This morning is yet another where we have woken up to the news that the far right continues to riot across the UK, and it is anxiety inducing. For the first time in my 35 years of life, I feel, like many other, unsettled in the country we call home. Disinformation, dishonesty, and dishonourable acts have led to the violent disorder perpetrated by a loud, violent, minority, and it is time that there is a reckoning against all of this.
Growing up, I was told by my family members who were born here in the 60s and 70s, of the violence they faced due to groups such as the National Front, and after decades of hard work to stamp this prejudice out and make our society more equal and equitable, it seems that we are sliding back to those dark times. To see the reports of the far-right and – let’s not beat around the bush here – of racists co-opting a tragedy as an excuse to attack anyone who is not white is disgusting and rage inducing. But we did not get here in a vacuum.
For years, we have seen traditional media, social media, and algorithm-led platforms pushing far-right figures to the fore on a regular basis. This is despite warnings from individuals and groups that doing so emboldens these figures and spreads their message. Challenging them in the social media space does not work, especially if some of those spaces are owned by those that agree with such views. I point to the traditional media groups, both broadcast and newspapers, that have have barely challenged far right talking points, and instead used them to validate their own messages instead. We have seen headlines from the likes of the Daily Mail and The Sun constantly attack those from non-white and non-Christian backgrounds, fuelling hate. Even the likes of the BBC have not helped in this matter, platforming Nigel Farage a record 32 times on Question Time under the pretence of providing balanced opinions, while ITV featured him in I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here!, which might have made him seem more affable to some.
All of this has led to massive changes to our society, most significantly propelling us toward Brexit, and now in the most recent General Election, to Reform snatching 14% of the vote, and attracting members of the far-right to it in the process. Even now, reporting on the riots is still being framed as protest across the media landscape, conflating legitimate protest with actual violent disorder and thuggery. Every single reporter and editor in our media should have a frank and open discussion on how they report on issues that affect people from minority backgrounds, and how their reporting over the years has fuelled what has now happened, instead of acting surprised at the result. Will it happen? That is unlikely.
Our politicians have not helped either. Over the last 14 years, all we have really had is culture wars and divisive politics. Asylum seekers have been othered by the very highest of offices, and now are under violent attack. What is worse is a lot of this rhetoric has come from people who are from minority backgrounds, pandering to the far right for a grip on power. They think that moving even further right will get them in the top jobs again. The reality is that once the far right is done with them, they will be discarded and grouped in with the rest of us as an other. Social media is also to blame, allowing constant disinformation to spread faster than the truth and featuring algorithms that push far-right content. On my own Facebook feed I am constantly shown posts from such groups even though I am not a member of any of them, nor do I want to see them. Social media companies need to be held to account and disinformation needs to be stamped out at the source.
Reversing this trend will take a huge amount of effort, and our education system has a large role tackling the narrative that people from minority backgrounds are only recent arrivals to this country or that they are not British. The British Empire lasted hundreds of years and saw people from all over move across it. The first Indian MP elected to the UK Parliament was Dadabhai Naoroji in 1892, something that is not taught in schools. Britain has been quick to show pride that it was the leader in abolishing slavery, while not giving credence to folks like Ottobah Cugoano, Mary Prince, Olaudah Equiano, and Ukawsaw Gronniosaw, all of whom are Black Britons that lived during the 18th and 19th centuries. Our education system skips over Empire, ignoring the hard truths that at one stage in this country’s history there was a huge dark period that saw millions suffer, while a few benefited.
We have to remember that the far-right is loud and often violent, but it is a minority. That lesson needs to especially be learned by those that platform them regularly. Even though they are a minority, the far right has to be guarded against and pushed back against over the long term. This morning I signed up as a member to ROTA – Race on the Agenda and Amnesty International Anti Racism Network, to better educate myself and to get involved in ways to counter the racism that perpetuates across our society. I would ask that, if you are tired of racism rearing its head again and again, you do the same.
A final thing in case any disinformation is spread by the far-right about me. My family settled in the UK 70 years ago. I was born and raised here. I work full time. I come from a Punjabi Sikh background. I am British.
Stefan L
It’s been completely shocking to see the violence being perpetrated this past week. As if the tragedy in Southport wasn’t enough, the way it’s been twisted through fabrications and turned into domestic terrorism cannot be allowed to happen.
Anubis2097
I want to start this by saying that all riots and politically motivated violence is wrong and I am entirely against all of it. I would like to think this is the position of most sensible people.
I do think it is odd however that you put out this article in opposition to the riots when you at TSA have previously supported other causes that have used the same tactics. https://www.thesixthaxis.com/2020/06/02/black-lives-matter/
Riots have been commonplace for a good few years now and they all need to be equally unacceptable no matter the agenda behind them. Allowing these riot tactics in recent years; causes like BLM, Free Palestine, the violet thug who got stamped on at Manchester airport etc has empowered these racist morons to do the same. Worse still is the fact that if we crack down hard now it adds fuel to their ‘two tier policing’ argument.
Aran Suddi
Black Lives Matter did not use violence against white people for change. Black Lives Matter was a call to show how a minority group was being systematically attacked.
People of colour are under attack in the UK by racists. They tried to set fire to a hotel filled with asylum seekers, a South Asian man was dragged from his car and beaten as people shouted Paki at him.
Your whataboutism is disgusting.
Matthijs
Tell me you don’t live in the US without telling me you don’t live in the US
Galgomite
Agreed. A push to categorize these situations as right or wrong and silence those who would disagree is counterproductive and BLM was an example of that. If people are committing violent crimes they should be going to jail, in all cases.
Anubis2097
Seriously? I say all riots and violence are wrong and you call me disgusting?
If a moderate voice calling for calm and discussion on all sides is disgusting then we are already as divided as you are worried about in your article.
I say again, it is all wrong. Political violence against anyone for any reason is wrong.
Your ability to only see the bad in a cause that you don’t believe in (I entirely disagree with it too for clarity) but justify it in ones you do is what is disgusting here. We are being divided and we need to unite against all hate and discrimination, but peacefully.
You voiced your concern and I voiced mine, dealing with this incorrectly is only going to empower and embolden the far right.
Aran Suddi
Discussion on all sides? The far right would have people like me kicked out of the country or worse, killed. The only way to tackle the far right is through better education and deplatforming those that push for it. Of course I’m not going to see any good in the cause of the far right, and you have said that is disgusting.
Stefan L
We absolutely did not condone the use of violence during the BLM protests, and it’s been reported that over 93% of those were peaceful.
I don’t we can reasonably conflate that with what’s currently going on with the far right in the UK.
Anubis2097
Let’s be very clear here: I didn’t say there were any good points in the far right cause. I said that you see the bad in rioting when it is not for a cause you believe in but it’s acceptable when it’s something you believe in.
You seem to be saying that discussion and democracy are not the way to deal with the far right, censorship and I imagine anti-far-right riots are going to sort it out?
We want the same thing and you are managing to fight with me, your emotional reaction and ideas for solutions are playing right into their hands.
I will say it one last time, stop letting all these people divide us. They all have their own agendas and our division is in their interest.
Stefan L
We never said rioting was acceptable, but can support a cause when the overwhelming majority of protests are peaceful or calling for less violence. Rioting cannot be the answer.
I’m also not sure it’s unreasonable censorship to prevent the spread of outright lies and fabrications that have led to this violence, nor to say that a political movement with a small fraction of the vote and popular support shouldn’t have quite so much airtime.
Dominic L
The use of a tragedy to further violence, hatred and racism is vile. What I’ve seen this weekend showcases how easily people are drawn into this type of thinking, and how racism continues to flourish. Seeing my friends, and my children’s friends, be made to feel unwelcome in this country, their own country, is sickening.
We must tackle misinformation and violence, and root out the racism that lies at the heart of it
Andrewww
I agree with you fully, things are going in a very worrying and wrong direction recently in a lot of countries. And recent or upcoming elections also show it’s not only a very small minority either which is receptive for xenophobic tendencies, unfortunately, whether it’s in the US, France, Germany, or where I live in the middle of Europe.
TSBonyman
It’s frightening and very sad to see, there is simply no excuse for this opportunistic thuggery. Really hope all those responsible are held to account.