UAF officer Martin Smith has been convicted of assault on a police officer in a verdict UAF believes is an attack on the right to protest against racism and fascism.

Martin, who is also national coordinator of Love Music Hate Racism, was arrested at last year’s protest outside the BBC against nazi British National Party leader Nick Griffin’s appearance on question time.

Union backing

Five national trade unions gave Martin their backing ahead of his hearing, along with many other trade unionists, activists and musicians. >> Read messages of support

Around 200 demonstrators, with placards and union banners, gathered outside the court to show their support. Amid a tube strike, protestors came from across London – and included Oxford postal workers and supporters from as far afield as Manchester.

But magistrates convicted Martin on the word of a single police officer, despite the lack of evidence against him. He has been sentenced to a 12-month community order, with 80 hours’ unpaid work, and has been fined £450.

Innocent

After the verdict, Martin thanked his legal team and his many supporters. He told those gathered outside the court that he maintained his innocence:

I never did it, and everyone knows I didn’t do it. What’s really going on is they are trying to criminalise antifascist protests.

But Martin pledged to continue the struggle. To applause, he said:

I ain’t going away. I ain’t going to back down. I’m going to continue to fight against the BNP and the English Defence League. That’s my promise. They will not intimidate me or anyone else.

UAF joint secretary Weyman Bennett said:

There was no justice done today – none at all… What happened today to Martin is an insult to all of us, to everyone who wants a fairer society.

Mark Serwotka, general secretary of the PCS civil servants’ union, who spoke to protesters before the hearing, described the verdict as a “travesty of justice” in a statement issued immediately afterwards.

Video: Martin speaks to supporters before his hearing.