Thread by @stand_for_all

Attacks like those in Knowsley aren't because of "concerned parents". They are down to a rising, coordinated, far-right campaign, and it is emboldened by the rhetoric and misinformation about asylum seekers spread by certain politicians and press. #r4today
thetimes.co.uk/article/f28528…

Plenty of people have tried to make out attacks against asylum seekers are all down to "legitimate concerns". They aren't. There is nothing "legitimate" about #KnowsleyRiots, and nothing "legitimate" about far-right thugs going after people seeking safety.

https://twitter.com/stand_for_all/status/1624307834836992000?t=anGhe4S7ozndI4mm3UQ7EQ&s=19

Spurred on by language, such as used by the Home Secretary, their claims that the people in hotels aren't "genuine refugees" are easily and rapidly debunked by the Home Office's own data, which shows how vast majority are recognised as needing protection.
gov.uk/government/sta…

There's rampant misinformation on social media about asylum seekers, but it's regurgitated by certain sections of the media, and actively promoted by several "think tanks", despite all evidence showing it is nonsense. That makes it easier for the far-right to radicalise people.

All of this is made worse by the almost "normalisation" of the far-right. The Prevent Review denying the threat, attacks put down as "lone wolves" or "concerned citizens", even notable Gender Critical people supporting them because their views align against trans individuals.

Minorities are being targeted from every direction. They are used as political footballs. All of that provides the far-right to pretend that they are just following "mainstream" thoughts, and speaking for the "silent majority". They aren't and they need tackling now.

To tackle them though it needs for the media to stop uncritically regurgitating false information. It needs for people to stop sharing easily disprovable lies. It needs for human rights to apply to all and not be "disapplied" to certain groups or on certain circumstances.

There is no excuse for aligning with far-right individuals on a "limited basis", because you agree with them on that topic. All that does is "legitimise" the rest of their views and give them cover.

There also needs to stop being this whole "gotcha" attitude from people when they find a story about someone who is part of a minority committing a crime. Every group will have nasty people, you can't blame a whole minority for their actions.

And on a final, purely practical note, regarding the #KnowsleyRiots. It is pretty hard to argue that a protest which was being organised days before by a known far-right group was actually "concerned parents" responding to an unverified video on the day.
independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/…