Graffiti sprayed on a wall in a public park has been condemned as “racist intimidation”.

The graffiti, which was brought to our attention today, is scrawled across the back of a building in Roxeth Recreation Ground in Harrow and reads “Free Tommy Robinson!” in large black lettering.

Robinson, founder of the English Defence League (EDL) and whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, was jailed for 13 months in May for contempt of court.

The person who reported the graffiti, who did not want to be named, is a British national of south Asian descent. 

They said: “This graffiti is an act of racist intimidation. South Harrow has been a migrant town for decades. 

“To put up graffiti in a public park that is used by people of colour - that is theirs because they love, work and live in this town, is an open act of intimidation and an incisive threat to all black and brown people.

“I felt destroyed when I saw it. This should not be happening, but it is. The size of the graffiti is intimidating and the threat of violence it carries if this racist is not released is palpable. I am scared.”

Ealing Times:

Kuha Kumaran, a community activist and campaigner, said: “People have a right to say what they want, that’s what democracy is about.

“But I would never encourage any antisocial behaviour or violent crime, of course, and they do not have the right to cause damage to public property or to cause such unrest in society.”

Since Tommy Robinson was jailed for potentially prejudicing a court case by broadcasting outside Leeds Crown Court, an online campaign called #FreeTommy has called for his realease.

The council said it intends to remove the graffiti as soon as possible.