One thing that deeply worries me about this moment is the resurgence of the far-right.
As anyone watching the global far-right movement will tell you - they are giddy with excitement.
This is also the moment they've been waiting for. We have to avoid feeding that.
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As anyone watching the global far-right movement will tell you - they are giddy with excitement.
This is also the moment they've been waiting for. We have to avoid feeding that.
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The far-right are excited because they think its the 'Race War' they have always been predicting. They've been waiting for this moment and they can't wait to get stuck in.
Ask anyone closely monitoring far-right activity - it has shot through the roof.
Ask anyone closely monitoring far-right activity - it has shot through the roof.
They think BLM protests were the start of the race-war they had always been predicting.
But now they have another godsend: defending statues and 'our heritage' - which they know will have support of many white working class people.
They want to be defenders of that heritage.
But now they have another godsend: defending statues and 'our heritage' - which they know will have support of many white working class people.
They want to be defenders of that heritage.
Even before debate moved to statues, the far-right in the US and UK started infiltrating protests.
They wanted to see more chaos, confrontation and more violence on streets.
By pretending to be Antifa, they could force the Left to start defending violence and force more of it.
They wanted to see more chaos, confrontation and more violence on streets.
By pretending to be Antifa, they could force the Left to start defending violence and force more of it.
It's likely now that the far-right will play both sides: instigate violence (by infiltrating protests) AND pretend to be the only people standing against it.
Great podcast here on how Antifa fears are being stoked up in small towns across the US
slate.com/podcasts/what-…
Great podcast here on how Antifa fears are being stoked up in small towns across the US
slate.com/podcasts/what-…
But BLM since protests have moved on statues - the far-right will too.
This weekend, you'll see gangs of far-rights youths turn up at statues across the country, hoping to spark confrontation and violence, and then sharing that on social media.
More anger = better for far-right
This weekend, you'll see gangs of far-rights youths turn up at statues across the country, hoping to spark confrontation and violence, and then sharing that on social media.
More anger = better for far-right
We are also about to see a LOT of astro-turfing.
We've already fallen for it. During 2016 elections, Russian groups *paid money* to stoke up protests FOR and AGAINST Black Lives Matter across cities.
They could do it again. Anyone can do this.
motherjones.com/politics/2018/…
We've already fallen for it. During 2016 elections, Russian groups *paid money* to stoke up protests FOR and AGAINST Black Lives Matter across cities.
They could do it again. Anyone can do this.
motherjones.com/politics/2018/…
This morning, @hopenothate held a briefing for journalists. summary:
- far-right activity has shot up
- we are likely to see "flashpoints" across UK this weekend
- lots of new FB groups have sprung up to recruit people
- far-right sharing lists of statues to protect
- far-right activity has shot up
- we are likely to see "flashpoints" across UK this weekend
- lots of new FB groups have sprung up to recruit people
- far-right sharing lists of statues to protect
Also, we are lucky many established far-right figures (such at KH, TR et al) have been driven out of social media.
But we are likely to see new ones spring up - who will try and bait people or say outrageous/racist things to go viral.
But we are likely to see new ones spring up - who will try and bait people or say outrageous/racist things to go viral.
One likely response from Left will be: "We won't cower against far-right, we will fight them on the streets"
But they're not here to fight. They're aching to get attention so they can recruit more people.
And we on the Left have been falling for their tricks for last 20 years.
But they're not here to fight. They're aching to get attention so they can recruit more people.
And we on the Left have been falling for their tricks for last 20 years.
I would urge people:
- Do NOT give airtime to far-right, especially on social media or on streets. It will only play into their hands.
- Think about strategy beyond than just expressing anger. We win through moral authority not violence.
- Don't play into far-right hands.
- Do NOT give airtime to far-right, especially on social media or on streets. It will only play into their hands.
- Think about strategy beyond than just expressing anger. We win through moral authority not violence.
- Don't play into far-right hands.
