Defend All Migrants. June twenty fourth 2016 was the day after the Brexit referendum when by a slim majority – 3.78% – the British inhabitants voted to go away the European Union. Though it was a non-binding referendum, the federal government had unwisely promised they might implement the end result and ultimately did so within the worst manner potential, resulting in lots of our present issues.
In fact it’s finished and though we had been lied to and tricked in some ways it’s a determination which can’t be reversed within the foreseeable future, although hopefully a brand new authorities will abandon the present excessively combative method and attempt to negotiate some extra wise methods to stay with our neighbours. On many ranges we stay part of Europe and wish to search out insurance policies which recognise the info of tradition and geography.
One vital side of the marketing campaign to go away Europe was the encouragement of racism and xenophobia notably by the UKIP-linked Depart.EU, but in addition by the official Vote Depart marketing campaign. London Mayor Sadiq Khan was certainly one of few politicians on the time to accuse Vote Depart of selling ‘Mission Hate’ however tutorial analysis in addition to Parliament’s personal Digital, Tradition, Media & Sport committee has proven clearly how they used TV adverts and social media to make use of racism to advertise the Brexit vote. You possibly can learn extra in Actually Mission Hate: the third scandal of the official Vote Depart marketing campaign headed by Boris Johnson.
So on the day following the referendum Socialists and anarchists held a rally in East London earlier than marching to the workplaces of Information Worldwide on a roundabout route for migrant rights and in opposition to racism and fascist violence. Migration and immigrants have been attacked and scapegoated not solely by each Stay and Depart campaigns however by mainstream events and media over greater than 20 years, stoking up hatred by insisting immigrants are a “downside”.
As I acknowledged on My London Diary, “The occasion was known as by Motion for Justice, rs21, London Antifascists and Jewdas, and supported by different teams together with Brick Lane Debates, Nationwide Marketing campaign In opposition to Charges and Cuts (NCAFC), Proper to Stay, Radical Meeting, Clapton Ultras, the Antiuniversity, English collective of prostitutes, intercourse employees open college, lesbians and gays help the migrants, Razem Londyn, London Anarchist Federation, Kent anti-racist community, dywizjon 161, colectivo anticapitalista Londres and Plan C London in addition to others who introduced banners and plenty of people.“
Regardless of the big variety of organisations, the precise quantity of people that turned up for the protest wasn’t large, although there have been most likely effectively over a thousand in Altab Ali Park by the point the speeches started. As I wrote, ” Individuals stood round in teams bemoaning the results of the referendum; most had both voted to stay or chosen to not vote – or had not been eligible as EU residents or foreigners working right here. They represented a lot of primarily younger London, only a few of whom voted to go away the EU, and most like me who had been shocked and bitterly dissatisfied by the Brexit vote.“
A bunch of three folks interviewing folks to digicam for a right-wing US web site had clearly come to impress folks, asking foolish questions and showing to brag over the Brexit end result. Individuals instructed them to go away however they continued and ultimately the girl interviewer complained to police that her jokey Brexit hat had been stolen and her cameraman had been punched, although it appeared extra a efficiency to digicam than a real grievance. Though police talked to some close by protesters who didn’t again up her complaints additionally they made positive the crew left the park relatively than proceed to fire up bother.
After a lot of speeches the march shaped up and moved off, with the organisers apparently taking a tour of the East Finish and the Metropolis on the way in which to London Bridge. Various smoke flares made its progress vibrant and there was appreciable noise from slogans and a few loud music. When the march turned north relatively than south on Houndsditch I made a decision I’d walked far sufficient and left it to go house and file my story.
Rather more on My London Diary: Defend All Migrants.
Tags: anarchists, Boris Johnson, Brexit referendum, Brexit vote, fascist violence, Depart.EU, London, march, mass media, Information Worldwide, peter Marshall, press, Mission Hate, protest, racism, rally, Refugges welcome, rigth-wing press, scapegoating, smoke flares, social media, socialists, TV, Vote Depart, xenophobia
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