Hi
I saw this earlier today: https://twitter.com/LordJohnMann/status/1205426629700464640
I'm not "pro-canary", and I'm not necessarily denying that there could have been problems with forms of anti-semitism in some of the pro-corbyn left media (I don't really read the canary, so I don't know).
But nevertheless things like this make me worry that the emboldened right will start coming after left-wing media of all varieties. I'm genuinely terrified that we're going to have to fight for our right to speak and be heard in the coming months and years.
Am I being melodramatic here?
Maybe, but without evidence
Maybe, but without evidence it's not wise to let one's imagination run wild.
Don't suppose 'libcom',
Don't suppose 'libcom', anarchists, leftcoms or spgb and the like are top of the list for scrutiny by these people but we could all get caught up in any increase of media suppression by an emboldened 'right-wing'.
Seems to connect with this as well:
https://libcom.org/forums/united-kingdom/anti-extremism-academics-uk-state-09082019
Spikymike wrote: Don't
Spikymike
I don't know. We care about the distinction between us and the Corbynite left. Does anyone else though?
Oh, I see that's actually
Oh, I see that's actually what you were saying. I apologise.
Might add that we should be
Might add that we should be more concerned about the extent and level of likely unrestrained police violence against any resurgence of effective workplace and street level resistance to, and protest against, what is to come in the near future. Remember what this was like during Thatcher's time when we lost so much. I'm probably not best to advise at my age but people need to be aware of the risks, better organised and wear protection against this.
And this just a small poorly organised skirmish really, but remember there is still an unidentified policeman responsible for nearly killing an earlier demonstrator who suffered severe brain damage from one of those batons in this illustration:
https://freedomnews.org.uk/the-first-post-election-anti-boris-rally-of-many/
That, and the cops'
That, and the cops' para-state friends are likely to be on the offensive as well - at the start of the year fascists tried to have a go at RMT picket lines in at least two different cities, and I don't think they're likely to calm down much now that someone they see as "their guy" has just won a big victory.
I feel like, I was frightened
I feel like, I was frightened and now it's happened. We're into the bad bit and only time will tell what shape the badness exactly takes. I don't feel fear now, more dread.
Nope, that doesn't scare me,
Nope, that doesn't scare me, not one bit.
It starts with attempted
It starts with attempted arrests and then the violence by police is excused as dealing with the resistance followed by prosecuting the 'resisters' for violence against the police and so on. Picket lines and protests on the ever extended 'private' space around workplaces will be testing us more in the near future.
It starts here in a small way:
https://freedomnews.org.uk/met-police-threaten-to-arrest-entire-uvw-strike-picket-again/
Not just the UVW but the IWGB
Not just the UVW but the IWGB too:
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2020/jan/16/trial-of-union-leader-for-assault-by-megaphone-collapses?
In today's Guardian this
In today's Guardian this article shows (alongside far-right groups) various anarchist and left groups listed in a UK police 'Prevent' counter-terror pamphlet to help public sector workers identify potential 'threats';
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2020/jan/17/greenpeace-included-with-neo-nazis-on-uk-counter-terror-list