A conservative American author named Janie Johnson has claimed on Twitter that London is now “all Islamic”. And as you can imagine, the good people of Great Britain have consequently pointed out that her statement is rubbish at best, and ideology-driven scaremongering at worst.
My friends just returned from London. Shocked. Hadn't been in 20 years. Said London is gone – all Islamic. https://t.co/YFFKkt2wli
— Janie Johnson – America is Exceptional (@jjauthor) December 5, 2016
Janie Johnson – author
Johnson is most noteworthy as the author of Don’t Take My Lemonade Stand: An American Philosophy. She also wrote Obama 2012 Slogans Rewritten. Her website has several examples of these re-written slogans, including:
- “We can turn parasites into victims – and buy lots of votes!”
- “Obama has a dream – you wouldn’t like it!”
Johnson also claims on her site that her books are:
written for everyday Americans by an everyday American.
In addition, she notes that she’s a former tennis professional who’s married to an entrepreneur and best-selling author. And in another section of her website, she claims:
My whole perspective is that I am not an expert. I am just an informed American citizen (who has done her homework) who is not satisfied with the direction of our country or the way in which it is currently being governed.
But because of Johnson’s tweet about London, her status as an “informed American” is now being drawn into question.
The disbelief
First of all, several Twitter users struggled to take the American seriously.
I live in London and I’ve never heard such a pile of laughable horseshit in my entire life. Have a word with yourself.
— Melissa Harrison (@M_Z_Harrison) December 5, 2016
Seconded, as a London resident I can confirm this is scaremongering bullshit.
— TechnicallyRon (On all the platforms) (@TechnicallyRon) December 5, 2016
The British sense of humour
Disbelief rather quickly turned into hilarity.
https://twitter.com/hrtbps/status/805721643947618304
An Islamic minaret now stands beside England's house of parliaments pic.twitter.com/Ekt5pogS5a
— criticalbill (@criticalbill) December 5, 2016
https://twitter.com/ErayKurtoglu98/status/805726726261243904
I keep seeing these mosques everywhere. Disgraceful. pic.twitter.com/g4XofKOtIL
— TechnicallyRon (On all the platforms) (@TechnicallyRon) December 5, 2016
The wearing of the 'British hijab' is now compulsory amongst men. pic.twitter.com/2XAUpUZ3LO
— David Owens (@asoundreaction) December 5, 2016
https://twitter.com/hourlyterrier/status/805778879398952960
The pastiche
Finally, other Twitter users have elected to pastiche the author.
my friend's just returned from Mars. Shocked. Hadn't been in 4 billion years. Said the magnetic field & atmosphere is gone – all solar winds https://t.co/XTacEtM8lD
— village fetish (@botandy) December 5, 2016
https://twitter.com/SelassieMungz/status/805768256871170048
My friends just returned from Washington. Shocked. Hadn't been in 20 years. Said Washington is gone – all idiotic. https://t.co/4NGgK14Sks
— Igor Brejc 🇺🇦 🌻 (@breki74) December 5, 2016
‘Informed’ America
But Johnson is not the first to make such claims. Donald Trump said that there were places in London “that are so radicalised the police are afraid for their own lives”. And other American figures on the right have made similar suggestions. The people making these claims show a wilful ignorance every time they repeat them. It also shows that they’re more than willing to spread lies in order to support their agenda.
The Canary contacted Janie Johnson for comment, but received no response.
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Featured image via Flickr