THE racist riot in Southport following the murderous knife attack on a children’s dance class speaks both to the unscrupulousness and mobilising reach of Britain’s fascist right.
Locals are still coming to terms with Monday’s horrific killings, which have so far claimed the lives of three little girls, with others still in critical condition. A suspect is in custody, an investigation is ongoing. Nobody interested in justice for the victims would be muddying the waters with false rumours. Police stress that unfounded speculation about the attacker is deeply unhelpful.
Fascists are not interested in justice. One of the few things we do know about the suspect is that he lived in the village of Banks in Lancashire, and that he was born in Cardiff.
Yet far-right rabble-rouser “Tommy Robinson,” again abroad having skipped bail, was promoting nonsense on the X social media site from the off about the attack being linked to immigration. Other lies were quickly spreading across social media: a fake name of the supposed perpetrator; the false claim that he was an asylum-seeker, arrived by boat.
…
Vulnerable people who have faced torture, abuse or trafficking for modern slavery, or been bereaved in wars often fuelled by our government, are now fair game to be blamed for unspeakable crimes committed by others.
…
Southport is a reminder that fascists don’t wait for elections. The mayhem and terror they spread is their true element.
…