A group of protesters dressed in black military-style uniforms march in tight formation through the streets of London.
They are led by strapping men who bellow orders such as 'Atten-hut!' and 'Right face!' and look like a highly trained group of soldiers out on parade.
Some have dark berets, gloves and knee-high leather boots. A few carry walkie-talkies. At least one is wearing an IRA- style balaclava.
In some ways the scene appears to echo the 1930s, when Oswald Mosley's 'Blackshirts' took their ugly brand of fascism to working-class neighbourhoods of our capital city. But this was Brixton, last Saturday.
The occasion was a march for African Emancipation Day, held on the first day of August each year to mark both the anniversary of the date in 1834 when the Abolition of Slavery Act came into force, and to campaign for Britain to pay reparations for its role in the transatlantic slave trade.
The protesters in their stab vests and paramilitary-style fatigues belonged to a strange new organisation that calls itself the Forever Family Force.
Formed last month, to pursue what its social media feed has described as 'the battle against racism, inequality and injustice', it seems to have been conceived as a sort of British version of the Black Panthers, the radical far-Left protest group which wore similar garb as it campaigned against police brutality in 1960s America.
In keeping with this tradition, Forever Family has already sparked controversy.
To critics, the group appears to be importing an inflammatory brand of American-style identity politics — given oxygen by the Black Lives Matter movement — in which people of colour are encouraged to believe that society is so intrinsically racist, their only hope is to mount an organised resistance against the ruling class.
Those who see them as divisive and intimidating include Nigel Farage, who circulated images of last Saturday's protest on Twitter, saying: 'Terrifying scenes in Brixton today. A paramilitary-style force marching in the streets. This is what the BLM movement wanted from the start and it will divide our society like never before.'
Supporters, for their part, point out that the Brixton event was largely peaceful, with just three arrests, and argue that Forever Family is a harmless, if somewhat eccentric, group of well-meaning activists who enjoy dressing up.
The new Blackshirts
The new Blackshirts
“If you trust in yourself, and believe in your dreams, and follow your star. . . you'll still get beaten by people who spent their time working hard and learning things and weren't so lazy.”
Re: The new Blackshirts
Again?
For me, it is far better to grasp the Universe as it really is than to persist in delusion, however satisfying and reassuring.
~ Carl Sagan
~ Carl Sagan
- MajGenl.Meade
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Re: The new Blackshirts
Twice because they are Backshirts
For Christianity, by identifying truth with faith, must teach-and, properly understood, does teach-that any interference with the truth is immoral. A Christian with faith has nothing to fear from the facts
Re: The new Blackshirts
The seven 'comrades' of the New Afrikan Black Panther Party arrested for rioting in New York on Friday night are wealthy students, models, art directors and singers.
The NYPD tweeted their mugshots over the weekend and decried their actions as 'the height of hypocrisy', labelling one of the women 'the poster child for white privilege.'
Clara Kraebber, 20, was arrested along with Adi Sragovich, 20, Frank Fuhrmeister, 30, model Claire Severine, 27, Etkar Surette, 27, and Elliot Rucka, 20, Jade O’Halloran, 30.
'On Friday, September 4th, these individuals were arrested for rioting during demonstrations in Manhattan,' NYPD News tweeted Tuesday.
'They were part of a large group breaking storefront windows. Our investigation into this incident continues.'
The group are suspected of being the culprits behind the estimated $100,000 worth of damage wrought on Manhattan businesses Friday night.
At least two Starbucks, five banks and a Duane Reade had their windows busted. Police recovered two stun guns, smoke grenades, and burglary and graffiti tools.
The protest had been advertised on Twitter by groups calling themselves the “New Afrikan Black Panther Party” and the “Revolutionary Abolitionist Movement.”
“If you trust in yourself, and believe in your dreams, and follow your star. . . you'll still get beaten by people who spent their time working hard and learning things and weren't so lazy.”
- Sue U
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Re: The new Blackshirts
Yes, and ...?society is so intrinsically racist, their only hope is to mount an organised resistance against the ruling class.
Oh, well that's all right, then.Those who see them as divisive and intimidating include Nigel Farage
All the students, art directors and singers I know (sorry, I don't know any models) are incredibly wealthy. But do go on, Daily Fail (I had been guessing NY Post, but close enough!).wealthy students, models, art directors and singers.
GAH!
Re: The new Blackshirts
The highlight of this story, on the class and education level of these rioters, just proves the underlying complaint - in general the justice system is skewed toward policing poor people and people of color.
Take it from a former prosecutor who has mingled with the haves - they’re just as criminally inclined as any other group of humans. They just get away with it a lot more.
Take it from a former prosecutor who has mingled with the haves - they’re just as criminally inclined as any other group of humans. They just get away with it a lot more.
For me, it is far better to grasp the Universe as it really is than to persist in delusion, however satisfying and reassuring.
~ Carl Sagan
~ Carl Sagan