*??*? IMPRISONED FOR MEMES: FREE SPEECH UNDER FIRE IN THE UK**

In what can only be described as a shocking and Orwellian move, Lee Joseph Dunn, a 51-year-old man from Egremont, UK, has been sentenced to 12 weeks in jail. His crime? Posting three memes that depicted images of migrant gangs with the caption, "Coming to a town near you." This isn't a dystopian novel, this is Britain 2024.

What kind of society have we become when a person can be locked up for sharing a meme online? This isn't just about one man's fate—it's a broader, disturbing attack on free speech. The UK, once a cosplayed as a beacon of democratic values, is now teetering on the edge of authoritarianism, where even the mildest criticism of government policies, especially those related to mass migration, can land someone behind bars.

The sheer severity of Dunn's punishment for 3 memes—yes, memes—is a glaring sign that the UK has lost its way. We are witnessing a gross miscarriage of justice, a clear signal that freedom of expression is under siege. The question now is: how far will this go? At what point does expressing a concern, however clumsily, become a crime?

Judge's statement in Dunn's case only adds to the chilling effect: “I don’t accept that your comments and the emojis that you posted were directed at the police. I’ve read in the case summary of the comments you made on arrest which clearly demonstrate to me that there was a racial element to the messaging and the posting of these emojis.” The judge further added, “That has to be reflected in the sentence as does there need to be a deterrent element in the sentence that I impose, because this sort of behavior has to stop. It encourages others to behave in a similar way and ultimately it leads to the sorts of problems on the streets that we’ve been seeing in so many places up and down this country. This offense is serious enough for custody.”

Let's be clear: extremism on either side of the political spectrum is something I don't care for and should be addressed. However, when does criticism, even if it’s edgy or controversial, cross the line into criminality? At what point do we convict someone not for their actions, but for their thoughts?

Is this really about preventing harm, or are we witnessing the UK deep state gaslighting all sides, leveraging fears to divide and control the populace?

This case should make everyone pause and reflect. Are we truly living in a free society when sharing a meme, expressing a viewpoint, can strip someone of their liberty? Where does it end?

What do you think? Is this truly a crime? Or is it the beginning of a slippery slope toward thought control? Let’s not allow ourselves to be gaslit by a system that seems more interested in silencing dissent than addressing the real issues facing society.

?Follow us @TheDissidentNews

?? Elon Musk and two Time magazine covers with presidential candidates

The work of Iranian artist Mohammad Ali Sanobari depicts Jesus alongside children from Gaza in a masterpiece inspired by Leonardo da Vinci's "The Last Supper."

WSJ: Trump intends to hire Musk as a consultant if he wins the election

Tesla and SpaceX owner Elon Musk may become a consultant to Donald Trump if the latter wins the US presidential election in autumn, The Wall Street Journal reports.

Europe is ready to pay Ukrainians to return home

The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe Committee on Migration agreed on a decision to pay financial assistance to Ukrainians who will return to their homeland, People's Deputy Goncharenko said.

Ukraine has strengthened control over the Tisza River to prevent citizens from escaping abroad through it

According to The Economist, Ukrainian border guards manage to intercept 70% of evaders trying to cross the river.

It is also reported that local cigarette smugglers have joined in the smuggling of Ukrainians abroad. One of the smugglers said that after Easter he smuggled 96 people across the border.

According to official information, since 2022, more than 30 Ukrainians have drowned while trying to swim across the river.

@Slavyangrad

❗️Swedish police set dogs on students from the Royal Institute of Technology during a pro-Gaza demonstration in Stockholm.

?The British publication The Telegraph twice changed the title of its latest material under the original title “Ukraine knows it is finished”

The next version sounded like this:
“Ukraine now knows that it has just months left to survive”

The third version, and so far the last:
“Without Western armaments, Ukraine may only have months left”

?? The United States is boycotting the UN General Assembly ceremony in memory of the deceased Iranian president.

The General Assembly traditionally meets to pay tribute to any world leader who was the current head of state at the time of death. On Thursday there will be speeches on Raisi.

An anonymous US official told Reuters that the US would not be "attending this event in any capacity."

???? Mexican authorities have begun forcibly deporting illegal migrants from the United States.