Passivity is not the answer

This Green and Surprisingly Pleasant Land suggests that the racist mobs cannot be defeated by the authorities without mass mobilization of ordinary people

We are told to leave it to the authorities to sort this out but the history of combating racist intimidation suggests that it is equally important to mobilize ordinary people to defend their communities and make it clear that the mob is isolated.

In the 1930s the most famous instance of resistance to racism emerged in London’s East End where fascist thugs were trying to terrorize the Jewish population. Despite police doing everything they could to stop anti-fascists confronting the fascists, they emerged in strength taking up the cry of the Spanish Republicans, ‘They Shall Not Pass’. They did not and never dared to return.

The racist mobs moved west in 1958 and went on the rampage through the streets of London’s Notting Hill district, home to a large population originating from the Caribbean. The following year an initiative by local people filled those same streets with even more people celebrating a joyful carnival that grew and grew. The racists never came back.

By the 1970s organized racist mobs re-emerged throughout Britain. Most rallied under the banner of the National Front and they did much to terrorize Britain’s black and brown communities right up to the point when mass mobilizations led by the Anti-Nazi League forced them off the streets.

Racism and extreme xenophobia are unlikely to completely fade away but history shows that the best way to put the racist mobs back into their box is by people taking to the streets, as they have impressively done in recent days.

While the anti-racists have mobilized to keep the streets safe for everyone, the rampaging racists are intent on targeting the vulnerable.  They are more than ready to try and burn alive asylum seekers, they have abused Filipino NHS staff on their way to work and set up road blocks to challenge non-white drivers. There is real fear, especially among Muslim families who are visible targets, and their unease is celebrated by the mob.

If they were allowed to get away with it they would fulfill their dream of establishing no go zones for non-whites, would instigate mass deportations and, yes, some of them still have the glint of the gas chambers in their eyes.

Precisely because anti-racists are in the majority they have no need to recourse to violence, the sheer volume of numbers will do the job. Mass anti-racist demonstrations have no place for those tempted to come along for a fight.

There is not just a need to get the thugs off the streets but to demonstrate the solidarity between the victims of racism and the rest of the community. Mass mobilizations empower communities who wish to celebrate the strength of Britain’s thriving multi-cultural society. The victims of racism do not want to be patronized, nor to be denied the right to take part in clearing their tormentors from the streets.

The government seems to be urging people to leave it to the police and the courts to deal with the rioters. Obviously the state must be in the forefront and the rule of law must be upheld. Indeed, at the time of writing, law enforcement has been impressive.

But more is required, the people targeted by the mob need to know that society at large has their backs. When citizens come forward to clean up a mosque or a corner shop vandalized by the mob and when donations pour in to repair the damage, it really means something. It is better than sitting at home and tut-tutting.

Citizen’s resistance to the mob carries the risk of violence. But that risk is mitigated by  knowing that bullies are also cowards who will only pick a fight when the odds are in their favour.

They need to see that British people will not to be cowed by thugs and that decent people will not allow a mob to pretend that they are patriots who aggressively brandish the national flag as a symbol of intolerance.

The racists have been repeatedly defeated by mass movements. These mobilisations make it clear that the thugs cannot hijack the good name of the majority and claim to be acting on their behalf. The government should have sufficient trust in British people to do the right thing by actively taking part in the defeat of the forces seeking to undermine our multi-cultural society.