Read on Twitter
Running thread of random thoughts/retweets:
- clear difference in how far-right, white supremacist protests are treated by the US state, vs how any other movement is. #BLM ofc and indigenous movements, say, who have consistently met with brutality
- clear difference in how far-right, white supremacist protests are treated by the US state, vs how any other movement is. #BLM ofc and indigenous movements, say, who have consistently met with brutality
- Washington DC is often the site of mass protests. Nothing new today, no never-before-seen tactics, the numbers weren't astronomical.
i.e. It's nothing the police in DC haven't seen before and haven't roundly dealt with easily with kettling tactics and all their massive armoury
i.e. It's nothing the police in DC haven't seen before and haven't roundly dealt with easily with kettling tactics and all their massive armoury
- Add to that the many videos (will share some below) which show either the police letting protesters through, treating them in a friendly manner, or even in one case, taking selfies with them.
- More evidence (on top of mountains of studies on this) that far-right Trump ideology isn't on the fringes in the US police. What extent were today's plans known about within US security? What extent was it spontaneous but met with sympathetic police?
- what extent is it just the fundamentally different treatment that white people get from the police compared to any other racialised group.
Looks like a mix of all three.
Looks like a mix of all three.
- couldn't get a starker example that Trump wasn't a one off. And that voting him out was never anywhere near enough to put Trumpism in the dustbin of history.
- solidarity to all those who'll be targeted and caught up in this hate-vortex Trump has stoked
- solidarity to all those who'll be targeted and caught up in this hate-vortex Trump has stoked
- shows the stakes are too high to put our heads in the sand and hope that a 'return to normal' makes any sense any more:
- this was the obvious logical conclusion to Trump, no one can be surprised.
Yet here at home politicians legitimised Trump. Invited him over, visited him at the White House, presented him with gifts.
Unlikely, but they should be challenged incessentantly on this in coming days
Yet here at home politicians legitimised Trump. Invited him over, visited him at the White House, presented him with gifts.
Unlikely, but they should be challenged incessentantly on this in coming days
- another example (hardly needed) that it *is* important for the left in Ireland to protest Trump, and any other international demagogue. Isn't some secondary issue
- if you don't, you allow the germs to grow here (as they have) & turn your back on ordinary ppl across the world
- if you don't, you allow the germs to grow here (as they have) & turn your back on ordinary ppl across the world
- most importantly, it's clear that the far-right in Ireland have tried to capitalise on the awful killing of George Nkencho. It's more important than ever to stand in solidarity with the black community in Ireland.
- and important to recognise that Trumpism and the recent rise in racism in Ireland share many similar social roots. A society characterised by extreme wealth and extreme scarcity, people bruised & alienated.
- this doesn't excuse this racism one iota, but it does mean that it's those at the top who are ultimately responsible
They've presided over decades now where public safety nets have been slashed & fear & division stoked no end. It's fertile ground for far-right politics to grow
They've presided over decades now where public safety nets have been slashed & fear & division stoked no end. It's fertile ground for far-right politics to grow
if left unchallenged by the Left.
- Ireland isn't America (although the DUP are our own version of homegrown Trumpism) but now is the time to nip this growth in the bud.
- Ireland isn't America (although the DUP are our own version of homegrown Trumpism) but now is the time to nip this growth in the bud.
- Covid will leave plenty more crises in its wake. Right-wing parties in charge will more and more rely on division, on culture-war type politics while they try to make working class people pick up the tab. (eg see ex The Sun editors as Irish Govt spin doctors)
I'm very glad People Before Profit and Rise are taking the stand we are on the tragic George Nkencho situation. I think it would be welcome if other bigger organisations made their voices heard on this & other issues of racism. 2021 isn't gonna be a year for sitting on the fence.
