Hate against asylum seekers and the lawyers who defend them is escalating.
Let’s take a look at how @pritipatel and @BorisJohnson have responded. https://twitter.com/guardian/status/1314997140775669762">https://twitter.com/guardian/...
Let’s take a look at how @pritipatel and @BorisJohnson have responded. https://twitter.com/guardian/status/1314997140775669762">https://twitter.com/guardian/...
May: Farage starts his vigil of hate in Dover. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8296775/Unrepentant-Nigel-Farage-breaks-lockdown-watch-migrants-arriving-Dover.html?ito=amp_twitter_share-top">https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...
Number 10 responds by launching a media blitz on Channel migrants
- starting in the Mail, before moving to the Express and then the Times https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8359253/Priti-Patel-wants-new-powers-curb-illegal-migrants-sneaking-UK-calls-law-change.html">https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...
- starting in the Mail, before moving to the Express and then the Times https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8359253/Priti-Patel-wants-new-powers-curb-illegal-migrants-sneaking-UK-calls-law-change.html">https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...
July: Farage moves inland with a camera to start whipping up hate against asylum seekers in their hotel accommodation https://m.facebook.com/nigelfarageofficial/videos/1514743672030799/">https://m.facebook.com/nigelfara...
August: instead of condemning Farage, ministers try to outdo him.
Number 10 decides a culture war will help them regain control over the news and soften the public up for their long planned attack on civil liberties.
Patel launches it in The Times. https://www.thetimes.co.uk/edition/news/patel-plans-asylum-shake-up-to-send-left-into-meltdown-6zqcf7g8h">https://www.thetimes.co.uk/edition/n...
Number 10 decides a culture war will help them regain control over the news and soften the public up for their long planned attack on civil liberties.
Patel launches it in The Times. https://www.thetimes.co.uk/edition/news/patel-plans-asylum-shake-up-to-send-left-into-meltdown-6zqcf7g8h">https://www.thetimes.co.uk/edition/n...
Later in August: fascist group Britain First hears the dog whistle and starts stalking asylum seekers in hotels.
Ministers stand back and stand by. Total silence. https://www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/cowardly-britain-first-go-migrant-22595314.amp">https://www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www...
Ministers stand back and stand by. Total silence. https://www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/cowardly-britain-first-go-migrant-22595314.amp">https://www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www...
September: far right protesters blockade the port of Dover.
Patel says NOT A WORD.
But on the very same day she denounces @XRebellionUK for its blockade of the Murdoch printing presses. https://twitter.com/sonyasceats/status/1302327772736561154">https://twitter.com/sonyascea...
Patel says NOT A WORD.
But on the very same day she denounces @XRebellionUK for its blockade of the Murdoch printing presses. https://twitter.com/sonyasceats/status/1302327772736561154">https://twitter.com/sonyascea...
Mid-September: our friends @hopenothate reveal that neo-nazi teen group the British Hand is threatening attacks on asylum seekers.
Silence from ministers. https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/hitler-youths-using-instagram-to-recruit-children-xfgnglklv">https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/h...
Silence from ministers. https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/hitler-youths-using-instagram-to-recruit-children-xfgnglklv">https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/h...
Later in September: far right starts targeting army barracks requisitioned by the Home Office to house asylum seekers in Kent.
Still more silence from ministers. https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-kent-54297574">https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-e...
Still more silence from ministers. https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-kent-54297574">https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-e...
September: same thing in Penally.
First Minister of Wales @fmwales calls out ministers in Westminster for standing back and standing by as the far right moves in.
Still they respond with silence. https://twitter.com/fmwales/status/1308418787310477314">https://twitter.com/fmwales/s...
First Minister of Wales @fmwales calls out ministers in Westminster for standing back and standing by as the far right moves in.
Still they respond with silence. https://twitter.com/fmwales/status/1308418787310477314">https://twitter.com/fmwales/s...
September: the physical violence starts.
A lawyer defending the rights of marginalised migrants is attacked with a knife by an assailant.
A confederate flag and far right literature is found in his bag. https://twitter.com/townsendmark/status/1314990686538735616">https://twitter.com/townsendm...
A lawyer defending the rights of marginalised migrants is attacked with a knife by an assailant.
A confederate flag and far right literature is found in his bag. https://twitter.com/townsendmark/status/1314990686538735616">https://twitter.com/townsendm...
Ministers are alerted to the attack.
And then they double down - taking to the platform at the Tory conference to dial up the hate against asylum seekers and immigration lawyers. https://twitter.com/freefromtorture/status/1312768648411516930">https://twitter.com/freefromt...
And then they double down - taking to the platform at the Tory conference to dial up the hate against asylum seekers and immigration lawyers. https://twitter.com/freefromtorture/status/1312768648411516930">https://twitter.com/freefromt...
Britain is on a seriously dangerous track.
At @FreefromTorture we recognise scapegoating strategies linked to hate and violence because this is part of the toxic mix of repression that leads to torture. https://www.opendemocracy.net/en/opendemocracyuk/this-strong-man-populism-is-alarmingly-familiar-to-people-here-fleeing-human-rights-abuses/">https://www.opendemocracy.net/en/opende...
At @FreefromTorture we recognise scapegoating strategies linked to hate and violence because this is part of the toxic mix of repression that leads to torture. https://www.opendemocracy.net/en/opendemocracyuk/this-strong-man-populism-is-alarmingly-familiar-to-people-here-fleeing-human-rights-abuses/">https://www.opendemocracy.net/en/opende...
And there is more than the rights and safety of asylum seekers and their lawyers on the line.
Our warning from many months ago:
“Attacks on civil liberties often start at the border, but they end up affecting us all.” https://m.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/uk/they-enslaved-me-asylum-seeker-recalls-horrors-of-her-journey-to-britain-39490846.html">https://m.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/uk/t...
Our warning from many months ago:
“Attacks on civil liberties often start at the border, but they end up affecting us all.” https://m.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/uk/they-enslaved-me-asylum-seeker-recalls-horrors-of-her-journey-to-britain-39490846.html">https://m.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/uk/t...
This a moment for everyone who believes in British values & freedoms and our cherished rule of law to crush the hate with love & hope.
Sure, we will litigate and myth bust.
But In the end only people power will defeat the politics of hate. https://twitter.com/freefromtorture/status/1302174389316837376">https://twitter.com/freefromt...
Sure, we will litigate and myth bust.
But In the end only people power will defeat the politics of hate. https://twitter.com/freefromtorture/status/1302174389316837376">https://twitter.com/freefromt...