Stand up to far-right hate

This weekend, London witnessed something profoundly troubling  and  chilling . More than 100,000 people were drawn into the streets  of London for a rally  in the name of racist thug and convicted criminal Tommy Robinson. that claimed to celebrate 'free speech', but which also contained chants of hate, racist conspiracy theories, and Christian nationalist slogans. 

Robinson’s ‘pro-England’ rally quickly became one of the largest far-right rallies in our modern history. The rally was not just noisy and chaotic. It was violent. Police officers were kicked and punched. Bottles and flares were hurled through the crowds. More than two dozen officers were injured, four of them seriously. Arrests were made for affray, violent disorder, and assault.    

Maybe even more disturbing were the messages written on placards and shouted from the stage. Signs singled out minorities. Chants claimed ownership of our streets. Speeches invoked dangerous conspiracy theories about a so-called 'great replacement'. 

Elon Musk even dialled in by video to warn of the 'erosion of Britain', while the French politician Éric Zemmour told the crowd that Britain was being 'colonised by former colonies'. These are words deliberately chosen to divide, to inflame, to pit neighbour against neighbour.    

All of this sits in a wider context. The Reform UK conference the previous weekend sought to normalise hardline rhetoric on immigration and identity. Whilst  at  same time  coming  in  the  wake  of  Charlie Kirk's  murder,

And now, Donald Trump arrives in the UK for a state visit, bringing a style of politics that has consistently emboldened far-right movements on both sides of the Atlantic. And we have seen prime minister Keir Starmer echoing the language of Enoch Powell. This week, he declared Britain will “never surrender the flag” to far-right protesters. But this is exactly what has already happened. The St George’s flag is theirs. The sight of it – fluttering from a residential window, hanging from motorway bridges, sloppily painted on roundabouts, thundering down Whitehall tied round the necks of fighting-age white men – does what they intended: intimidates. 

The anti-racism charity ‘HOPE not hate’ revealed that the ‘Operation Raise the Colours’ campaign to place these flags across the country was organized by known far-right extremists. The founder of the campaign was Andy Saxon, a member of Britain First and the English Defence League — both fascist and racist groups. He is an ally of the notorious Islamophobe and criminal Tommy Robinson.   

Britain First leader Paul Golding says the group has donated 75% of its flag stock for the operation. His X timeline is full of racist, Islamophobic and anti-immigrant posts. 

At  the  same   time the Prime Minister raised his own white flag a long time ago. With Starmer at the helm, the mainstream political class has seamlessly, unthinkingly adopted the far-right’s language of fear and othering. From the punitive Immigration White Paper, to Starmer’s “island of strangers” speech – the Labour leader’s first year in power has demonstrated a clear scramble to catch‑up to hard‑right populism. 

By directly pandering to   Nigel Farage’s toxic rhetoric on immigration, Starmer has both elevated his views and legitimised them. What we saw at the weekend is the direct result of this. The racists in this country have been emboldened and sanctioned by our government’s own rhetoric – and to now talk vaguely in terms of resistance is far too little, much too late. 

The turnout at the weekend was frightening. Last summer, while rumours swirled about far-right rallies popping up in different pockets of the capital, counter-protesters outnumbered them – to an embarrassing degree – at every turn. This time was different. Unite the Kingdom was the largest nationalist protest in decades, the counter-protesters were swamped.  We can no longer rely on those willing to put their safety on the line and stand up to racism. And we should never have had to. 

While anti-fascist activism will always be a crucial element in the battle for the soul of our country, we also need our leaders to stand up, to act, to legislate against the hatred that is starting to take hold of the national psyche.  

In the immediate-term, Keir Starmer and the Labour government must offer a compelling, progressive alternative to Reform UK, rather than parroting the language of the right. That means building a humane migration system rooted in dignity and fairness. In the longer-term, it means investing in jobs, housing and public services with a view to dismantling the desperate conditions in which extremism thrives. Above all, it means choosing courage. Fascism feeds on silence, and on political leaders too scared to tell the truth.  

Hate is not just spreading, it is erupting into violence. Last week, a Sikh woman was reportedly raped in broad daylight in the West Midlands. Her attackers allegedly told her she didn’t belong in this country. For anyone who marched under Tommy Robinson’s banner at the weekend and still believes this is just about ‘free speech’ – it’s time to wake up and connect the dots.  These moments connect. They shape the stories people hear about who belongs, who to blame, and what kind of country we want to be.

For many of us, the images from this rally bring not just anger but despair. It can feel as though hatred is drowning out compassion, that the loudest voices in our society are those calling for exclusion and division. It is natural to feel powerless when faced with such relentless negativity. But despair is exactly what those voices want us to feel. If they can make us silent, then they have already won.

The Unite The Kingdom march was not about free speech. It was about hate. Until we call it by its proper name – fascism, white nationalism, xenophobia – we will never begin to confront it effectively.

The rally in London was a show of force from those who wish to undo progress, to divide communities, and to undermine the freedoms we cherish. The rise of racism and the emboldening of fascists is something that should trouble us all. The answer cannot be silence. The answer must be solidarity.  

If the scenes of this weekend left you worried, angry, or lost, know that you are not alone. Thousands of others feel the same way, and together we can channel those feelings into something constructive, hopeful, and powerful.

Silence is not an option. The far right, associated with fascist and populist tendencies, is on the rise. They are a danger to freedom, democracy, and European values.  Extremists on the right often point the finger at people who are different to them, like migrants and other vulnerable communities.  

They stoke division, promote hate speech, and spread fear and antagonism to spark culture wars. Standing up to the far right is crucial if we want to keep our values intact and protect everyone's rights, including the most vulnerable in society. 

Please take five minutes to watch the  following  interview, then share it— post the video, and start a conversation. Listening to people’s concerns while firmly rejecting scapegoating is how we turn the tide.  Together, we can show that the politics of fear will never defeat the politics of compassion. We  must  continue  to  stand   for  equality, justice and solidarity to send a clear message that we will not allow those  who seek to spread fear, uncertainty and hatred  to take over our streets.

With everything happening so fast, it’s easy to forget that these far-right protests are targeted at asylum seekers and refugees. The best way to protect our communities from the far-right disorder is to show a united front of love and support for all  and you may also  consider also donating to the organisations in the UK providing relief and support to those in need:  

British Red Cross  https://www.redcross.org.uk/– The UK’s largest independent provider of services and support for refugees and people seeking asylum  

Care4Calais https://care4calais.org/ – It offers aid to refugees in the UK, France and Belgium.  

Migrant Voice https://www.migrantvoice.org/– A migrant-led organisation for developing the skills of migrants to speak up for themselves.  

Migrants Organise https://www.migrantsorganise.org/– A platform for refugees and migrants offering advice and support, as well as grassroots organising  

Refugee Action https://www.refugee-action.org.uk/– Helps refugees ‘build safe, happy and productive lives in the UK’  

Refugee Council  https://www.refugeecouncil.org.uk/ – Helped 15,851 refugees and people seeking asylum last year ,

You can  also  donate to charities created to combat racism and hate, such as Hope Not Hate UK  https://hopenothate.org.uk/  or  Stand Up to Racism UK  who  have  been countering the far right by organising protests, events, and creating materials to oppose racism and division, and promote unity. "Our efforts are focused on bringing communities together and standing strong against intolerance,” their GoFundMe description reads. https://www.gofundme.com/f/emergencyunityfund

And  keep protesting against the far right (if safe)  for today and for future generations. Islamophobia, racism and violence have no place in our society, we must work together to consign them to the history books. 

Remember  most people in this country are kind, compassionate, and want to live in safe, supportive, and connected communities. It’s vital that we don’t give in to fear, go quiet, or shrink ourselves. The best way to protect our communities from the far-right disorder is to show a united front of love and support for all. Together, we can build a country of strong and diverse communities where we all feel safe and a sense of belonging. 

Beyond Ignorance

Some people try to convince us that the sudden need to fly the flag is not about being racist, and yet the evidence up and down the country speaks for itself. Whether online or interpersonally, the abuse has reached fever pitch. To be a patriot is one thing; to be a racist is quite another.  Here's a poetical response. 

Beyond Ignorance  

Stop the boats some people cry

Raising flags of hate and division,

The symbol of the St George Cross

Used as an excuse for ugly racism, 

Hung on lampposts, painted everywhere

In a campaign of weaponised nationalism,

Kindness fades hate grows louder

Shadows of darkness engulfing,

Everything currently growing murkier

Voices feels shallow, words feel thin,

Protest against a bloody genocide

You will be stopped put in prison, 

While bombs keep raining down

Murdering morality, killing children, 

If you want to stop the small boats 

Stop the bombs that drove them,

Ignorance is a tether that is exploited 

Spread by haters without shame, 

Seeking refuge, is a heartfelt cry 

Chasing dreams, fleeing despair, 

Longing for a new life, hope abounds

In the face of adversity and inhumanity, 

No borders should define a peoples fate 

Embrace diversity, let compassion resonate, 

Lets measure our language, speak with care

Use words as foundations, for a future fair,

May refugees be given a warm welcome 

Today, tomorrow and always, cherish them, 

Prejudice is the illness that make us weak

Love is the cure which makes us strong.

Right Wing activist Charlie Kirk assassinated at Utah university

Charlie Kirk an American right-wing political activist, author, and media personality was assassinated by a single shot in an apparent targeted attack during an outdoor event Wednesday at Utah Valley University. Kirk 31 co-founded the conservative youth organization Turning Point USA and was a close ally of President Donald Trump and was widely credited for helping galvanise support for the Republican Party and Trump’s Make America Great Again movement among American youth, including through regular engagements with university students.  

The scourge of gun violence in America is out  of control and  must end. The shooting of  Kirk is the latest incident of this chaos. The motivation of the man who shot Kirk isn't clear. What is clear is it was another  example of American gun violence. 

Charlie Kirk was speaking at a debate hosted by Turning Point USA (TPUSA).The event at UVU had been met with divided opinions on campus. An online petition calling for university administrators to bar Charlie Kirk from appearing received nearly 1,000 signatures. The university issued a statement last week citing First Amendment rights and affirming its “commitment to free speech, intellectual inquiry, and constructive dialogue.”

Videos posted to social media from Utah Valley University show Kirk speaking into a handheld microphone while sitting under a white tent emblazoned with the slogans “The American Comeback” and “Prove Me Wrong.” 

A single shot rings out and Kirk can be seen reaching up with his right hand as a large volume of blood gushes from the left side of his neck. Stunned spectators are heard gasping and screaming before people start to run away. The Associated Press was able to confirm the videos were taken at Sorensen Center courtyard on the Utah Valley University campus. 

Immediately before the shooting, Charlie Kirk was taking questions from an audience member about mass shootings and gun violence.  “Do you know how many transgender Americans have been mass shooters over the last 10 years?” the person asked. Charlie Kirk responded, “Too many.”  

The questioner followed up: “Do you know how many mass shooters there have been in America over the last 10 years?”  “Counting or not counting gang violence?” Kirk asked. 

Then a single shot rang out. The shooter, who in a state with the death penalty, wore dark clothing and fired from a building roof some distance away to the courtyard where the event took place.

FBI special agent in charge Robert Bohls described the investigation as "in its early stages" and encouraged members of the public to come forward with information.

Following the shooting before Kirk was pronounced dead, President Trump called for prayers for Kirk on Truth Social. Several prominent political figures from both parties echoed the sentiment while condemning the act of political violence, as well as a number of international heads of state. Tributes to Kirk also came from celebrities, influencers, and athletes across the political aisle. 

Trump issued an order for all US flags to be flown at half-mast throughout the United States in his honor until September 14 at 6:00 p.m in an extraordinary display of mourning for someone who had no record of public service, but rather had devoted himself to the most repulsive forms of hate-mongering and racism. Kirk is certainly the first full-blown fascist to receive such an honor.

Charles James Kirk grew up in Chicago and attended a community college there before dropping out to pursue political activism and  rise to prominence as a far  right  activist. He was persuasive, provocative and widely followed, with his social media reach well into the millions. However  he was also a genocide apologist, anti immigrants, anti abortion, anti women’s rights, anti anything human rights, very racist  islamophobic and  homophobic who defended every massacre in Gaza and used every platform available to justify Israel’s starvation campaign. 

Kirk described the LGBTQ+ community as an “agenda” and “groomers”  and labelled trans peoples as “freaks” and he also said being gay was a “lifestyle” and called for violence against trans folks. He also advocated for violence against marginalized people for the advancement of white evangelical Christianity and white supremacy.

Kirk recently launched an Islamophobic and racist attack against Zoran Mamdani, the Muslim candidate who recently won the Democratic primary for New York City mayor. Kirk sparked outrage by claiming Mamdani’s Muslim identity posed a threat to “the largest financial center in the West,” a remark widely condemned as discriminatory and fear-mongering. In a speech, Kirk provocatively asked whether it is acceptable for New York to have a Muslim mayor “like London,” framing Muslim leadership as a cultural and security threat.  

He also targeted Arab and Muslim communities in Europe, describing cities with Arab-owned shops as “occupied,” echoing anti-immigrant rhetoric that rejects cultural diversity. Mamdani, known for his advocacy of social justice and criticism of Israeli policies, has faced smear campaigns portraying him as dangerous solely for his political stances and faith. Observers said Kirk’s comments fuelled division and undermined core American values of pluralism and democracy.

Charlie  Kirk was also a firm supporter of the Second Amendment of the US Constitution, which grants Americans the right to bear arms. In an interview this year, he said that “it’s worth it” to have “some gun deaths every single year so that we can have the Second Amendment”. At end of  the day he was a victim of his own advocacy against gun control. I don’t condone violence but Karma is such a bitch. Charlie Kirk let's not  forget  also said to a Palestinian  recently  that there’s no such thing as Palestinians. Well now there’s no longer such a thing called Charlie Kirk.

We  are supposed to mourn a dead father and say nice things about him, otherwise you're a terrible person. And while I feel a tinge of sadness that a fellow human being has lost his life in such awful circumstances, and the silencing  of  him with violence in this manner  must be condemned unequivocally. this does not mean I will be shedding tears for someone so filled with hate, racism, misogyny and homophobia. 

Kirk himself saw empathy as a weakness and joked himself about the hammer attack on Paul Pelosi the husband of former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and he told his supporters to post the attackers bail. He frequently denied there was starvation in Gaza and excused Israel's genocidal practices. 

He was a forced birther who said he would make his ten-year-old daughter carry a baby to term if she were raped. He was a horrendous racist who argued that black women were too stupid to be taken seriously. He called George Floyd a "scumbag" and said black people were better off in slavery. He dismissed Juneteenth as “anti-American,” sneered at diversity as “anti-White,” and told crowds Martin Luther King Jr. was “awful.”  

Now his followers compare him to MLK. The irony would be laughable if it weren’t so grotesque: the man who tried to dismantle King’s legacy now rebranded as his heir. A man who sowed suspicion and cruelty was elevated as though he stood for justice and love.

At one event, he kept referring to an Asian woman as "chink". He blamed transgender people for gun violence and called for the stoning of gay people. I could go on and on, but needless to say ,Charlie Kirk was a person who stoked division and incited violence.

I do not celebrate his death in anyway, and my compassion for humanity remains. I feel sad for Charlie Kirk's children, who clearly had no say in who their dad was. and who will have to live with the trauma for the rest of their lives. 

Charlie Kirk wasn’t a voice — he was a symbol of hate. So will not not mourn his death and participate in moments of silence for him. Mourning is reserved for those who loved, who healed, who tried to make the world softer. He did the opposite. 

Yes, he went to colleges and called it ‘debate.’ But debate requires openness, a willingness to listen, to be changed by what you hear. That was never his aim. He didn’t come to learn, he came to evangelise, to belittle, to perform. It was never about dialogue. It was about domination. 

I will today save my empathy and tears for the kids in Gaza who are dying everyday and the children who were and are being killed in school shootings. I hold no sympathy for a racist Nazi like Charlie Kirk.  

So what is Charlie Kirks real legacy? A generation taught to sneer at compassion. A movement convinced that cruelty is strength. A politics where every tragedy is just another weapon to swing. And now, in his absence, his followers call for dictatorship, brand the left ‘evil,’ fantasise about civil war, and openly call for the eradication of their political opponents. That sums up what he truly built. But it doesn’t have to be this way. Charlie Kirk’s life - and death - can remind us of the alternative: that love and empathy are not weaknesses but the only path that builds anything worth keeping. That we can live alongside people we disagree with without forcing them into our image. That dignity, kindness, and freedom mean respecting others’ choices, not policing them.

If there is any lesson here, it is that cruelty dies with the man who carried it, but love endures. That is the only legacy worth fighting for. 

. World Suicide Prevention Day.

 

Today is World Suicide Prevention Day. Every year, more than 720,000 people die by suicide, leaving families, friends, healthcare teams, and many people deeply affected.  Created by the International Association for Suicide Prevention in partnership with the WHO, this day brings together individuals, organisations, and institutions to take action on suicide prevention.  

The current theme for 2024–2026, Changing the Narrative on Suicide, calls for a shift from silence and stigma to openness, empathy, and support. It encourages us to engage in open and honest discussions about suicide and suicidal behaviours.  

As someone who has been suicidal  in  past , lost friends to suicide, I hold World Suicide Prevention Day close to my heart. The work is year round, but today matters.  Suicides in England and Wales have reached their highest annual rate since 1999.

Today, on World Suicide Prevention Day, let’s break the silence.  The focus of this World Suicide Prevention Day is to change the narrative around suicide. Even small actions can help someone who is struggling. A simple conversation, a heartfelt check-in, or a moment of vulnerability could be the lifeline someone desperately needs.  

Together, we can make a difference and save lives. Let's make a change today to begin building a more empathetic society.  To everyone of you who carries the daily burden of a difficult life, to everyone of you whose heart aches under the weight of their struggles, and to everyone of you who question your reason to be here: Please know that you are not alone. Don't give up. Your life matters. I

t's important  to  say  that suicide is not selfish. and those that consider not attention seeking. Suicide is, normally, death caused by the illness of depression. It is a final symptom. A final collapse under unbearable weight. Suicide is a tragedy, and if some people have never been close to the edge. it's also    important that they do not judge what they can’t understand. People need to be kind. 

We also need to move away from considering suicide as a purely mental health issue, and acknowledge the impact of social factors, such as poverty, debt, addictions, homelessness, abuse, discrimination and social isolation. 

Changing the narrative on suicide requires complete systemic change. It's about shifting from a culture of silence and stigma to one of openness, understanding, and support  and  raising  awareness. Talking about suicide does not cause it — but silence can. Let’s encourage honest, compassionate conversations.  Most important of all if someone is suicidal, PLEASE take them seriously, don't judge and if they don't go through with it, be with them after help them resume their life.. 

Whether you've lost a loved one or experienced your own personal struggles, I'm  sending love today to everyone who has been touched by suicide.

Powerful new Banksy mural on the Royal Courts of Justice building

 

Legendary  Bristol street artist Banksy has unveiled a  powerful new work on the side of the Royal Courts of Justice in London.  

It's perhaps one of the elusive street artist's most audacious works of street art yet - painting a mural depicting a  figure holding a blank placard being beaten by a judge wielding a gavel, with blood splattering the placard, on a wall at the very heart of the British judicial system. Possibly his greatest piece to date too,

It arrived directly after the Metropolitan Police arrested over 850 people for breaking terror laws on 6 September at a protest against the proscription of non-violent direct action Palestine Action. 

Approximately 1,500 people took part in the demonstration, organised by Defend Our Juries (DOJ), in London’s Parliament Square - making it one of the biggest acts of mass civil disobedience in British history. Those arrested included former and current NHS staff, an 83-year-old priest and a disabled RAF veteran. 

A DOJ spokesperson said: “Banksy's work of art on the walls of the Royal Courts of Justice powerfully depicts the brutality unleashed by Yvette Cooper on protestors by proscribing Palestine Action.  

When the law is used as a tool to crush civil liberties, it does not extinguish dissent – it strengthens it. As Banksy's artwork shows, the state can try to strip away our civil liberties, but we are too many in number and our resolve to stand against injustice cannot be beaten – our movement against the ban is unstoppable and growing every day. 

We hope everyone who is moved by Banksy’s inspiring work of art will join our next action, which will be announced soon.”  

New Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood is facing growing pressure to scrap the “impossible to enforce” Palestine Action ban. Since the controversial proscription came into force in July, more than 1,600 people have been arrested under terror legislation and over 70 have been charged.

A mannequin was arrested at yesterday’s Lift The Ban action for silently holding a placard with the words “I oppose genocide - I support Palestine Action” written on it.  If you don’t laugh at the absurdity, you’ll cry.

The UK government proscribed PA to demonise the entire pro Palestinian movement. When the Government is arresting people under terrorism laws for sitting peacefully in protest, something is going very wrong and is  clearly undemocratic. 

Arresting peaceful protesters condemning the genocide in Gaza exposes the UK’s complicity in silencing dissent. Standing for Palestinian lives is not terrorism, it’s a moral duty. 

Meanwhile Isaac Herzog  named in the ICJ judgment as showing genocidal intent – will  be welcomed to Britain by Keir Starmer this week  and  given  the red  carpet  treatment  while  the state arrests pensioners for holding signs saying, “I oppose genocide. I support Palestine Action” If this keeps up, soon we will all be "terrorists".

A reminder that the law is not always just or right. Peaceful protest is a fundamental right. People are understandably outraged by the ongoing genocide being committed in Gaza and are entitled under international human rights law to express their horror.  Amnesty  International  has long criticised UK terrorism law for being excessively broad, vaguely worded and a threat to freedom of expression. 

Yesterdays  response only further demonstrates that their concerns were justified. Any restriction on the rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly must be lawful, necessary and proportionate to achieving a legitimate aim. 

Criminalising speech in this context is only permitted when it incites violence or advocates hatred. Expressing support for Palestine Action does not, in itself, meet this threshold.

Pictures on social media appear to show the artwork has already been covered up by large sheets of plastic and two metal barriers,  while  being guarded by security officials outside the building.

Which  is on the rear of an office building that forms part of the Royal Courts of Justice in The Strand in London, and is located around the back on Carey Street, with the Gothic Victorian court room complex right next door. The work, ironically enough, appeared right underneath a CCTV camera monitoring the rear gate entrance to the Royal Courts of Justice.

While the British government attempts to silence voices by banning Palestine Action, the real issue remains.. their complicity in the killing of innocent men, women, and children. If the price of western ‘civilisation’ is support or indifference to Genocide in Gaza by Israel then it’s not worth saving. I oppose Genocide - I support Palestine. Action. Free Palestine.

How Elon Musk is actively amplifying misleading far-right propaganda

The far right are currently trying to whip people into a complete frenzy about migration and their other topics, while  at  same time  Elon Musk the man behind Tesla and X, is actively amplifying misleading far-right propaganda about the UK on a daily basis. From hoaxes to conspiracy theories to open incitement, 

Over the past two years, Elon Musk has transformed the social media platform into an instrument of power and vehicle for his ideas, which continue to drift to the far while  turning his 225M-follower account into a pipeline for racist lies and anti-democratic rhetoric.

There’s not currently a definitive answer as to what is driving Musk. His presence as an active player on his own platform is certainly keeping X talked about. With Donald Trump’s re-election, Musk’s power has grown to unsettling levels, worrying leaders worldwide.

As Musk cemented his role as one of the main political disinformers online, X underwent managerial decisions that significantly weakened efforts to combat false news and hate speech. Under Musk’s leadership, content moderation teams were heavily reduced, tools for reporting political disinformation were disabled, and access to platform data for disinformation research was restricted. 

The “Community Notes” system, designed to counter disinformation, was widely criticized as a failure.  At the same time, numerous right-wing activists and conspiracy theorists were reinstated on X after previously being banned for violating Twitter’s former policies on hate speech and misinformation. This included far-right conspiracy theorist Alex Jones, who had been ordered to pay billions in damages for falsely claiming that the 2012 Sandy Hook elementary school shooting was a hoax. With his readmission to X, Jones was able to return to a new life online, reaching an ever-widening audience with his content.  

Another one of those welcomed back was convicted criminal and anti-Islam campaigner Tommy Robinson. Despite having less than a million followers on X in the weeks following his reinstatement, his posts were viewed more than a billion times – thanks in part to Musk actively responding to Robinson’s anti-immigration posts, which have amplified his false claims to his 214 million followers.

According to multiple studies, these decisions have led to a significant increase in hate speech, false news, and conspiracy theories on X. Such management has led several media outlets as well as institutions, organizations, and many ordinary people to abandon X. Several major advertising investors have also decided to withdraw from X, and nearly two years after Musk’s acquisition, the platform’s value had dropped by 80 percent.

As  for  Tommy Robinson on  Sept 13th,   he is calling for his “big demonstration" in London. He’ll tell you it’s about patriotism & unity.  The truth? He’s a compulsive racist propagandist whose real mission is division and destabilisation.

When using disinformation as a political tool, Elon Musk does not create false news and conspiracy theories himself. Instead, the owner of X primarily shares false and misleading content from a swarm of far-right and conspiracy accounts highly active on his platform. This strategy achieves multiple objectives at once: with his account boasting over 220 million followers, he mainstreams far-right narratives that were previously marginal, while simultaneously boosting the follower count and social reach of these profiles, granting them credibility.

I  have tried to add up the number of times Musk has tweeted or reposted about Britain recently , but lost count. Here's a closer look at 13 of  them. And it shows that he’s turning X (formerly Twitter) into a safe space for far-right propaganda  while  fanning the flames of far-right extremism and Islamophobia  at  a time  when  flag waving mobs  are running riot .

1. The Dundee “migrant attack” hoax

Musk reposted viral claims about a 12-year-old girl in Dundee “defending herself from migrants with an axe and knife.”  

Here’s the reality:  - Police Scotland say the girl was charged with possession of offensive weapons after approaching a Bulgarian couple with friends.  - There is no evidence the couple harassed or followed the girls.  - CCTV reviewed by police found no support for the allegations being spread online. 

Far-right accounts (including Tommy Robinson) falsely framed this as a “migrant attack.” Musk retweeted those claims and added: “What kind of government arrests little girls who try to defend themselves?” 

Scotland’s First Minister John Swinney said Musk’s misinformation was “undermining cohesion in our communities” and “totally unacceptable.”  

Meanwhile, the 12-year-old was recast as a folk hero online: cartoons painted her as Braveheart, and a crowdfunder raised £30k on the back of false claims that her sister had been attacked.  A local weapons charge was transformed into an international far-right propaganda moment.

2. Bridget Phillipson “balance of rights” edit

Musk reposted a cut video of Labour’s Education Secretary, Bridget Phillipson.  Claim online: She said migrants’ rights are more important than locals’.  Reality: In full, Phillipson told Sky: “It’s about a balance of rights” - stressing both community protection and orderly asylum reform.  What Musk did: Amplified the far-right edit that stripped away the nuance.  Why it matters: This deliberate distortion fuels the idea Labour politicians openly side against citizens. Musk turned a heavily edited clip into “proof” of betrayal.

3. Sadeq Nikzad case

Musk reposted claims about Afghan asylum seeker Sadeq Nikzad, jailed for raping a 15-year-old in Falkirk.  Claim online: His lawyer “blamed cultural differences,” he wouldn’t be deported, and it would cost taxpayers £450k.  Reality:   - Nikzad was sentenced to 9 years' custody + 3 on licence and put on the sex offenders register.  - His lawyer raised cultural differences as context, but this wasn’t a legal defence.  - Deportation has been pledged after the sentence.  - The £450k figure is a back-of-envelope guess, not an official cost.  What Musk did: Spread the distorted version, omitting deportation, exaggerating costs, and endorsing racist framing.  Why it matters: This turns a horrific crime into fuel for collective blame of migrants, rather than reporting the facts.

4. Keir Starmer rape gang smear

Musk reposted a meme accusing PM Keir Starmer of blocking a “rape gang inquiry.”  Claim online: As DPP, Starmer avoided inquiries to “protect” abusers.   Reality:  - As Director of Public Prosecutions, Starmer introduced reforms to CPS handling of child abuse.  - Multiple inquiries into grooming gangs have taken place: Rotherham, Rochdale, Telford, and the national IICSA inquiry.   What Musk did: Reposted the meme, validating a defamatory smear.  Why it matters: This plays into racist tropes that Labour “covered up” for minorities - a baseless conspiracy Musk handed global reach.

5. The Great Replacement conspiracy

Musk reposted Tommy Robinson, claiming “natives have had enough of forced population replacement.”  Claim online: Elites are deliberately “replacing” white populations with migrants.  Reality: This is the Great Replacement theory - a white nationalist conspiracy cited in the manifestos of terrorists in Christchurch, Buffalo, and El Paso.  What Musk did: Put Robinson’s claim before millions, without context.  Why it matters: This isn’t, commentary. It’s laundering extremist propaganda into mainstream political debate.

6. The Joey Mannarino’s ‘migrant apocalypse’  

Musk endorsed a post saying: Europeans pay 50% tax to house migrants, who will “rape your daughters” and face no consequences.  Claim online: Migrants are parasites, criminals, and rapists, shielded by elites.  Reality:  - Tax rates vary; asylum costs are a tiny fraction of budgets.  - No evidence migrants collectively commit such crimes.  - Self-defence is legal in Europe; hate speech laws don’t criminalise ordinary dissent.  What Musk did: Replied with one word: “Yes.”   Why it matters: That “Yes” validates pure hate propaganda, projecting it to a global audience.

7. Attack on UK judges  

Musk reposted Tommy Robinson attacking so-called “Labour judges” for siding with “invaders.”  Claim online: Judges ruled to keep an “illegal immigrant” in the country, silencing locals.  Reality:  - UK judges are independent. They don’t belong to Labour or any political party.  - Robinson misrepresented a bail/remand decision.  - Video of police “violently arresting children” was unverified and used to inflame.  What Musk did: Added: “Intolerable! Shame on those judges.”  Why it matters: Delegitimising the judiciary is authoritarian 101. It primes hostility toward courts and paints judges as traitors. Coming from Musk, it undermines confidence in independent justice.

8. Misused rape statistics 

Musk reposted a chart showing r-pe reports in England & Wales rising from 8,593 (2000) to 68,109 (2023).  Claim online: Western Europe is collapsing into lawlessness, unlike Poland where rape numbers “fell.”  Reality:  - England & Wales: The Sexual Offences Act 2003 broadened definitions of rape. Reporting increased after #MeToo and police reforms.  - Germany: New “No Means No” law (2016) widened categories of sexual assault.  - France: Similar definitional and reporting changes.  - Poland: The suspiciously low figure cited (1,127) contradicts official stats, which are far higher.  What Musk did: Shared the graphic with no context.  Why it matters: Weaponises raw data to suggest migrants are driving rape epidemics, when in reality, legal reforms and improved reporting explain much of the rise.

9.“Fight, fight, fight!” mobilisation  

Musk reposted an AI image urging Brits & Irish to:  “Rally NOW to save your countries! It’s now or never. Fight, fight, fight! Soon it will be too late.”  Claim online: Citizens must fight now or their nations will be lost.  Reality: This is not news, it’s mobilisation rhetoric. No factual basis, just existential panic.  What Musk did: Reposted without comment, giving it millions of views.  Why it matters: This is incitement language, not metaphor. Combined with Musk’s other “traitors” and “they must go now” posts, it primes supporters for confrontation. This is stochastic terrorism in action.

10. Migrants “want to kill me”  

Musk reposted an alleged 25-year-old saying:  “Is it wrong to not want to live among migrants who want to kill me simply for existing?”  Claim online: All migrants are murderers-in-waiting.  Reality: This is a blanket smear. Migrants are not a group that “wants to kill” anyone. UK crime data shows no such trend.  What Musk did: Amplified the fear and gave it 1.8M impressions.  Why it matters: Dehumanisation at scale. When all migrants are painted as existential threats, violence against them becomes easier to justify. Musk’s repost mainstreams that narrative.

11.  “One million victims” exaggeration  

Musk reposted a viral claim:  “Child sex abuse gangs could have assaulted ONE MILLION youngsters in the UK.”  …and added his own comment: “Many.”  Claim online: One million children were assaulted by grooming gangs, covered up by Labour MPs and police.  Reality:  - The one million figure comes from the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA), but it referred to all forms of child sexual abuse over decades, including family members, institutions, and peers..

Grooming gangs make up a small fraction of those cases.  - Even the IICSA warned the “one million” number was an estimate and should not be weaponised.  - Rotherham MP Sarah Champion (quoted in the graphic) has repeatedly said that while grooming gangs are horrific, they are not the only or even primary source of abuse in the UK.  

What Musk did: By reposting with “Many,” Musk validated the most inflated, context-stripped version of the statistic, turning a broad abuse inquiry into a racialised narrative of “migrant rape gangs.”  Why it matters: It erases the fact that most child abuse in the UK is committed by family members or individuals known to the victim.  It racialises abuse by reinforcing the idea that “Muslim grooming gangs” are the whole problem.  Coming from Musk, it gives global legitimacy to a distorted figure that has already been used to stoke racist violence.

12.“They need to go now”: 

Musk amplifies debunked pedophilia smear  Musk reposted Tommy Robinson, sharing an old Sun headline:  “Labour chiefs: It’s OK to have sex with 10-yr-olds.”  …and added his own words:  “They need to go now. Not in the future. Now.”  

Claim online: Labour politicians endorsed pedophilia, Westminster covered it up, and therefore “they’ve got to go.”  Reality:  - This headline refers to the Pedophile Information Exchange (PIE) controversy in the early 1980s. PIE campaigned to legalise child abuse.  - Patricia Hewitt (then a civil liberties campaigner, not yet a Labour MP) was criticised for allowing PIE material to be published in a pamphlet. She later called it a “serious mistake” and apologised..

No Labour “chiefs” endorsed pedophilia. There was never a policy or official approval. It was a tabloid distortion, long debunked.  - Successive inquiries have confirmed no evidence of a party-wide cover-up.  

What Musk did:  - By amplifying Robinson’s framing, Musk recycled a 40-year-old smear as if it were a current fact.  - His own caption, “They need to go now. Not in the future. Now,” is incitement language, suggesting immediate action against elected officials.  

Why it matters:  - This is the same rhetorical tactic used by QAnon: link opponents to child abuse, demand “they must go.”  - It delegitimises not just politicians, but democracy itself, by presenting opponents as child-rapists who cannot be reasoned with.  - Coming from Musk, it turns a debunked tabloid smear into a viral incitement message seen by millions.

13. “Nuremberg defence” and stochastic terrorism

Musk reposted a viral claim comparing UK police to Nazis:  “The UK police force need to think deeply about how the Nuremberg trials after WW2 established the principle that individuals have a responsibility to disobey illegal or immoral orders.”  Musk added: “‘Just following orders’ is not an acceptable defense.”  

Claim online: UK police enforcing law = Nazi collaborators, who must disobey orders or face moral equivalence with perpetrators of genocide.  

Reality:  - The Nuremberg principle was about prosecuting Nazi war crimes, crimes against humanity.  - Applying it to UK police officers enforcing bail rulings or dispersing protests is a grotesque distortion.  - It’s not a call for reform, it’s a call for insubordination and resistance.  

What Musk did:  - Endorsed the comparison, making it appear legitimate.  - Signalled to his 225M followers that police enforcing laws against far-right activists are akin to Nazis.  Why it matters:  - This is stochastic terrorism: priming hostility toward police, judges, and government by suggesting they are Nazi-like oppressors.  - It delegitimises lawful authority, framing enforcement of hate-speech or protest laws as crimes that must be resisted.  - t also casts ordinary opponents of the far right (politicians, journalists, community leaders) as “Nazis” who deserve resistance.  Coming from Musk, this isn’t a fringe rant. It’s global propaganda that tells millions: the police are Nazis, and obedience is complicity

Elon Musk, a privileged far right white supremacist, is also  now openly calling for ethnic cleansing of non-white immigrants. .

Musk is  also  currently  “in talks” to fund far-right flag-raising operations across the UK, sources have claimed.  The world’s richest man and former Trump advisor has reportedly been “collaborating” with far-right influencers behind major initiatives, which have seen Union Jacks and St George’s flags put up.

One far-right figure with knowledge of the situation said: “Elon Musk has been communicating with the organisers of some far-right groups behind the campaign. He’s even considering funding it.”  

“Musk has talked to a handful of X accounts about flag raising and supports the move,” the source added.  Tommy Robinson and Rupert Lowe’s Restore Britain, led by Charlie Downes, are said to be among those he has contacted.  

It is currently unclear how he would funnel money to the organisers but there are fundraising pages set up to raise money for the flags. Musk posted a picture of the St George’s flag on Tuesday, which gained nearly 70 million views. 

Far-right group Weoley Warriors, which calls itself a “group of proud English men,” has raised between £2,500 and £11,000 for supplies, with Britain First donating around 250 flags.  It comes after the Telegraph  revealed the billionaire urged Ben Habib, the former co-leader of Reform, to start his own party called Advanced UK in January. 

Habib and Musk are understood to be in contact on X.  Speaking about their discussions, Habib said: “What we discussed was the threat facing Western civilisation from the way we’re being governed.   “Mass migration, net zero, no borders, DEI, progressive discrimination, all that kind of thing. We had a philosophical alignment of thinking, and the need to deregulate power, our economies, etc.”

Elon Musk   has now  become an advertising board for another far right UK political party Advance UK. https://x.com/elonmusk/status/1960443025919746350

These people do  not  stand for us they actively seek division and control.  I read through Advance UKs manifesto and there essentially a worse reform. These “people” funnel hate and discrimination.

Long gone are the innocent days when media outlets claimed the independence and nuance of the politics of Elon Musk.  Now, amid myriad X posts spreading far-right propaganda, it's obvious where one of the richest men in the world stands.

Musk says he is a free speech advocate, but is using his social media profile on X to promote far-right disinformation and feed a "frenzy" against immigrants, minorities and Muslims,  ironically an immigrant himself is deeply involved in anti-immigrant propaganda in Europe by amplifying far-right voices like AfD in Germany and Vox in Spain, while spreading misinformation about “migrant crimes” 

Elon Musk is not “just sharing opinions.”  He is  recycling debunked tabloid hoaxes (eg. “Labour wants child sex legalised”). While  validating posts that call migrants rapists, murderers, and parasites.  - Calling UK judges “intolerable” and demanding they “must go now.”  - 

This is not free speech. It’s a pipeline.  Musk is laundering far-right propaganda into the mainstream:  - Smears become “facts.” - Racist myths become “common sense.” - Calls for resistance become “defending freedom.” 

Elon Musk has often inflamed politically tense moments, In the midst of anti-Muslim riots in the U.K. which were ginned up by a false rumor. Musk declared that “civil war is inevitable” in the country. As his words amass millions of views and thousands of shares, they also illustrate the ability of one of the world’s most influential people to spread fear, hate and misinformation during fraught political moments around the world. 

The agenda is clear:  - Stoke fear of migrants.  - Undermine trust in courts, police, and elected government.  - Normalise far-right conspiracy theories.  - Prime his 225M followers to see violence as inevitable and justified.  When the world’s richest man turns his platform into a megaphone for hate and stochastic terrorism, it’s not just toxic speech; it’s a threat to democracy and public safety everywhere.

From a Nazi salute to promoting Germany’s far-right Elon Musk is exporting his extremist agenda around the world.  Here's something we can do about it: 

TO: European Commission and EU member states We urge you to act decisively to enforce the DSA and hold Elon Musk to account.

https://action.eko.org/a/eu-hold-musk-to-account?source=taf

Explosion of St George's cross flag waving and daubing is intimidating

 

How sad that  flag waving has taken on such significance to divide, not unite, The recent St George's and union flag flying  and painting is not patriotism, it's the far right using it to intimidate. and  is  currently  being  hijacked by racists, xenophobes, and the violent far right  to create  hatred  and division, designed to make refugees, immigrants and people who were born here but have family from a different country, feel unwelcome, with a clear racist  intent.

Painting St George’s flags outside migrant hotels and on road markings isn’t 'pride.'  It’s the same mentality that once saw doors marked to show who was unwanted. Different time, same ugly message, that we’ve seen before. 

In 1920s Italy, Mussolini’s Blackshirts claimed to defend the 'true nation' while smashing unions and protecting industrialists.  In 1930s Germany, Hitler’s Brownshirts wrapped themselves in flags, sang of patriotism, and hunted “traitors” in the street.

These movements never start with gas chambers. They start with symbols and intimidation. Flags daubed on walls. Mobs harassing 'enemies of the nation.' Ordinary people too scared to resist. Violence comes later , once the intimidation feels normal.

That’s why Raise the Colours is  so dangerous. It’s not just a few blokes with paint. It’s a permission structure for harassment, emboldened by politicians and pundits who wink at it as 'vigour' or 'patriotism.'

Flag-waving doesn't make you a patriot. In fact, you are in danger of degrading the flag by associating it with hatred. Not very British, in fact. To  me personally  it  represents   nothing  of value, but then  again  I'm a Welsh man so am probably  biased, 

As for  St  George he was  born in Cappadocia, part of modern day Turkey into a noble Christian family in the third century, around 270 CE, whilst Wikipedia has him born in Lydda, Syria Palestina  (Lodd) – 23 April 280 CE. His mother was a Palestinian. She came from what was then the larger area of Palestine (Israel and the Occupied Territories today.) and she took George back to her homeland after the death of his father.  

And although he lived four centuries before the birth of Islam, his wide appeal, beyond borders or races, has made him a figure sacred to Muslims and Christians alike. In Palestine he symbolises Christian Muslim unity and shared Arabic culture.  

Oh and St George also happens to be  the patron saint of Lithuania, Portugal, Aragon, Germany and Greece, as well as cities including Moscow, Istanbul, Genoa and Venice. The episode of St. George and the Dragon was clearly a legend  brought back with the Crusaders to Britain.  Also known as 'Al  Khadr' (the Green) he  is associated with fertility and growth. 

There is so much information around about St. George it’s hard to tell fact from fiction but  it's  fair  to  say he  never visited  England and is most  definitely  not  English  a fact that many right wing idiots in the UK fail to remember, while demonising immigrants and multiculturalism  and  if  he was around today and tried to come to England to seek refuge he  would  probably  be  deported.

Not  all flag wavers are far right but HOPE not hate has revealed that the key organisers behind much of this activism are hardened and extreme far-right activists.https://hopenothate.org.uk/2025/08/22/operation-raise-the-colours-organised-by-well-known-far-right-extremists/ Lest we  forget that  the Voice of Wales putting up flags here in Wales are fascists. The union and St Georges flags are getting weaponised by the far right. all who drape themselves in the flag and call themselves patriots. I do not doubt for a second that many of the new people currently draping themselves in union and St Georges flags do not  support Yaxley-Lennon, Golding and the rest. But when you read posts, watch videos, see info graphics from the genuine people who find themselves posting far right race hate stuff being propagated by these agitators, that is when it all gets murky. 

The campaign named “Operation Raise the Colours” which  it's supporters  claim  is a fight for national pride and identity in areas where they feel immigration has changed daily life. But for critics, it’s a provocation that risks inflaming tensions. 

The  campaign  has also accepted a donation from fascist group Britain First. This the  the same Britain First that was set up by former members of the Nazi British National Party. Paul Golding, the leader of Britain First, was a former BNP councillor, who has criminal convictions for hate crimes. 

Andy Saxon, one of the organisers of the flags campaign, has said that Britain First is not a far right group. Saxon thanked Britain First for the donation, and has shared posts from Golding and repeatedly posted in support of fascist Tommy Robinson. Robinson himself has championed the campaign.  Fascist Homeland Party, a group founded by former officials from the BNP, has shared graphics advertising the campaign.  White Vanguard, a Nazi group whose supporters call themselves National Socialist activists, has shared photos that suggest members have been involved in the campaign.

I'm all for flags being used as a symbol of joy but not as symbols of race hate which they're being used for currently by well known far right agitators. who attempt to intimidate, engender fear, “other”, and exclude anyone who isn’t English, not people I'd choose to associate with, prefer the more caring, kinder welcoming sort.

Happy heavenly birthday to Joe Strummer (21 August 1952 – 22 December 2002)

Happy  heavenly  birthday  to Joe Strummer who was born  John Graham Mellor in Ankara on 21 August 1952, the son of a Scottish mother and English father. This legendary heart and political soul of punk,  rebel spirit and righteous anger has still not faded, his songs still resonate, with immediacy and warning after all, " the ice age is coming,  the sun is zooming in, meltdown expected, the wheat is growing thin."

His lyrics still  able to make us think, that help challenge our views of society. He also taught us,  that punk is not a uniform, it's an idea, a passionate grassroots idea to create change, standing up for what you believe, about being open minded, at the end of the day we are all individuals, you've gotta do what's right for you, follow your own heart, your own true spirit.  

Strummer died of a heart attack on December 22. He was only 50. As a member of The Clash Strummer was a punk-rock pioneer with a fondness for reggae, who changed peoples lives forever. They were a force that would shape how politics and music fit together, transforming this new, angry punk sound into something with purpose. 

Through his song writing Strummer consistently critiqued capitalism, advocated racial justice and opposed imperialism. He showed young people there are alternatives to the complacency, opportunism, and political ambivalence that dominate popular culture. Strummer’s music remains an enduring legacy of radicalism, defiance, and resistance.

As a musician, Strummer redefined music and reaffirmed the principles of committed and intelligent opposition. He seemed to be involved in so many different movements and supported so many causes before they were fashionable. The Clash  whose  music incorporated punk with reggae, ska, dub, funk, rap and rockabilly. were at the forefront of the Rock against Racism movement founded in the seventies to combat the rise of the far-right National Front. Never afraid of controversy, Strummer pushed the Clash to support publicly the H-Block protests in Northern Ireland, which began in 1976 when the British took away the political status of IRA “prisoners.”  

But co-founding one of the most important bands of the past 50 years has, understandably, overshadowed the full breadth of Strummer’s musical interests. Strummer's other career highlights included stints with the 101ers, the Latino Rockabilly War, the Mescaleros and the Pogues, as well as solo music. His work as a musician allowed him to explore other interests such as acting, scoring television shows and films, and hosting the BBC Radio show London Calling. 

Strummer and the Clash were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in January 2003. I post this in a spirit of remembrance and joyfulness  that he has left behind  such a great legacy of music for us to enjoy. So  go easy, stay light, stay free, Thank you Commandante Joe, gone but not forgotten.

" Punk rock   isn't   something  you  grow  out  of  Punk rock  is  an  attitude ,  and the essence of that  attitude is  give  us  some truth.," - Joe Strummer 

"And so now I'd like to say - people can change anything they want to. And that means everything in the world. People are running about following their little tracks - I am one of them. But we've all got to stop just following our own little mouse trail. People can do anything - this is something that I'm beginning to learn. People are out there doing bad things to each other.  

That's because they've been dehumanised. It's time to take the humanity back into the center of the ring and follow that for a time. Greed, it ain't going anywhere. They should have that in a big billboard across Times Square. Without people you're nothing. That's my spiel.”  - Joe Strummer 

Remembering the life of Black nationalist and political activist Marcus Mosiah Garvey Jr. (17 August 1887 – 10 June 1940)

Black nationalist and political activist. Marcus Mosiah Garvey Jr. was born on August 17, 1887, in St. Ann's Bay, Jamaica, to a family of modest means. His father was a stonemason, and his mother was a domestic worker. Growing up in Jamaica, Garvey was exposed to the social and economic conditions that shaped the lives of people of African descent. The island was still reeling from the effects of slavery and colonialism, and Garvey witnessed first hand the poverty, inequality, and racial tension that characterized Jamaican society. 

As a young man, Garvey was influenced by the ideas of black nationalism and Pan-Africanism, which emphasized the unity and solidarity of people of African descent across the globe. He was particularly drawn to the work of Booker T. Washington, an African American educator and leader who advocated for the economic empowerment of black people through education and entrepreneurship.

Garvey recalled first encountering racism while in elementary school, sparking his lifelong activism. He attended school in his home of Jamaica before moving to London where he studied law and philosophy at the University of London’s Birbeck from 1912-1914. There, Garvey made a name for himself, working for a Pan-Africanism newspaper and leading regular discourse and debates about equitable rights. 

After attaining his degree, Garvey returned to Jamaica and formed the United Negro Improvement Association and African Communities League (UNIA), a black nationalist fraternal organization whose mission was to uplift the lives of people of African descent. Garvey’s personal intent for the organization was to “establish one grand racial hierarchy” for blacks, meaning unifying all members of the African diaspora and providing education and economic independence. 

In 1916, Garvey moved to Harlem in New York City and established a chapter of the UNIA, where the organization gained popularity and invigorated the incipient Harlem Renaissance. He was struck by the racism and segregation that pervaded American society, and he quickly became a vocal advocate for the rights of African Americans. Garvey's experiences in the United States deepened his commitment to the cause of black nationalism and Pan-Africanism, and he began to build a movement that would have far-reaching consequences. 

The UNIA's mission was multifaceted:  To promote the economic empowerment of black people through entrepreneurship and cooperation,  to advocate for the rights of African people globally, to foster a sense of unity and solidarity among people of African descent.

The UNIA grew rapidly, with chapters across the United States and internationally. At its peak, the organization had over 1,000 chapters in more than 40 countries, making it one of the largest black nationalist movements in history.. Reflecting a desire to unite and lift the African diaspora “New World,” Garvey glorified African civilization and Black superiority, and even began practical projects for repatriation to the continent. 

Through the UNIA, Garvey created, among other things, a printing house, factories, trading companies and schools with the single aim of improving the life of Black people. Among his numerous accomplishments, was his weekly newspaper, The Negro World which enabled him to inform readers about UNIA activities and thus convey a Pan-African message. Actually, Garvey wanted to restore Black people’s dignity which slavery and colonization had tried to degrade. 

He wanted Black people to stop thinking they were inferior beings and that they could acquire knowledge, technical and financial means to free themselves from the yoke of White people. What is more, Garvey became more and more involved in the back-to-Africa movement and created an international shipping company called the Black Star Line. It was, in fact, a shipping line belonging to Black people and operating by and for them – stocks were sold at UNIA conventions –, whose long-term main goal was the repatriation of AfricanAmericans, African-Jamaicans and other Black people of the Diaspora to their African homeland. 

Today, everyone agrees that Marcus Garvey’s Black Star Line stands as a strong symbol of Pan-Africanism.  Garvey saw himself as “Provisional President of Africa,” showing his strong belief in a personal destiny as the redeemer of Africa.

It is important to note that, racially speaking, Garvey argued for segregation rather than integration. He advocated separation between Whites and Blacks and was clearly against intermixed couples. He believed in “race purity”  and accordingly in the principle of Africa for the Africans.

Following the examples of the USA, the United Kingdom (UK) and other European countries, Garvey promoted the establishment of a strong and powerful African empire for and governed by Africans, and put forward his person for the position of the eventual head of Africa. 

Marcus Garvey responded to violence, racism and nationalism of the White society of the time with the same weapons, namely racism and xenophobia. But, such an attitude did not uplift the Pan-African movement; it completely undermined the credibility of it instead. Indeed, this could have had serious consequences such as the confusion between PanAfricanism and doctrines like those of apartheid or Nazism. 

Moreover, this is worth noting that “in March 1934, in his magazine, The Black Man, Garvey recommended that his readers peruse Mein Kampf, expressing his hope that one day the Black race would produce its own Hitler.”

He  also wrote the following disturbing words, “Hitler has a lesson to teach and he is teaching it well.” In fact, Hitler was not the only European leader whom Marcus Garvey admired; he also paid tribute to Benito Mussolini, the fascist dictator of Italy, and Napoleon, the high priest of slavery and colonization. Last but not least, he even began a close association with the White racist group named the Ku Klux Klan (KKK), praising the Klan’s intention of making America a White man’s country. 

In July 1922, he publicly said: From impressions, from my observations, from my understanding, the Ku Klux Klan is a mighty white organization in the United States of America, organized for the purpose of upholding white supremacy in this country; organized for the purpose of making America a white man’s country, pure and simple. The organization has absolutely no apology to make as far as its program is concerned – a program of making America a white man’s country. […] Whilst the Ku Klux Klan desires to make America absolutely a white man’s country, the Universal Negro Improvement Association wants to make Africa absolutely a Black man’s country. "

This alliance of Marcus Garvey with this racist group was more than controversial. It could be perceived on the one hand as totally insulting to Black people, and on the other hand as a real pact with the devil.  Generally speaking, Marcus Garvey’s attitude towards the KKK as well as the European fascists mentioned earlier was totally irresponsible and contradictory for an alleged PanAfricanist. What is more, it could have contributed to legitimizing the enslavement and colonization which Marcus Garvey was supposed to fight against. 

As a result of  this Garvey’s philosophies brought a certain amount of criticism. While UNIA was exclusively made up of Black people, a more popular movement in the United States was the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), which had a foundational commitment to multiracial membership. 

Leading rights activist W.E.B. du Bois, a member of this organization, referred to Marcus Garvey as “the most dangerous enemy of the Negro race in America.” The reasoning for this was that Garvey and UNIA promoted the idea of racial segregation, which Du Bois argued was supporting the same argument as the Ku Klux Klan. The "Garvey Must Go" campaign (1922-23) was led by Du Bois and A. Philip Randolph, who saw Marcus Garvey as a divisive demagogue promoting racial separatism and "back to Africa" schemes that undermined integration efforts. 

They were  also upset over his authoritarian style, alleged fraud, and his 1922 meeting with KKK leader Edward Young Clarke, where Garvey sought alignment on racial purity and anti-miscegenation views, viewing the KKK as "honest" white supremacists.  

Those with philosophical differences, however, were not the most dangerous of Marcus Garvey’s enemies. J. Edgar Hoover, the director of the Bureau of Investigation (BOI), the precursor to the FBI, wanted to deport Garvey as early as 1919, but could find no cause. 

The BOI eventually charged him, and three other officers of Black Star Line, with mail fraud in 1922 for having an image of a ship that did not belong to the Black Star Line on a brochure cover and Garvey lost authority of the shipping line. Garvey was arrested in 1925 and chose to represent himself at trial, which did not serve him well. While the other co-defendants were found not guilty, his defense which was aggressive, suggested conspiracies and featured a three-hour long closing argument, led to him being sentenced to five years. 

He was held at the Atlanta Federal Penitentiary for two years until his sentence was commuted and he was deported on the orders of President Calvin Coolidge in 1927. Back in Jamaica, Garvey continued to fight for equal rights and founded the People’s Political Party (PPP) in 1929, which served as Jamaica’s first modern political party. The PPP administration worked on providing equal rights for workers, students, and providing necessary aid for poor people.

It's  important  to  point out another inconsistency in Garvey's  his life  which  lies in his attitude towards Christianity. It is common knowledge that Marcus Garvey was a Christian, a Roman Catholic first and then a member of the African Orthodox Church to be precise. He showed great respect for the Bible, the King James Version,– and often referred to the Holy Book in his speeches. Moreover, one of his favourite quotations was: “Princes shall come out of Egypt; Ethiopia shall soon stretch out her hands unto God.”

The distinctive characteristic of his faith was that he believed in a Black God, the “God of Ethiopia” as he used to call him, and promoted an Afrocentric version of Christianity. 

To support his beliefs, he used the few references to Ethiopia in the Bible as well as the following verse: “God created man in his image” Marcus Garvey being a Black man, so was God according to him. He also obviously denounced the Eurocentric interpretations of the Bible which, moreover, had contributed to the oppression and enslavement of Africans. In reality, his Afrocentric version of Christianity was absolutely comprehensible for it constituted a legitimate response to Christianity which played a significant role in slavery and colonization. Nevertheless, although it was an Afrocentric version of Christianity, the fact remains that it was Christianity, namely the religion of the colonizer. 

This approach was in a way incoherent for a Pan-Africanist, especially a so-called uncompromising one like him. the  very  concept of Pan-Africanism is supposed to be intrinsically linked with the notion of African pride  and to be proud of their African cultural heritage. So it would have been much more Pan-African for Marcus Garvey to return to the spirituality of his forefathers, namely religions such as Voodoo, Myal or even Rastafari, instead of embracing his torturers’ religion.

Though he faced political persecution and was eventually deported from the United States, Garvey’s impact remains undeniable. He continued his work abroad, speaking to the League of Nations in Switzerland on issues of race and justice and establishing the People’s Political Party in Jamaica, which focused on workers’ rights and the poor. 

Despite  the  mass  of  contradictions Garvey's message of black nationalism and self-reliance continues to inspire activists and leaders today. His legacy is complex and multifaceted, with both critics and admirers acknowledging his significant impact on African American history and culture. 

Garvey's influence can be seen in a range of social and cultural movements, from the Civil Rights Movement to contemporary Black Lives Matter activism. Garvey's  Pan-African philosophy  inspired a global mass movement, known as Garveyism. Garveyism would eventually inspire others, from the Nation of Islam to the Rastafari movement. 

Dubbed the “Black Moses,” Marcus Garvey,  is often favorably portrayed as an apostle of “race pride” and “racial uplift.”  Parks, school buildings and even school curricula are still named in his honor. He created the popular African Black Liberation flag. of red, black, and green, is believed to have coined the phrase “black is beautiful,” and collaborated in the formation of the nationalist African Orthodox Church. 

Among a   wide variety of famous Pan-Africanists and Black nationalists  who  have claimed to take their inspiration from him are  Malcolm X  Dr. Martin Luther King Jr,.Kwame Nkrumah – the first President of independent Ghana in 1957 –, Leopold Sedar Senghor – the first President of independent Senegal in 1960 and father of the Negritude –, Patrice Lumumba – the first Prime Minister of independent Congo in 1960 –, Julius Nyerere – the first President of independent Tanzania in 1962 –, Jomo Kenyatta – the first President of independent Kenya in 1964 –, Steve Biko and Nelson Mandela, Malcolm X, the Nigerian singer Fela Anikulapo Kuti and the Jamaican reggae stars Burning Spear and Bob Marley to name just a few. 

It also must be stressed that the Rastafarian  movement,  has been clearly influenced by Marcus Garvey’s ideologies. Moreover, according to Robert Hill, an authority on Marcus Garvey, “the Rastafarians have more than anyone kept alive his memory after his death in 1940.

This last point is very interesting because Marcus Garvey was very critical of the one they consider their God, whom they call Jah  then Emperor of Ethiopia, Haile Selassie I, though the latter was a key figure in Pan-Africanism. Seeing himself as eventual President of Africa, Garvey probably saw Haile Selassie as his rival. 

Garvey left Jamaica for England in 1935. Despite being removed from the centre of his UNIA, he continued to advocate for Black empowerment. His failing health, that began whilst in prison made it difficult for him to do so with the same vigour he had built his movement on. In January 1940, he suffered a stroke which left him paralysed. He died on June 10, 1940, at the age of 52 from a second stroke.

Because of travel restrictions, Garvey’s body was transported back to his homeland twenty years after his death. Today Garvey’s body rests in the National Heroes Park in Kingston, Jamaica.

To conclude, Marcus Garvey undeniably played an important role in Pan-Africanism, especially with the UNIA, the Black Star Line and the back-to-Africa movement, which definitely gave him credit, which must be the reason why he was proclaimed Jamaica’s first National Hero in 1964. And earlier this year, more than 100 years after Garvey’s  conviction, he was granted a full Presidential pardon by Joe Biden.

Nevertheless, his personality remains complex, multifaceted whose controversial actions and beliefs continue to be debated. He is a complex figure whose legacy is both celebrated and criticized .Some of his ideals were certainly outlandish and divisive  for  his problematic relationships with white supremacists and his harsh rhetoric. 

But his legacy is that his advocacy and promotion of Black pride is at the centre of Black identity around the world today. He has been immortalised by his words and the imprint of his vision amongst the Black global community. He remains to  many  a visionary leader who passionately championed empowerment for the black community. 

Garvey encouraged African people around the world to be proud of their race and to see beauty in their own kind. His central belief was that African people in every part of the world were one people and that they would never progress if they did not put aside their cultural and ethnic differences. Garvey's ultimate dream was for the creation of a United States of Africa. Garvey set the precedent for subsequent black nationalist and Pan-Africanist thought. 

Garvey wished to inspire a global mass-movement and-economic empowerment focusing on Africa, where he sought to end imperialist rule and create modern societies. He argued that black people would be respected only when they were economically strong and proposed an independent black economy. : Although Garvey was a supporter of racial separatism, he believed that humans were all equal and did not wish to create a hostile atmosphere with white people. The purpose of separatism was to empower black people and to enable them to find an identity.

His teachings and actions have since ignited a powerful sense of self-worth and cultural pride, motivating countless individuals to embrace their roots and face challenges with resilience. While his famous words, “Up, you mighty race, accomplish what you will,”  can still continue to serve as a rallying cry for those committed to Black empowerment and liberation.