Racist Riots - please sign and share an open letter

[IlonaM]

Dear friends across the UK, The far right are taking to Britain’s streets. And ordinary people are afraid to leave their homes. More riots are reportedly planned tomorrow in our cities and towns – but it's time to end this racist violence and call for real political change. Sign the urgent open letter, and when it’s massive, Avaaz will deliver it to MPs and the British media.

ADD MY NAME

Dear political leaders and press across the UK, Britons are watching in horror as the far right take to our streets. Mosques attacked. A hotel housing asylum seekers torched. Cars stopped and drivers asked if they are 'white' or 'English.' This racist violence must end. For too long, many in our political parties and media have spewed anti-migrant and Islamophobic rhetoric - fuelling the fire of these far right mobs. Migrants and Muslims have often been used as scapegoats for Britain’s challenges in a cycnical attempt to secure votes. We need accountability and we need change. A new type of politics that is based on respect and our shared humanity. A politics we can be proud of that doesn’t leave ordinary people scared to leave their homes. We’re calling for change. Do you hear us?

ADD MY NAME Our community is one of millions of Brits from all across this country. It is time to stand together, stand in solidarity with those who are being targeted right now, and stand for real change so this violence isn't replicated. With hope and determination, The Avaaz team

[HeadNun]

I'm not entirely sure that the media and MPs are in disagreement that violence and racism are bad things...

[malumbu]

It's not a well written letter so I won't sign.  Starmer has responded well, even Patel has called Farage out (and yes GB News/Reform - not sure about the Mail - have some responsibility).  Perhaps they could hold those accused of thuggery on the Bibby Stockholm  whilst they await trial.

Edited August 6, 2024 by malumbu
Small contraction and to add final comment is facetious but very apt!

[Sue]

Sorry, I know it's well meant, but I can't see the point of this letter.

It's stating the obvious, the issues are already being addressed, and it's talking in vague generalities instead of making specific suggestions for change.

  On 06/08/2024 at 19:27, malumbu said:

It's not a well written letter so I won't sign.  Starmer has responded well, even Patel has called Farage out (and yes GB News/Reform - not sure about the Mail - have some responsibility).  Perhaps they could hold those accused of thuggery on the Bibby Stockholm  whilst they await trial.

Expand  

Re the Mail, I saw a picture today of a load of Mail headlines which were definitely inflammatory.

I don't think I could find it again easily, it was on Facebook I think, could have been the Guardian.

Re the Bibby, I suggested exactly that at the weekend. I wasn't joking.

[Spartacus]

Today, the BBC carried a story about 22 people they want to interview 

BBC News - Twenty-two people police want to find over disorder
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c74jl82445xo

Love this guys image, basically it could be 80% of over weight 30s something men...  

[Jules-and-Boo]

It says in the link that those arrested are "from all political and cultural backgrounds".

I think we should be careful before generalising - which in itself causes problems.

 

[alice]

Overweight men come from all political and cultural backgrounds

[Sue]

  On 09/08/2024 at 10:46, Jules-and-Boo said:

It says in the link that those arrested are "from all political and cultural backgrounds".

I think we should be careful before generalising - which in itself causes problems.

 

Expand  

From what I have read so far, there have been one or two arrests of people who weren't right wing racists and/or  thugs out to thump people and cause trouble, but the vast majority were in the latter groups.

If it is being said that those arrested are "from all political and cultural backgrounds", I assume this is because some people have laid accusations such as "two tier policing", implying that people of certain groups are treated differently to people of other groups for similar offences.

  On 09/08/2024 at 10:46, Jules-and-Boo said:

 

  On 09/08/2024 at 11:11, alice said:

Overweight men come from all political and cultural backgrounds

Expand  

I thought the point was exactly that, that the  photo wouldn't be much good in identifying who it was?

Expand  

[Jules-and-Boo]

so, rather than actually being trouble makers from a diverse group, it's just being said to pacify allegations of inconsistency in how it's being handled?

[Sue]

  On 09/08/2024 at 11:34, Jules-and-Boo said:

so, rather than actually being trouble makers from a diverse group, it's just being said to pacify allegations of inconsistency in how it's being handled?

Expand  

My understanding is that it's both those, but the majority of identified troublemakers are from one "group", consisting of the various subgroups involved in the initial riots.

[HeadNun]

  On 09/08/2024 at 11:13, Sue said:

From what I have read so far, there have been one or two arrests of people who weren't right wing racists and/or  thugs out to thump people and cause trouble, but the vast majority were in the latter groups.

If it is being said that those arrested are "from all political and cultural backgrounds", I assume this is because some people have laid accusations such as "two tier policing", implying that people of certain groups are treated differently to people of other groups for similar offences.

Expand  

You mean who aren't white? Police are also looking for Muslim thugs who went on a pre-emptive rampage in Birmingham. And yesterday Labour fired one of their councillors who, on Wednesday night's anti facist march, called for the throat slitting of fascists, then shouted 'free Palestine'. 

It's funny how the virtuous left feels justified in using EXACTLY the same rhetoric as the right, like calling for the annihilation of a group of people - be they white facists or Jews........ but it's OK, because they're on the right side of history. 

 

[alice]

It didn’t take long did it? 

[HeadNun]

Ha! All I am saying is racism is racism, no matter what guise it comes in. 

[Sue]

  On 09/08/2024 at 12:07, HeadNun said:

You mean who aren't white? Police are also looking for Muslim thugs who went on a pre-emptive rampage in Birmingham. And yesterday Labour fired one of their councillors who, on Wednesday night's anti facist march, called for the throat slitting of fascists, then shouted 'free Palestine'. 

It's funny how the virtuous left feels justified in using EXACTLY the same rhetoric as the right, like calling for the annihilation of a group of people - be they white facists or Jews........ but it's OK, because they're on the right side of history. 

 

Expand  

Pardon?

Are you posting this in response to what I said?

If so, how exactly have you come to this interpretation of what I said?

To be absolutely clear, I did not mean that certain  arrests were made because it was being SAID that there was two tier policing !

  On 09/08/2024 at 12:34, HeadNun said:

Ha! All I am saying is racism is racism, no matter what guise it comes in. 

Expand  

Who is disagreeing with you, exactly?

Edited August 9, 2024 by Sue
Clarification

[HeadNun]

No Sue - Sorry, I shouldn't have quoted your whole post. I was just referencing your point that there had been one or two arrests of people who weren't white, right-wingers. And then expanding it out to say that one of them was a Labour councillor. If you watch the video, what he said was appalling and no less toxic that any facist rant https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cz074vyvjzvo

My point was that it happens on the right, on the left and from people of all colour. None of is more right than the other. 

Genuinely, no offence to you was intended. 

[Sue]

  On 09/08/2024 at 13:33, HeadNun said:

No Sue - Sorry, I shouldn't have quoted your whole post. I was just referencing your point that there had been one or two arrests of people who weren't white, right-wingers. And then expanding it out to say that one of them was a Labour councillor. If you watch the video, what he said was appalling and no less toxic that any facist rant https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cz074vyvjzvo

My point was that it happens on the right, on the left and from people of all colour. None of is more right than the other. 

Genuinely, no offence to you was intended. 

Expand  

Thanks for the clarification!

Though although of course none is more right (unfortunate choice of words!) than the other, it does seem that there is  a lot more violence and  lack of empathy from the people on one "side", for want of a better word.

Not sure how relevant this is, but many years ago I  lodged for a short time with a couple who were committed Christians. If memory serves, one of them had fought in the war. I asked how he could reconcile this with "Thou shalt not kill" etc. Basically he couldn't.

I'm wondering, if it came to it, how many of the thousands of  peaceful and non violent people who came out on the streets recently would actually physically fight the fascists (or whoever) if circumstances called for it.

[malumbu]

Battle of Cable Street?  https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Cable_Street

Edited August 9, 2024 by malumbu
Added link Battle of Street Street when fascists were prevented protesting in the East End

[Earl Aelfheah]

The Tory party's rhetoric and policies have helped fan the flames. Language that talks of 'invasions' by 'fighting age men' have clearly stoked / normalised anti-immigrant feeling (more 'foghorns' than dog whistles). Asylum seekers in particular have been demonised and dehumanised, both rhetorically, but also via the performative cruelty of policies like Bibby Stockholm and Rwanda.

Obviously years of extremely inflammatory rhetoric from the press and continued amplification of it via social media and channels like GB News have all laid the ground for this. And I see no evidence that lessons have been learnt. In fact the line now from the mainstream right seems to be this narrative about 'two tier policing' and 'bad people on both sides' (very reminiscent of Trump). It is a distraction from the fact that these were primarily far-right, racist riots.

The climate in which this virus has been allowed to grow and mutate was formulated in the rhetoric of mainstream politicians and newspapers, then amplified, replicated and mutated (becoming ever more dangerous) through social media.

Edited August 15, 2024 by Earl Aelfheah

[Sue]

Thanks for that picture of the headlines.

That was the one I referred to above, but I couldn't find it.

Disgraceful, aren't they.