Geza Tarjanyi (born 1961) is a British conspiracy theorist and anti-fracking campaigner and former DJ and children’s entertainer (aka coco), best known for confronting public figures, including former Health Secretary Matt Hancock[1] and deputy chief medical officer Professor Jonathan Van Tam.[2] He is also known for his opposition to 5G mobile networks, mask-wearing and promoting misinformation about the COVID-19 pandemic.
Geza Tarjanyi | |
|---|---|
| Nationality | British |
| Occupation | Conspiracy theorist |
| Movement | Conspiracism |
| Criminal charges | Public Order Offence, Assault, Harassment |
| Criminal penalty | Suspended prison sentence |
Opposition to fracking
editIn October 2016 Sajid Javid overturned Lancashire County Council's rejection of plans for a fracking site near Little Plumpton. Tarjanyi was part of a group of activists who argued that the government’s decision to overrule the council was unlawful because it incorrectly applied the relevant planning laws.[3]
Tarjanyi has said that his concerns about fracking began after an earthquake with a magnitude of 2.3 hit Blackpool in 2011 causing damage to his home. After this incident he dedicated his life to protesting, resulting in a hunger strike, a 15 day walk to Downing Street and numerous court appearances.[4]
Misinformation about COVID-19
editTarjanyi has campaigned for the use of hydroxychloroquine (an anti-malarial drug that has been in use since the 1950s) as a remedy for COVID-19. Speaking at an anti-mask protest at Picadilly Gardens, Manchester, he said: "Boris knows that treatment with hydroxychloroquine has been proven to cure covid... Now Boris knows about the treatment, we are holding him personally accountable for every coronavirus-related death that occurs from now,".[5]
Anti-lockdown protests
editTarjanyi opposes laws intended to stop the spread of COVID-19. He has organised protests outside Downing Street, and in British cities.
In a protest in the city of Durham, he was seen holding a white flag reading the word 'TRUTH'. He addressed the small audience for around half an hour branding Prime Minister Boris Johnson a "traitor". Tarjanyi urged the small crowd to put a white flag outside their businesses to show opposition to COVID regulations, saying: "Believe me folks, we are very, very close to bringing down this government, the police know it, the judges know it, the country knows it and even Boris Johnson knows it."[6]
In June 2021 Tarjanyi was one of ten protesters who were convicted and fined for failing to identify themselves to police officers during an event in Liverpool.[7]
During the second lockdown, Tarjanyi was fined for defying the national stay at home order. He was in Liverpool city centre on November 7, 2020 despite living in Leyland. He was seen in St George's Place, Liverpool without reasonable excuse to be there. He was fined £1,760 and ordered to pay costs of £100 and a £176 victim surcharge.[8]
On 9 October 2020 he took part in the "Oxford Peaceful Political Rally" organised in partnership with Piers Corbyn's Stop the New Normal Campaign. Stated goals of this rally included ending social distancing, test and trace, mask-wearing and 5G.[9]
Verbal abuse of Professor Van-Tam and Chris Whitty
editOn 22 June 2021, Tarjanyi posted Facebook videos of himself shouting at Jonathan Van-Tam, the deputy chief medical officer. He accused Mr Van-Tam of "lying to the British people" and asked "what was really in that needle that you put into Matt Hancock?"[10] Tarjanyi also accused Hancock of "murdering millions" during a physical confrontation[11] on the London Underground.[12]
Matt Hancock appeared in person as a witness in June. The MP told the court: "I felt physically intimidated and felt like I needed to get to a place of safety; he was being completely unreasonable.[13]
On a previous occasion, Tarjanyi had posted videos of he had filmed of a confrontation with Chris Whitty, the nation's chief medical officer.[14]
On 19 July 2021, Metropolitan Police said that they were dropping charges of harassment and trespass on a protected site.[15]
On 2 August 2023, a judge at Westminster Magistrates' Court found Tarjanyi "deliberately intimidated and harassed" the MP on two separate occasions on 19 and 24 January.[16] Tarjanyi was given an 8 week suspended prison sentence.[17]
Disruption of Lancashire Fringe Festival play
editIn 2020 Tarjanyi disrupted a performance of "Nannas With Banners", a play about women protesting fracking, produced by rival activist Tina Rothery. The play was staged as part of the Lancashire Fringe Festival. He said he decided to protest against the play because he believed that he had the play "demonised" and "laughed at" him.
Tarjanyi walked onto the stage shouting: "I've seen enough of this lie, stop the lie. This is a lie, You're a liar Tina Rothery." Tarjanyi knocked over a stage light. Members of the audience attempted to apprehended him, and he was eventually ejected from the building.
During the trial he claimed Greenpeace and Green Party are "sucking donations" away from his own organisation and claimed that he was the victim of assault by the play's audience. Tarjanyi was convicted of a public order offence. He appealed his conviction but did not attend the hearing.[18][19]
References
edit- ^ "Anti-vax protester guilty of harassing Hancock". BBC News. 2 August 2023. Retrieved 3 August 2023.
- ^ "Jonathan Van-Tam abused in street by anti-vax activist". The Telegraph.
Mr Tarjanyi continued: "And you keep lying to the people. So, Chris Whitty never speaks to me. Do you think you're brave enough to speak to me, and explain to the British people why you're lying to them? ... Why you've crushed their economy, lies after lies. Why have you prohibited hydroxychloroquine and ivermectin? Is this true or not? Why of all the people in the NHS were you administering the vaccine to Matt Hancock?"
- ^ Pidd, Helen (17 March 2017). "Anti-fracking protesters take government to court in Lancashire". The Guardian.
- ^ Wittingham, Stuart (11 November 2018). "Living next door to a fracking site". BBC News.
Fracking is just not safe and most local people are against," he insists. "The opposition to this has cost me everything but it's worth it. "I've had serious threats of violence - people threatening to break my legs - but I'll carry on.
- ^ Crossley, Lucas (29 October 2020). "'We are holding Boris Johnson accountable': anti-mask protesters challenge government over coronavirus 'cure'". The Northern Quota.
- ^ Connor, Craig (26 October 2020). "Anti-lockdown protesters gather in Durham as city sees rapid increase in cases". Chronicle Live.
- ^ McKeon, Chris (8 June 2020). "Man with megaphone at Covid lockdown protest fined". St Helens Star.
Several other protestors dealt with in private hearings were found carrying megaphones and at least initially refused to provide their details. These included Terence Oakes, 74, of Bishopdale Drive, Rainhill; Adam Stanley, 34, of Sonning Avenue, Litherland; Geza Tarjanyi, 60, of Leyland, Lancashire; and Mark Allison, 36, of Westgarth Avenue, Hull.
- ^ Earnshaw, Tom (19 July 2021). "The people caught sneaking in and out of Lancashire during lockdown including 220 mile Wembley visitor". Lancs Live.
- ^ Abigail, Howe (9 October 2020). "Anti-lockdown protest takes place in Oxford". Cherwell.org.
- ^ James, Daniel. "Boston's Professor Jonathan Van-Tam abused by anti-vaxxer in London". The Lincolnite.
During the video Mr Tarjanyi said: "Why are you continually lying to the British people? Why are you smiling? This country's supposed to be in the worst pandemic of all time."
- ^ Gibbons, Amy; Barton, Alex (2 August 2023). "Matt Hancock 'relieved' as anti-vax protester found guilty of harassment". The Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 3 August 2023.
- ^ "Anti-vaxxer guilty of harassing Matt Hancock through Westminster and accusing him of 'murdering millions' on the Tube". LBC. Retrieved 3 August 2023.
- ^ Media, P. A. (2 August 2023). "Anti-vaxxer guilty of harassing Matt Hancock on London tube". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 3 August 2023.
- ^ Wood, Poppy (23 June 2021). "No 10 condemns 'appalling' video of antivax protester accusing Jonathan Van-Tam of 'genocide'". news.com.
- ^ Gleaves, Sean (6 August 2021). "No further action to be taken against Leyland anti-vaxxer who accused Jonathan Van-Tam of 'genocide'". Lancashire Post.
A Metropolitan Police spokeswoman said: "No further action will be taken against a 60-year-old man who was arrested on Monday, July 19 on suspicion of harassment and trespass on a protected site.
- ^ "Anti-vaxxer who accused Matt Hancock of murder in 'unacceptable attack' found guilty of harassment". Sky News. Retrieved 3 August 2023.
- ^ Kirk, Tristan (3 August 2023). "Anti-vaxxer guilty of harassing Matt Hancock in Tube train confrontation". Evening Standard. Retrieved 3 August 2023.
- ^ Hall, Stef (12 October 2020). "Fylde DJ who disrupted Preston Harris Museum fringe play by screaming 'liar' at fracking protester launches court appeal". Lancashire Post.
Tarjanyi, 58, formerly of Lytham but now of Boundary Street, Leyland, had denied using threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour with intent to cause Tina Rothery to fear immediate unlawful violence would be used on May 22, and a further charge of using threatening behaviour, but was convicted after a trial at Preston Magistrates' Court. He launched an appeal but did not attend the hearing at Preston Crown Court.
- ^ Hall, Stef (11 October 2019). "Anti fracking campaigner accused of threatening behaviour at a community play in Preston's Harris Museum says he "wanted to stop the lie"". Blackpool Gazette.