Social Media Hate Crime Interview with BBC News London

Fantastic video clip of Forest Gate Labour Councillor, Seyi Akiwowo, being interviewed by BBC news (after speaking at a United Nations conference no less!) exposing the inconsistency and hypocrisy of twitter and the other social media platforms towards online violence.

Seyi has helped set up Glitch UK "an organisation working to reduce online violence against women and girls (OVAWG) and online hate speech through advocacy, campaigning and training workshops"

Dennis Skinner blasts latest UKIP Bigot

This clip cheered me up no end. Loved the bit about an "United Nations Heart". Well said Dennis :)

When even "The Sun" thinks UKIP is Racist

I think it is safe to say that I have never posted an editorial of "The Sun" on this blog. Nor have I ever knowingly agreed with anything they had to say in the past.

But on Saturday "The Sun" quite rightly accused the UKIP leader, Nigel Farage, of "racism, pure and simple" for his suggestion that all Romanians are "criminals to be feared".

The Sun has a pay wall to see its on-line contents but check out this report on Channel 4 News.

Why I am not surprised in the least at Farage "BNP in Blazers" views. I must admit that I was astonished to read this editorial (see left) that clearly describes UKIP as not only having more than its "fair share of racists and homophobes". 

It also makes it clear that Farage has acted in a racist manner by smearing "Romanians for being Romanian". 

I have hard working UNISON members in my branch who are Romanian by birth, who are carers for vulnerable people, who will be devastated at being libelled by this racist yob as all being "criminals".  What will their residents and clients think?

Now this does not mean that I will be buying the Sun anytime soon but credit where credit due.

Can anyone who is tempted to vote UKIP please realise that it is a deeply ignorant, unpleasant, unBritish, nasty and extreme right wing racist Party.   Nothing more and nothing less.

Searchlight and Hope Not Hate

I've been a subscriber to the monthly anti-fascist magazine "Searchlight" for many years and supporter of its campaigning arm "Hope Not Hate". So I was concerned to hear that they had some sort of a dispute and have gone their separate ways. Taking on racists and Nazi's is difficult, stressful and even dangerous, so it is obvious that there will be tensions and problems from time to time. These things happen. Maybe it is a good idea to separate the research from the campaigning? I don't know.

Yet I was really concerned to read in this month's "Searchlight" a two page article criticising "Hope Not Hate". Now I do not know the ins and outs of the issues or personalities involved. But I cannot see how in any way this article helps anyone but our real enemies. 

Can these differences be sorted out in another way?

(as usual this is a strictly personal view)