The antisemitic conspiracy theorist David Icke was cheered loudly after calling for “a Nuremberg type trial for crimes against humanity” of an alleged “global” collective of “psychopaths” who he claims are behind the attempt to tackle the Covid-19 pandemic.
Speaking at a rally in London’s Trafalgar Square, the former sports presenter repeatedly claimed that measures to tackle the virus – including the wearing of masks – were in fact “excuses for real fascism.”
At one point in his speech last weekend, Mr Icke said the “mass global dehumanisation” of the those ordered to partake in measures of stop the spread of coronavirus was “deceit so premediated, so long-planned, so calculated … that we must not rest until those responsible – including these down the street (in Westminster) – are before a Nuremberg type trial for crimes against humanity.”
He then received his loudest cheer of the afternoon from a crowd of anti-mask protestors as he shouted:” "People of the world, if you want to express your freedom in the face of fascism, take your bloody mask off!"
Addressing the police officers who had been dispatched to observe the demo, Mr Icke then claimed:” I feel no animosity towards you. You are trapped by the psychopaths into enforcing fascism for the psychopaths.
“There is another choice police and military personnel of the world - cease to enforce fascism for the psychopaths and enforce instead freedom by protecting the people from psychopaths.”
Mr Icke also attempted to present himself as the a unifying force in a world in which people were expected to except “irrelevant fault lines”.
He said: “We don’t need to fight, we don’t need any more conflict – we just need to come together in a demand for freedom as we are today, not one excluded.”
As he was introduced to the audience at last weekend’s protest Mr Icke said:”To think that people used to laugh at me in the street once…. I have dreamed of moments like this.”
Much of Mr Icke’s speech echoed ideas he had circulated for some years since promoting a theory that the world is run by a reptilian elite known as the "Brotherhood."
In his 2018 book 'And the Truth Shall Set you Free,' Mr Icke was accused by the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) in America of casting doubt on the Holocaust and of condemning the Nuremberg Trials.
He argued the Brotherhood has genetically manipulated humanity and sought to divide people along racial and gender lines as a means to subjugate them.
Many critics noted that Mr Icke used antisemitic arguments and imagery after claiming that that the Brotherhood runs the United Nations, the International Monetary Fund, the Bilderberg Group.
In 2017 a World Wide Wake Up speaking tour was cancelled in Germany over its controversial content.
Jan Rathje of the Amadeu Antonio Stiftung, an organisation that tracks racism in Germany, welcomed the cancellation of the German events. "David Icke has a lot of influence on the conspiracy ideological scene, especially through the antisemitism he spreads, which appeals to people in Germany because it offers some relief from the guilt of German crimes against humanity in the Holocaust."
Defending his beliefs Mr Icke once said: "What I'm saying is that there is a cabal at the centre of Zionism, not least connected to the house of Rothschild, that is in effect ... a secret society. And it's that secret society ... that is manipulating within the wider web of manipulation.”
Earlier this year Mr Icke attempted to suggest Israel was using the pandemic to "test its technology".
