By Lucy Caulkett-
Political campaigner, Gina Miller was awarded with an honorary Doctorate of Law at the University of East London today.
The standout activist and businesswoman received the prestigious award at a graduation ceremony where she received the University’s Royal Docks School of Business and Law.
Miller studied law at the University of East London 30 years ago but was not able to complete her degree due to mitigating circumstances.
52-year-old Miller rose to prominence when she successfully challenged the UK government over its powers to trigger Article 50, to commence its exit from the European Union, without parliamentary approval. As a result of her challenge, the court ruled that Parliament must vote on the process of withdrawal, instead of the UK under Theresa May, unilaterally invoking the formal divorce process from the EU. Miller was over the moon, and in her element as she was awarded the honorary Doctorate Award, marking her as a notable member of the British society. Only individuals who have achieved something remarkable are granted such awards.
Miller was later subjected to vile racists threats by social media trolls and a man was jailed for offering £5,000 to anyone willing to kill Gina Miller. He appealed his sentence, but dropped his appeal over his 12-week sentence.
The 4th Viscount St Davids, Rhodri Philipps, was sentenced on 13 July for “extreme racial abuse” of Miller and another man in a series of Facebook posts, having been convicted of sending malicious communications.
He was ordered to pay £865 in compensation, surcharge and costs at his sentencing, Philipps was ordered to pay a further £500 in costs when he abandoned his appeal.
The thug was convicted over online racist attacks on Miller, born in Guyana, and another man, Cameroon-born Arnold Sube.
Miller had said the abuse was “genuinely shocking” and left her feeling “violated” and “very scared for the safety of herself and her family”. She had been “subject of a vicious hate campaign and vilified on social media outlets”, as well as “racial and offensive personal slurs”, according to a statement read by Philip Stott, the prosecutor at Philipps’ trial.
Stott said: “In addition to finding it offensive, racist and hateful, [Miller] was extremely concerned that someone would threaten to have her run over for a bounty. He added that Miller “took the threat seriously, and it contributed to her employing professional security for her protection”.
Evil Philipps had offered “£5,000 for the first person to ‘accidentally’ run over this bloody troublesome first-generation immigrant”. He also called her a “boat jumper”, adding: “If this is what we should expect from immigrants, send them back to their stinking jungles.”
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FULFILLED
The proud and fulfilled businesswomen told graduates present at the ceremony: “In the past 30 years I have learned that while we must dare to dream, dare to aim high, we must dare to also face our weakness. True character is not how you face your successes.
“It is how we face reality, obstacles and failures that defines who we really are.
“It does not come easy, the society we value, it comes from hard work and it comes from being brave and being courageous.
“To be silent only adds to the lies. It only adds to the weakness. Do not give in to bullying or belittling or bigotry.”
She added: “We must find our voice.
“I chose not to let anyone tell me who I could be or how much I could achieve or where I could speak and what I could say. I encourage you to refuse to let others tell you who you can be.
“And when you do succeed, remember that it comes with responsibility, because other people matter and your caring matters. Be prepared to plant the metaphoric tree whose shade you will never sit beneath.”
Mil founding and running a financial services marketing firm that helped launch some of the largest asset management firms in the UK.
She was recently named the country’s most influential black person this month by the Powerlist Foundation for her successful legal challenge.