This intimidation process has been practised in the past, but only against 'far right' politicians, usually from the British National Party, who were often prevented from holding rallies, and or, were physically hounded by thugs. This behaviour was apparently agreed with in some imperceptible way, as being 'OK' for some reason. Other far right groups though, such as the English Defence League, were largely immune from this threat, because they had built in thug protection at the rallies (in the form of their own 'boys'), although the sudden resignation by its leader Tommy Robinson was allegedly after threats to his family, although this was not publicly given as a reason.
Sarah Champion MP - Not Champion Of Free Speech |
In both incidents the protesters included breastfeeding mothers, and seemingly came from the same 'groups' (i.e. banners provided by the same organisation) .... or is that same rent-a-mobs? In any case democracy only works when everyone has their say ..... not when some thugs determine who can speak and who can't ..... or its so much for free speech and democracy.
Stopping Free Speech Is Anti-Democratic Even If You Don't Like The Message |
What disturbs me most about this, is not the personalities involved, but that there has been a seemingly casual acceptance that this now can, and does happen. Even that its somehow 'democratic' to have the political landscape re-set by roving protest mobs, guided by who knows whom and motivated by who knows what. If other groups from the right (or even in a very strange world, 'centerists'), take it into their heads that anything the left can do with impunity, they can do as well, then we will become like Greece or some other polarised states, where the political discourse is set by mass rallies, and violent clashes with opponents and the police.
However as its stands, maybe next time, maybe it will be David Cameron, or some other non left leaning politician who gets mobbed into silence ..... then the gloves really will be off.
I don't think that anything good has ever come from a sentence with the word 'mob' in it. ;-(
ReplyDeleteYour probably right on that mate.
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