"You are committing crimes against humanity" is among many featured that make this an organised sustained campaign of intimidation and threat, and malicious communication. Have the govt & police said how they are responding to this?
Would welcome info on whether this is criminal & whether police are treating it as such.
Clearly radicalising of those issuing proceedings
Do those in receipt of such letters have a claim for libel too? Would support to bring a handful of cases have any impact on this network?
Obviously crazy content. Esp role of the Pope. But "serving" fantasy legal notices with righteous anger against NHS, school "crimes against humanity" clearly radicalises. Reduces inhibitions to create warped moral framework to legitimise violence once "legal" notices are ignored.
This is an archetype of "socialisation towards violence" (not just among those carting a gallows around). Prevent should be involved where they can be (though these individuals may be likely to refuse participation).
Pre-pandemic, growing number vulnerable to radicalisation, with an unclear/mixed ideology & attraction to extreme events and violence. Angriest fringe of a fringe (doing personal targeted actions) of anti-vax/lockdown movements mix that with a new 'cause' opendemocracy.net/en/countering-…
Can clearly see here the socialisation towards violence in these responses, after the same person posted footage of issuing a bogus legal notice at family home of the well known journalist. These messages contain unlawful explicit threats & intimidation
* right to protest vaccines, masks, or Covid itself (however weak the case being made)
Vs
* personal targeted actions (with threat/intimidation)
This bogus claim to be "serving" legal notices is a form of intimidation; a threat of future consequences.
Some interesting thoughts on the law here. The third strand links to my concern about the delusion about issuing legal documents
Twitter has produced a paper on how algorithms amplify of political content
- In 6 of 7 countries (except Germany), algorithm boosts mainstream right party content over mainstream left content.
- Reasons unknown.
- this effect is strongest in the UK blog.twitter.com/en_us/topics/c…
"Unboxed": more on how the UK Festival 2022 will explore our creativity, identities and futures. unboxed2022.uk
With so many major national events taking place in 2022, (he Jubilee, Commonwealth Games, BBC centenary, hosting a women's Euros + a footy World Cup) this is a different, pluralist, localised approach to 2022 "Festival of Britain"/ UK across 10 projects unboxed2022.uk
The 2022 festival can also be pitched as part of a post-pandemic re-emergence of creativity & culture. Along with the programme content around the UK, this should help to show that this really isnt going to be a "Festival of Brexit" in any way at all. gov.uk/government/new…
Follow #BSA38 for what John Curtice is sharing about post-Covid and longterm attitudes. Broad concern about inequality, slight uptick. Modest impact on support for redistribution
There is a big rise in thinking paid work is *very* important for health and mental health
There is a broadening consensus that employers should be flexible & supportive in helping people return to work after illness. (A pre-existing BSA measure that may illuminate some nuanced, gradual shifts during pandemic)
More English than Brit 22%
(Including English not Brit 11%)
Both equally 46%
More British than Eng 22%
(inc British not English 11%)
(Both English and British is 68% of respondents overall).
With another method (choose as many as you like from a list), 73% select British,58% select English - including 43% choosing both of those identities. (This method reduce multiple identity choices, as more people tick one box).
Mixed views on English devolution. 55% favour status quo in 3 way choice, with 22% for English parliament, 20% for regional devolution. (Though that is 4/10 for some change). Suggests limited focus on political dimension, rather than cultural recognition.
BSA on immigration. John Curtice reports that citizen deliberation somewhat depolarised views. Participants became warmer about economic and cultural impacts (Leavers shifted more) while those who voted Remain became more open to post-FoM controls bsa.natcen.ac.uk/latest-report/…
Summary of changes
Good for the economy went from 61% to 70%, good for culture went from 64% to 69% after citizen deliberation.
The John Ystumllyn rose, named after the 18th century black north Wales gardener. His marriage to Margaret Gruffydd may be the first interracial marriage recorded in Wales. Congrats @harkness_roses@Zehra_Zaidi & @WeTooBB for bringing the history to life with this lovely tribute