• Disrupting Power Since 2015
  • Donate
  • Login
Thursday, May 15, 2025
  • Login
  • Register
Canary
MEDIA THAT DISRUPTS
  • News
    • UK
    • Global
    • Analysis
    • Trending
  • Editorial
  • Features
    • Features
    • Environment
    • Lifestyle
    • Health
    • Money
    • Science
    • Business
    • Tech
    • Travel
    • Sport & Gaming
  • Media
    • Video
    • Cartoons
  • Opinion
No Result
View All Result
MANAGE SUBSCRIPTION
SUPPORT
  • News
    • UK
    • Global
    • Analysis
    • Trending
  • Editorial
  • Features
    • Features
    • Environment
    • Lifestyle
    • Health
    • Money
    • Science
    • Business
    • Tech
    • Travel
    • Sport & Gaming
  • Media
    • Video
    • Cartoons
  • Opinion
No Result
View All Result
Canary
No Result
View All Result

After recent racist attack, Diane Abbott joins West Yorkshire in sticking two fingers up at the far right

Ed Sykes by Ed Sykes
10 December 2018
in Trending, UK
Reading Time: 3 mins read
168 4
A A
1
Home Trending
319
SHARES
2.5k
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Kirklees recently shot into the news due to an apparently racist attack on a young refugee. The attacker even got support from Stephen Yaxley-Lennon (aka ‘Tommy Robinson’). But now, the West Yorkshire borough is fighting back against the far right. And as thousands of people prepared to rally against Yaxley-Lennon and his supporters in London, Labour’s Diane Abbott joined Kirklees anti-racists in sticking two fingers up at people pushing hatred and division.

Increasing racism echoes a toxic media narrative

On 8 December, the shadow home secretary told protesters in Batley (the home town and parliamentary seat of assassinated Labour MP Jo Cox):

We’re seeing a rise in racism, antisemitism, and Islamophobia. So let’s remember the tragic death of Jo Cox… Let’s remember much more recently the very horrible incident with the Syrian young person that was tortured – water-boarded. What has this country come to where we are torturing young people because they are a different faith or a different colour?

She then insisted:

There are too many frightening incidents of blatant racism, Islamophobia and antisemitism. And often, it finds an echo in the mainstream press. I have had appalling things tweeted at me, and online. But it echoes a narrative in the mainstream press that says that anybody who wants to stand up for communities is somehow a dangerous extremist.

She also said:

if we can’t show solidarity with each other, then there is no hope.

Great to speak at @Kirklees_SUTR demo this afternoon. Our unity is our strength. With @JaneAitchison @FazilaLoonat_ pic.twitter.com/ohthY8WsoF

— Diane Abbott (@HackneyAbbott) December 8, 2018

Thank you @JaneAitchison you have been so incredibly supportive along w/ @HackneyAbbott @NavPMishra @Yasmine_Dar
It is very difficult to speakout about racism but having principled socialist like you standing alongside makes the fight for a equal society more achievable #Kirklees pic.twitter.com/t4nUZSyMgN

— Fazila Loonat 🇵🇸 (@FazilaLoonat_) December 10, 2018

Great turnout #Batley 2 celebrating diversity & community activists standing up to @AntiRacismDay solidarity w/ @FazilaLoonat_ thanks @HackneyAbbott @NavPMishra @Yasmine_Dar @cllrjakhtar @JaneAitchison @PeoplesMomentum @MomentumLeeds @CWUnews @GMB_union @unitetheunion #Yorkshire pic.twitter.com/MxZAQdsJyu

— Councillor Asghar khan (@asgharlab) December 9, 2018

How Tory austerity and rising racism coincided

Abbott also made an important link, highlighting that:

In the aftermath of the financial crisis in 2008, we have seen a steady rise in racism and xenophobia.

And this fits in with what others have insisted: that the recent rise of the far right is largely down to growing frustration in the wake of the 2007/8 capitalist crisis and the neoliberal austerity that has followed. In the UK, for example, the ruling Conservative Party chose to push the failed and extremist dogma of neoliberalism onto the country from 2010 onwards. Studies have since shown that the areas which austerity hit the hardest mirrored the areas that voted Brexit in 2016 – highlighting the anti-establishment frustration that government policies fostered.

As academics have also explained, the far right has been able to exploit the anger of some people hit hard by austerity and direct it into the scapegoating of minority communities – and usually immigrants.

As Abbott pointed out:

In the run-up to the last general election, I had more racist tweets and online racism than all the other women MPs put together.

And she called for solidarity, saying:

people sometimes say to me ‘oh, you must be strong’. No one is that strong – and sometimes it does get to you. So it’s really important that we show solidarity with each other.

We have the power to stop it

As Abbott insisted in Batley, we need to unite and oppose all forms of discrimination. But we also need to take power back from the neoliberal extremists in government. Because fighting racism means fighting the economic injustice and inequality which help to fuel its growth too. And that’s never going to happen under a Conservative-led government.

Featured image via Flickr

Share128Tweet80
Previous Post

Watch Barry Gardiner finally lay out Labour’s radical Brexit plan during a heated debate

Next Post

Opposition is lining up to topple Theresa May

Next Post
Theresa May

Opposition is lining up to topple Theresa May

Labour MP Lloyd Russell-Moyle

Watch the 'heroic' moment Labour MP Lloyd Russell-Moyle takes direct action in parliament

Anna Soubry on Newsnight

Anna Soubry's attempt to show what a 'joke' Labour is on Newsnight totally backfired

Theresa May with the words 'NOTHING HAS CHANGED' over her face

Useless PM clings to awful job she's terrible at

David Graeber and David Baddiel

Professor schools David Baddiel after his ‘facetious’ tweet about right-wing economics

Please login to join discussion
The British Museum just held an event with the Israeli embassy - and the Met police responded by repressing Palestine protesters
News

British Museum holds event with the Israeli embassy – so Met Police respond by repressing Palestine protesters

by The Canary
14 May 2025
EXPOSED: the public is paying for Keir Starmer's in-laws to live virtually rent-free in London
Analysis

EXPOSED: the public is paying for Keir Starmer’s in-laws to live virtually rent-free in London

by Ed Sykes
14 May 2025
People are coming together on 7 June to oppose Labour's DWP benefit cuts
News

People are coming together on 7 June to oppose Labour’s DWP benefit cuts

by The Canary
14 May 2025
Keir Starmer's 'Island of Strangers' speech: channeling the racist rhetoric of Enoch Powell
Opinion

Is Keir Starmer capable of killing?

by Jamie Driscoll
14 May 2025
As an ACTUAL GENOCIDE continues, its apologists come for Gary Lineker over an emoji
Opinion

As an ACTUAL GENOCIDE continues, its apologists come for Gary Lineker over an emoji

by Ed Sykes
14 May 2025
  • Contact
  • About & FAQ
  • Get our Daily News Email
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy

The Canary
PO Box 71199
LONDON
SE20 9EX

Canary Media Ltd – registered in England. Company registration number 09788095.

For guest posting, contact [email protected]

For other enquiries, contact: [email protected]

The Canary is owned and run by independent journalists and volunteers, NOT offshore billionaires.

You can write for us, or support us by making a regular or one-off donation.

© Canary Media Ltd 2024, all rights reserved | Website by Monster | Hosted by Krystal | Privacy Settings

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password? Sign Up

Create New Account!

Fill the forms below to register

All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
No Result
View All Result
  • News
    • UK
    • Global
    • Analysis
    • Trending
  • Editorial
  • Features
    • Features
    • Environment
    • Lifestyle
    • Health
    • Money
    • Science
    • Business
    • Tech
    • Travel
    • Sport & Gaming
  • Media
    • Video
    • Cartoons
  • Opinion

© 2023 Canary - Worker's co-op.

Before you go, have you seen...?

The British Museum just held an event with the Israeli embassy - and the Met police responded by repressing Palestine protesters
News
The Canary

British Museum holds event with the Israeli embassy – so Met Police respond by repressing Palestine protesters

EXPOSED: the public is paying for Keir Starmer's in-laws to live virtually rent-free in London
Analysis
Ed Sykes

EXPOSED: the public is paying for Keir Starmer’s in-laws to live virtually rent-free in London

People are coming together on 7 June to oppose Labour's DWP benefit cuts
News
The Canary

People are coming together on 7 June to oppose Labour’s DWP benefit cuts

Keir Starmer's 'Island of Strangers' speech: channeling the racist rhetoric of Enoch Powell
Opinion
Jamie Driscoll

Is Keir Starmer capable of killing?

ADVERTISEMENT
Business
Nathan Spears

When digital isn’t enough: why paper still matters in modern business

Tech
Nathan Spears

How Digital Addictions Are Formed in the Shadow of Large Platforms

Lifestyle
Nathan Spears

Recovery in the Sun: How the Canary Islands are Becoming a Wellness Tourism Hub