'I'm not racist or far-right' claims Walsall councillor who 'proudly' marched with former EDL leader Tommy Robinson

Rushall-Shelfield Councillor Jade Chapman, a Conservative, posted pictures of herself and family attending the Unite the Kingdom march in London on Saturday (September 13) as part of a group who were not involved in any trouble at the event.

An estimated 150,000 people converged on London for the Unite the Kingdom protest organised by Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, also known as Tommy Robinson.

The Metropolitan Police arrested 24 people for 'wholly inappropriate' violence on the day which left 26 officers injured. 

However, responding to comments on Facebook regarding attacks on police officers Councillor Chapman posted: "No violence kicked off. The media is manipulating the narrative again."

Councillor Chapman, who was elected last May for the Conservative Party after previously unsuccessfully standing as an independent and Reform UK candidate, was backed by many on her Facebook page.

However, she complained that she had been branded "racist" for attending the march organised by English Defence League founder Tommy Robinson. 

She posted: "I have been branded 'far-right' and even called a racist. I have received private messages and been targeted on my councillor page, simply because I chose to stand for a principle that should unite us all. 

"This is not only hurtful on a personal level, but deeply worrying for our democracy. Let me be absolutely clear: myself, and millions of others, are not 'far-right' for defending free speech. 

"We are people who refuse to accept that disagreement equals extremism."

The word's richest man, South African multi-billionaire Elon Musk, spoke at the protest via video link from America. It is estimated around 150,000 people took part in the event.

Councillor Chapman added "the children had a fantastic time" and told her followers "I will not be intimidated into silence".