this post was submitted on 04 Aug 2024
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The United Kingdom woke up Sunday morning to city streets covered in debris and smoldering rubbish as a weekend of far-right, anti-immigration demonstrations — stoked by conspiracy theories spread on social media — erupted into violence in seven cities across the nation.

Police arrested at least 100 people, and riot police wearing helmets and holding shields came out in force as Prime Minister Keir Starmer pledged to take action against “extremists.”

On Saturday, groups in Leeds waving St. George’s Cross flags, England’s national flag regularly flown by far-right groups, shouted “Muslims off our streets,” pairing it with a slur suggesting they were criminal child abusers. In the city of Hull, rioters threw bottles and smashed a window at a hotel housing asylum-seekers as demonstrators clashed with police.

What started as targeted anti-immigration demonstrations quickly descended into directionless disorder. A library in Liverpool, reopened in 2023 as an “education to employment” service for people of all abilities, was set ablaze.

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[–] [email protected] 110 points 4 months ago (3 children)

Just goes to show that conservatives are the single biggest threat to civilised societies everywhere.

How do we deal with them? It should be obvious by now that something needs to be done, but the rest of us can't just go full conservative and shove them in extermination camps like they'd do to us

[–] frankgrimeszz 47 points 4 months ago (3 children)

Honestly, get rid of the tabloids full of misinformation. Make blatantly false misinformation illegal. Better education. “The more you know 💫” adverts. The biggest problem is the Torries who blame everything they can on immigrants. They need to legally be held accountable for the mountain of lies.

[–] [email protected] 19 points 4 months ago (1 children)

Make blatantly false misinformation illegal

Notably that'd only help if the majority of misinformation is coming from somewhere your legal system can reach

[–] Nastybutler 10 points 4 months ago

Not to mention that then it's up to someone in power to decide what "misinformation" is

[–] [email protected] 5 points 4 months ago

Honestly, get rid of the tabloids full of misinformation.

In Germany, press law says that if you publish false information about someone, they can sue you to publish a correction -- placed as prominently as the original article. Which is how you get front pages like this: Counter-statement by the offended party, to the square millimetre as large as the original title.

Now don't get me wrong the Bild is still abhorrent. But that kind of accountability through embarrassment does make them think thrice.

Another approach would be anti-monopoly laws. Haven't looked into the actual ownership structure but by what they're writing and pushing the British press seems to be basically wholly owned by Atlas-affiliated people.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago)

I hate to be that guy in this context but perhaps a governmental "ministry of truth" isn't all that optimal.

Free education alone would massage the issue, so would actively combating and preventing foreign states attempts to stoke the flames (China and Russia on Social Media).

[–] credo 10 points 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago) (1 children)

Perhaps we shove them into “education” camps instead?

(Like high school / secondary school)

[–] [email protected] 11 points 4 months ago (1 children)

They've been to the same schools and have access to the same information we all have, though.

[–] credo 6 points 4 months ago (1 children)

Yes, but did they take it seriously?

[–] [email protected] 18 points 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago)

The question is do they even have the capacity for taking schooling "seriously".

Some do. A lot of them don't – there's are multiple empirical scientific studies that show conservatives are more likely to be… well, in a word, stupid. Here's a study I saw someone quote on Lemmy earlier:

  • Does Lower Cognitive Ability Predict Greater Prejudice? [T]here exists a solid empirical paper trail demonstrating that lower cognitive abilities (e.g., abstract-reasoning skills and verbal, nonverbal, and general intelligence) predict greater prejudice. We discuss how the effects of lower cognitive ability on prejudice are explained (i.e., mediated) by greater endorsement of right-wing socially conservative attitude. […]

Right-wing ideologies offer well-structured and ordered views about society that preserve traditional societal conventions and norms (e.g., Jost, Glaser, Kruglanski, & Sulloway, 2003). Such ideological belief systems are particularly attractive to individuals who are strongly motivated to avoid uncertainty and ambiguity in preference for simplicity and predictability (Jost et al., 2003; Roets & Van Hiel, 2011). Theoretically, individuals with lower mental abilities should be attracted by right-wing social-cultural ideologies because they minimize complexity and increase perceived control (Heaven, Ciarrochi, & Leeson, 2011; Stankov, 2009). Conversely, individuals with greater cognitive skills are better positioned to understand changing and dynamic societal contexts, which should facilitate open-minded, relatively left-leaning attitudes (Deary et al., 2008a; Heaven et al., 2011; McCourt, Bouchard, Lykken, Tellegen, & Keyes, 1999). Lower cognitive abilities therefore draw people to strategies and ideologies that emphasize what is presently known and considered acceptable to make sense and impose order over their environment. Resistance to social change and the preservation of the status quo regarding societal traditions—key principles underpinning right-wing social-cultural ideologies—should be particularly appealing to those wishing to avoid uncertainty and threat.

Indeed, the empirical literature reveals negative relations between cognitive abilities and right-wing social-cultural attitudes, including right-wing authoritarian (e.g., Keiller, 2010; McCourt et al., 1999), socially conservative (e.g., Stankov, 2009; Van Hiel et al., 2010), and religious attitudes (e.g., Zuckerman, Silberman, & Hall, 2013).

[–] [email protected] 8 points 4 months ago

Realistically, the only real way to deal with them is counter-protest, but that's difficult since the right has completely taken over the direct action/protest field in the past 10 years, so it's a question whether or not the left can organize anymore (unless things get really bad, like how Antifa was very active during Trump).

We can try to combat misinformation and propaganda on the media to try and prevent this from even happening or telling people that it's all bullshit, but it's not effective since many popular sources directly benefit from this misinformation (be it in clicks or political goals) and either turn a blind eye or purposefully spread it (notable instance being Twitter).

Unless some sort of magical fairy-tale leftist revolution happens where most people get rallied under class issues and inequality rather than race and shared bigotry, this will probably continue happening more and more.

[–] [email protected] 86 points 4 months ago (9 children)

On Reddit, the UK subs got extra racist.

Maybe they've always been and I'm too thick of an American to understand. But top comments strongly hinting at violence was at the top.

[–] [email protected] 62 points 4 months ago (2 children)

The racists are getting louder because people like me are leaving Reddit. It's fast becoming a nazi bar.

[–] Angry_Autist 7 points 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago) (1 children)

REddit mods and admins give the hard right extra leeway, temp bans for death threats.

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[–] [email protected] 29 points 4 months ago (1 children)

I'm sensing some Israeli astroturfing going on. Many people are seeing Israel for what it is from since last year. In all this, Israel could use some diversion of attention.

And what better place to concentrate your efforts on other than the rise in islamophoia along with racism in current events. Help dehumanize your enemy abroad. Although the killer wasn't even a muslim, they are still being targeted, even after the facts came out.

Seems very suspicious to me and Israel isn't new to brigading and astroturfing. They in-fact have state-run programmes for it.

[–] davepleasebehave 21 points 4 months ago

as does Russia. As does China. it's in everyone's interest to create shit sandwiches for the Brits to eat.

[–] [email protected] 23 points 4 months ago

We aren't all racist. Far right are just incredibly vocal. It's the same everywhere. Left leaning population are also quieter.

[–] frankgrimeszz 18 points 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago) (1 children)

They have always been. I had the option to move to England permanently and decided not to. The reality there is not pretty. If you’re a 100% white local you probably won’t notice.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago) (9 children)

If you’re 100% white you probably won’t notice.

100% white, cis, and straight.

There's this transmasc / enby / bigender "influencer" (Eddie Engels) who's planning on moving to the UK (and not exactly to what anybody would call a liberal-minded area either iirc) to be close to his currently long-distance boyfriend, and I feel sorry for the guy. He's just such a quintessentially queer character that it's likely he's actually not going to be safe there, and I really don't know if he's thought this thing through too well…

the things we do for love 🤷

Edit: I had to check because somebody asked, but it was actually Bristol he's moving to, which should be completely fine. Vague memory was vague, heh

[–] frankgrimeszz 10 points 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago)

I saw a young Asian-Canadian twitch live streamer visit one of the worse areas and he had no idea how close he came to being killed (at least until it was almost too late). A gang of teens with knives came after him. The second they pulled masks over their face I knew he was probably finished. Thankfully some cops saved him and dropped him back near his hotel in a tourist area.

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[–] Melvin_Ferd 9 points 4 months ago

Sucks we ceded all social media to the racists and advertisers that encourage them because of how much more engaged they are online

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[–] workerONE 69 points 4 months ago (2 children)

"The latest demonstrations follow a week of riots in the country after three young girls were killed in a knife attack at a Taylor Swift-themed dance party in the town of Southport. At the center of the demonstrations was a conspiracy theory, spread on social media, based on a lie that the perpetrator was Muslim, an asylum-seeker or both.

Less than three hours after the attack on the girls, AI-generated images were shared on X by an account called Europe invasion, depicting a man in traditional Muslim dress waving a knife outside the U.K.’s houses of Parliament. The post has since been viewed over 900,000 times.

A TikTok account with no previous content that called for protests near the attack site also amassed almost 60,000 views within hours, a spokesperson for Tech Against Terrorism told The Guardian."

[–] Xenny 49 points 4 months ago (2 children)

Wow it didn't take long for ai to cause massive panic. Expect to see this kind of thing ramp up.

[–] [email protected] 13 points 4 months ago

It was obviously gonna happen sooner or later, tbh I'm surprised it took this long

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[–] [email protected] 32 points 4 months ago (1 children)

Big shout out to the Punk Festival that organized a counter protest on the fly and helped clean up the shit heads. Truly fucking punk.

Protestors clash with police as Pro-Britain rally moves outside Rebellion Punk Festival

Later in the video, the crowds are seen up at St John’s Square, as the rally - which was partly about anti-immigration - moved outside the Winter Gardens, where Rebellion Punk Festival was taking place. Festival-goers can be seen amidst the protestors, some who were counter-protesting with anti-fascist banners while some helped to clean up the mess - including broken glass from bottles that were thrown.

[–] Cryophilia 13 points 4 months ago

Nazi Punks Fuck Off!

[–] CaptainSpaceman 28 points 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago) (3 children)

Friendly reminder Belfast is part of the UK and had similar violence

Article failed to mention that

[–] frankgrimeszz 20 points 4 months ago (3 children)

When I read UK, I automatically assume it includes Northern Ireland and Scotland. Otherwise they would just say England.

[–] Z3k3 10 points 4 months ago

You would be supprised how often they don't when it's shitty news

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[–] [email protected] 9 points 4 months ago (1 children)

I'm not up on UK politics, please explain to me why that needs to be pointed out.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 4 months ago (1 children)

Northern Ireland is on the Isle of Ireland, but part of the UK. Ireland has a fraught history with the UK. Look into "the troubles" if thats a new term to you.

[–] [email protected] 12 points 4 months ago (1 children)

I'm aware of that stuff, i just don't see why it's relevant to this current event

[–] CaptainSpaceman 4 points 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago)

Because the headline talks about far right violence across the UK but fails to mention Belfast, which is a major city in the UK.

This is standard SOP for people to ignore NI in general, and im trying to highlight the "missing info"

[–] d00ery 6 points 4 months ago

Though there's nothing happening in Wales or Scotland that I've read about.

[–] FelixCress 14 points 4 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago) (1 children)

Older I grow, more I understand that Mark Twain was right when he said that the only way to make human beings from some people is with a rifle.

While obviously the above shouldn't be taken literally, they however should all be arrested, sentenced, locked up and keys thrown away.

[–] thenextguy 3 points 4 months ago

Man is the only animal that blushes. Or needs to.

[–] [email protected] 11 points 4 months ago

I'm surprised it hadn't happened sooner tbh.

The police said "we don't believe this to be terrorism related", which seems to be code for "the suspect is not white, and Tommy Robinson is on the way". Or he would have been had he not fled the country so he didn't get arrested for something else.

There's a lot of hate for the illegal immigrants that have been shoved into run down hotels up and down the country, often in the poorest areas. I often check my local Facebook groups, and no matter what happens (ducks found dead, dog missing, theft, rape) the response is always "Probably one of the Novotel lot!" It wouldn't have surprised me in the slightest if rioting kicked off here as well. I suspect the only reason it hasn't is we're just not a big enough town for any of them to organise it.

The incident sparking this wave isn't even for that fire. It's a British guy who snapped. But people don't care. It's just an excuse now for a show of force.

It could all have been avoided by hiring more people to process applications back when the numbers started ramping up, but here we are with hundreds of thousands of immigrants awaiting decisions with nowhere else to go.

[–] FuglyDuck 9 points 4 months ago

For a hot second there I thought the Bottle Blonde was one of our Howler Monkeys… and like … “oh good the UK arrested that bitch….” But no. It’s not Howler Monkey #2 (aka Marjorie Taylor Greene)

[–] [email protected] 6 points 4 months ago (1 children)

im astounded they were arrested

usually these news articles end with "and the police did nothing at all until a black teenager was spotted holding a churro and shot into a fine mist by 30 officers on scene"

[–] hihellobyeoh 14 points 4 months ago (1 children)

This is in the UK, not the US, police aren't as heavily armed there.

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