Back in May 2017 I wrote how happy I was to see what appeared to be an organic movement in Sunderland spurred into action by the rape of Chelsey Wright, a local woman. The 'Justice for Chelsey'' movement was short lived and because Chelsey was a white woman raped by immigrants she never saw justice.
However, the highlight of the event was the larger and louder than life local Mackem Billy Charlton, here we saw a genuine expression of working class rage which was joyously free of Israeli flags and endless soul searching over optics.
In what I can only truly describe as an act of malice from the system, Billy has this week been jailed for 21 months for his speeches in defence of the people of Sunderland and against the scumbag local councilors. In theory Billy has been jailed for racism, yet I can't help but the feeling that this is being used as excuse to simply shut them up.....