his arrest and the fact that 10 undercover officers were used to handcuff him, it appears this was a planned move aimed at publicly punishing a conservative speaker. The government certainly knows how to enforce immigration laws against voices it doesn't like.