sunnysidedown
caput mortuum
Thanks for the report. Just to clarify, my comment was more an observation between then and now. Tactics today are a different kettle of fish!
People getting racially abused because of the referendum result
- Thread starter bi0boy
- Start date
Thanks for the report. Just to clarify, my comment was more an observation between then and now. Tactics today are a different kettle of fish!
Numbers
an ting!
Have seen some really unsavoury behaviour around here today, the pub at the top of the road has a few of the local heads sat outside and when anyone of foreign persuasion walks by they all wave little union jack flags and sing a few lines of god save the queen followed by various football type chants.
Louis MacNeice
Autumn Journalist
stethoscope
Well-Known Member
I'm expecting some 'told you so' here, but even I've been genuinely surprised at just quite the blatancy and frequency of some of the things I've heard today. Don't get me wrong, both remain and leave have been filled full of right-wing sentiment, and leave especially has obviously attracted all manner of right and far-right voices. That was no surprise. But whilst I expected the Britain First, EDL type groups to be out and exploiting a leave vote (and I'm pleased to see some mobilisation already from anti-fascists to confront this), the reports of casual drive-by style abuse and people making offensive comments to anyone going by who look/sound 'foreign' is really something I wasn't really expecting to be quite like this and so soon. Perhaps I had a higher expectation of civility within society than what really exists.
I know I shouldn't be surprised. We've got major problems festering in Europe and have had for a while now - the rise of far right in other parts of Europe have been vocal for a while. And the referendum here has exposed that and we're seeing our own homegrown reaction. What we are seeing in the rise of populist right and far-right is very much down to EU neoliberalism (and member state government policies) and of lack of sovereignty, that has screwed over workers and conditions across Europe, creating a very unequal, unfair and uncertain Europe. And I think that far from the EU creating some sort of adopted 'European' identity to bring us all together, their runs some very deep cracks which if not had been seen right now through our own referendum leave vote, were going to come increasingly to the fore anyway. I'm not convinced that a remain would have especially stopped any of this happening that much further down the road. Other member states, if not so boldly before, will now be looking at their own futures as part of the EU. The EU project is failing.
As I still believe, there were no great outcomes from this referendum - remain or leave. And despite my own left-leave. We have some deep divisions both here in the UK, and across Europe. Whilst I believe the fight is very much on now to carve out some positive change from the mess, my concern is that the working class and poor (and I mean that in an international sense), will continue to be marginalised whilst the EU and governments continue to aggressively pursue neoliberalism (one of market liberalisation, of privatisation, of constantly reducing wages and conditions) and the very real negative societal and economic effects this has on the rest of us.
I know I shouldn't be surprised. We've got major problems festering in Europe and have had for a while now - the rise of far right in other parts of Europe have been vocal for a while. And the referendum here has exposed that and we're seeing our own homegrown reaction. What we are seeing in the rise of populist right and far-right is very much down to EU neoliberalism (and member state government policies) and of lack of sovereignty, that has screwed over workers and conditions across Europe, creating a very unequal, unfair and uncertain Europe. And I think that far from the EU creating some sort of adopted 'European' identity to bring us all together, their runs some very deep cracks which if not had been seen right now through our own referendum leave vote, were going to come increasingly to the fore anyway. I'm not convinced that a remain would have especially stopped any of this happening that much further down the road. Other member states, if not so boldly before, will now be looking at their own futures as part of the EU. The EU project is failing.
As I still believe, there were no great outcomes from this referendum - remain or leave. And despite my own left-leave. We have some deep divisions both here in the UK, and across Europe. Whilst I believe the fight is very much on now to carve out some positive change from the mess, my concern is that the working class and poor (and I mean that in an international sense), will continue to be marginalised whilst the EU and governments continue to aggressively pursue neoliberalism (one of market liberalisation, of privatisation, of constantly reducing wages and conditions) and the very real negative societal and economic effects this has on the rest of us.
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friendofdorothy
Solidarity against neoliberalism!
I think politicians and the media have enjoyed an enormous about of shit stirring in the referendum build up and that there has been far too much focus of immigration issues by the far right.
I don't think either side had the interests of the poor and the working class in mind when they where stirring up some powerful emotions with their often deceitful and misleading arguments. It feels like the UK has never been more divided. I'm not sure how these differences can ever be reconcilled.
oryx
Sitting on the bok of the day
I'm not sure about that in a wider historical context. The rise of the populist right in the Thirties (and its subsequent outcomes) obviously far predates the EU.
And the 70s (Lewisham 77, the rise of the NF and all that) predate the rise of neoliberalism and globalisation.
Immigrant blaming is as old as history. (No suggestion whatsoever, steth, that you personally or many others on here who were in favour of 'Lexit' are doing that BTW).
sihhi
Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered
Those who are racist - bearing in mind the BNP got over 900,000 votes in the Euro elections before last - will inevitably seek to test the waters to push the boundaries because they are emboldened by thinking that 17,000,000 agree with them.
Also the past two months have seen constant media warnings on immigration in all sorts of ways, also liberals or leftists' those not necessarily given to statements against immigration, in a desperate effort to persuade voters to vote-remain have called for more restrictions on migration - Chuka Umunna, Tom Watson and John McDonnell. The most recent addition to the list is Andy Burnham but only after the referendum result.
Immigration policy in an advanced capitalist state like Britain will ebbs and flow - it has always been this way though people do not perhaps remember the effect of the 1962 or the 1981 laws. There might well be restrictions (Leave in practice under Cameron-successor) but the alternative (Remain in practice-Cameron) was large numbers of EU migrants blocked from social support for 4 years. Hobson's choice as you rightly point out.
None of this is the fault of the non-racist part of the Leave or Remain voters.
Jeff Robinson
Marxist-Lentilist: Jackboots and Jackfruit
A Polish friend posted this up on FB. It is one example, but there are a number of others of my news feed echoing this sentiment:
Jeff Robinson
Marxist-Lentilist: Jackboots and Jackfruit
A UK citizen of Asian Hispanic dissent writes:
A Cypriot friend:
A Dutch friend:
etc etc.
A Cypriot friend:
A Dutch friend:
etc etc.
FridgeMagnet
Administrator
POSK London is the long running Polish centre in Hammersmith down the road from me. Apparently graffiti saying "go home", from tweets by others.
ska invita
back on the other side
Theres a collection of all these being amassed by someone on facebook and complied as a photo alubm. I saw about 100 incidents in that last night
Mr.Bishie
pickled egg
I'll try & post the link. Depressing shit, it really is though.
The39thStep
Urban critical thinker
There's a twitter feed as well.
The39thStep
Urban critical thinker
Would the same thing be happening if Remain won by the same margin ?
ska invita
back on the other side
We can only guess. I dont think THIS would have happened though, no.
chilango
Hypothetical Wanker
Would the same thing be happening if there'd been no referendum at all?
ska invita
back on the other side
Worth remembering the vast majority of incidents won't end up on twitter.
One of my many fears now is that when it becomes clear the Tories won't be closing borders or deporting people the racists will feel betrayed and become ripe pickings for a more organised far right, who as we speak, I am sure, are making plans.
One of my many fears now is that when it becomes clear the Tories won't be closing borders or deporting people the racists will feel betrayed and become ripe pickings for a more organised far right, who as we speak, I am sure, are making plans.
emanymton
A cat politely sat on the flaming gardener.
I tend to think there would probably have been an increase whatever the referendum result, but obviously different in tone and content. But maybe I am just trying to comfort myself since I support leaving.
Jeff Robinson
Marxist-Lentilist: Jackboots and Jackfruit
Much of it certainly would, but it does seem from the nature of the taunting that has been reported that some of it pertains specifically to the referendum. Certainly that appears to be a perception amongst many EU residents themselves.
ska invita
back on the other side
Of course its to do with the Referendum. Racists who voted Exit feel they won and that this is what they voted for: the right to do this.
ska invita
back on the other side
For racist voters Take Our Country Back meant not repatriate power from the EU but white english people taking their country back from non white english people. Leave meant foreigners leaving.
bi0boy
Power User
Yep, my aunt in Havering voted leave to get our country back and stop all those asylum seekers...
ska invita
back on the other side
The dual meaning of the language was no mistake either. CUNTS
taffboy gwyrdd
Embrace the confusion!
Aka "appeasement"
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