Far-right thugs invade socialist book store in London

The Emperor of Mankind · Aug 6, 2018

So a bunch of thugs wearing 'Make Britain Great Again' hats holding 'BBC = Bolshevik Brainwashing Cult' signs and chanting both Trump's and Tommy ~~Robinson~~ Yaxley-Lennon's names invaded a socialist bookshop. During the course of the video the cameraman finds a book called The Jewish Question and deliberately tried to portray the store owner as anti-Semitic without the slightest hint of irony. In the italicised name you'll find a link to the book on Amazon which explains what the book is actually about.

Thankfully these nutters didn't do a lot of damage; they tore up some signs the shop was selling, threatened the shop-keep and generally made themselves look like the idiots they are. That said; it feels like this was a test - a dip in the water to check the temperature, so to speak. If they can get away with doing this then how long will it take to escalate to actual personal violence? The latest incident in an increasingly right-wing atmosphere here in the UK.

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=696463064032417

I guess the 'free Tommy Robinson' crowd don't give as much of a **** about free speech as they like to pretend.

Woberts · Aug 6, 2018

It's hard to take anyone seriously when they have a British accent. :shrug:

Edit: The term Corbynite made me break out in a mad fit of laughter.

Epic Beard Man · Aug 6, 2018

The Emperor of Mankind said:
So a bunch of thugs wearing 'Make Britain Great Again' hats holding 'BBC = Bolshevik Brainwashing Cult' signs and chanting both Trump's and Tommy ~~Robinson~~ Yaxley-Lennon's names invaded a socialist bookshop. During the course of the video the cameraman finds a book called The Jewish Question and deliberately tried to portray the store owner as anti-Semitic without the slightest hint of irony. In the italicised name you'll find a link to the book on Amazon which explains what the book is actually about.

Thankfully these nutters didn't do a lot of damage; they tore up some signs the shop was selling, threatened the shop-keep and generally made themselves look like the idiots they are. That said; it feels like this was a test - a dip in the water to check the temperature, so to speak. If they can get away with doing this then how long will it take to escalate to actual personal violence? The latest incident in an increasingly right-wing atmosphere here in the UK.

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=696463064032417

I guess the 'free Tommy Robinson' crowd don't give as much of a **** about free speech as they like to pretend.

Cowards...the lot of them

Revoltingest · Aug 6, 2018

I oppose tearing up other people's signs.

Phantasman · Aug 6, 2018

No different than the Candice Owens attack.

Leftist Protesters Attack Charlie Kirk and Candice Owens of TPUSA | National Review

Quetzal · Aug 6, 2018

Phantasman said:
No different than the Candice Owens attack.

Leftist Protesters Attack Charlie Kirk and Candice Owens of TPUSA | National Review

No reason both acts can't be denounced!

Mindmaster · Aug 6, 2018

Revoltingest said:
I oppose tearing up other people's signs.

Most of these people are probably deplatformed, so it's logical that they move from virtual protesting/dissent to active protest like this.

I think if you remove someones right to speak you merely incentivize this behavior and it's to be expected. It's funny how the left is all about censoring the right and then they get mad when the left shows up at their door to take action. You can't have your cake and eat it too. Silence someone and the rage won't be voiced with words, it'll be in your face and real as it's the only way you've left to receive their message.

I'm not particularly for this type of protesting mind you, but it's the logical culmination of the lefts abuse of power on social media platforms, forums, and other outlets. They're getting exactly what they ordered.

Stanyon · Aug 6, 2018

Phantasman said:
No different than the Candice Owens attack.

Leftist Protesters Attack Charlie Kirk and Candice Owens of TPUSA | National Review

The knock off Antifa clowns of the U.S. seem like Kmart versions of the ones I saw in action about thirty years ago in Europe. They come across as a bunch of spoiled, whiny, upper middle class kids white knighting all over the place, nothing more than lapdogs and tools of champagne socialists.

Stevicus · Aug 6, 2018

The Emperor of Mankind said:
So a bunch of thugs wearing 'Make Britain Great Again' hats holding 'BBC = Bolshevik Brainwashing Cult' signs and chanting both Trump's and Tommy ~~Robinson~~ Yaxley-Lennon's names invaded a socialist bookshop. During the course of the video the cameraman finds a book called The Jewish Question and deliberately tried to portray the store owner as anti-Semitic without the slightest hint of irony. In the italicised name you'll find a link to the book on Amazon which explains what the book is actually about.

Thankfully these nutters didn't do a lot of damage; they tore up some signs the shop was selling, threatened the shop-keep and generally made themselves look like the idiots they are. That said; it feels like this was a test - a dip in the water to check the temperature, so to speak. If they can get away with doing this then how long will it take to escalate to actual personal violence? The latest incident in an increasingly right-wing atmosphere here in the UK.

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=696463064032417

I guess the 'free Tommy Robinson' crowd don't give as much of a **** about free speech as they like to pretend.

Did they actually get away with this? There were no arrests made?

I don't think we have any socialist bookstores in my neck of the woods. There are local bookstores which sell books on socialism and might have a certain liberal selection. They might even have Whipping Girl - I'll have to check and see. But they wouldn't necessarily be touted as "socialist" bookstores.

I've often thought that it would be cool to have a politically-oriented bookstore, with the left side of the store having far-left material, and the right side of the store having far-right material. In the middle, I'd put a boxing ring.

ImmortalFlame · Aug 7, 2018

Mindmaster said:
Most of these people are probably deplatformed, so it's logical that they move from virtual protesting/dissent to active protest like this.

I think if you remove someones right to speak you merely incentivize this behavior and it's to be expected. It's funny how the left is all about censoring the right and then they get mad when the left shows up at their door to take action. You can't have your cake and eat it too. Silence someone and the rage won't be voiced with words, it'll be in your face and real as it's the only way you've left to receive their message.

I'm not particularly for this type of protesting mind you, but it's the logical culmination of the lefts abuse of power on social media platforms, forums, and other outlets. They're getting exactly what they ordered.

What exactly did "the left" do in this case to deserve this response?

The Emperor of Mankind · Aug 7, 2018

Woberts said:
It's hard to take anyone seriously when they have a British accent.

cringes internally

They're English accents. No need to tar the rest of us by association.

Edit: The term Corbynite made me break out in a mad fit of laughter.

Heh, yeah it is kind of silly. But it's a genuine thing here.

Mindmaster said:
Most of these people are probably deplatformed, so it's logical that they move from virtual protesting/dissent to active protest like this.

I think if you remove someones right to speak you merely incentivize this behavior and it's to be expected. It's funny how the left is all about censoring the right and then they get mad when the left shows up at their door to take action. You can't have your cake and eat it too. Silence someone and the rage won't be voiced with words, it'll be in your face and real as it's the only way you've left to receive their message.

I'm not particularly for this type of protesting mind you, but it's the logical culmination of the lefts abuse of power on social media platforms, forums, and other outlets. They're getting exactly what they ordered.

Oh aye. 'The right are being censored and de-platformed'. They're saying it on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Reddit, Youtube, BBC Newsnight so it must be true.

And no; this isn't an excuse or a reason with these people. This sort is inclined to violence either way. Look at how they reacted in the bookshop. They can't stomach the presence of dissenting opinions to the point they'll use violence & threats to try and silence them. This is exactly why they're being de-platformed in the first place - they've got no arguments to make and all they can do is hate. This incident is merely the latest in a trend of rising right-wing activism across the West.

The behaviour on display is why Antifa activists tend to mask their faces. The poor guy behind the till will no doubt be subjected to a campaign slandering him as a paedophile.

Stevicus said:
Did they actually get away with this? There were no arrests made?

Yes. No arrests have been made as yet.

I don't think we have any socialist bookstores in my neck of the woods. There are local bookstores which sell books on socialism and might have a certain liberal selection. They might even have Whipping Girl - I'll have to check and see. But they wouldn't necessarily be touted as "socialist" bookstores.

We've got one here in Glasgow and now I'm a bit worried there might be copy-cat attacks on it. That said, we're not nearly as bad for this kind of crap as England is. Don't get me wrong; we do have the far-right element here but they're are way more to the fringe than the English far-right are getting at the moment

Kirran · Aug 7, 2018

The Emperor of Mankind said:
Don't get me wrong; we do have the far-right element here but they're are way more to the fringe than the English far-right are getting at the moment

Don't think we have it much in Wales either. Certain areas of England do seem to have much more of a penchant for it than the rest of Great Britain.

Let's not get into Northern Ireland though.

Mindmaster · Aug 7, 2018

The Emperor of Mankind said:
Oh aye. 'The right are being censored and de-platformed'. They're saying it on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Reddit, Youtube, BBC Newsnight so it must be true.

And no; this isn't an excuse or a reason with these people. This sort is inclined to violence either way. Look at how they reacted in the bookshop. They can't stomach the presence of dissenting opinions to the point they'll use violence & threats to try and silence them. This is exactly why they're being de-platformed in the first place - they've got no arguments to make and all they can do is hate. This incident is merely the latest in a trend of rising right-wing activism across the West.

What is hate? Speech you don't like? That's the whole problem, there is plenty of speech not to like. This target is moving and the broadest brush possible. Certainly, those who directly call for violence and abuse need no platform but most of these guys are not like that. What about them?

The stupidity, of course, is thinking that the target will not move to some other undesirable group. In the 1950's it was commies, in the 60s and 70s gays, and no doubt after all of the Alex Jone's and Fox News channels are cleared out it might be YOU. Who are you? Well, they already know and you're already on the hit list -- they must have one, or they wouldn't be on with the shadow bans and page deletions. Are you 100% grade A liberal? If not, you're probably on the list somewhere. They'll start with the "problems" and see what happens, and if nothing does... Everyone else that talks about something they don't like will go next. Of course, what they don't like will change tomorrow. Obviously, no one is 100% this or that... Even the liberals... But, wrong-think will get you "unpersoned" like some science fiction Orwellian nightmare. If you think it can't happen keep your eyes closed, but the tremors of the catastrophe are already shaking the ground. Do you have a million dollars like Alex Jones to keep yourself on the Internet? Who's really dumb enough to not see where this is going?

Altfish · Aug 7, 2018

Phantasman said:
No different than the Candice Owens attack.

Leftist Protesters Attack Charlie Kirk and Candice Owens of TPUSA | National Review

The Jewish Bookshop attack was initially blamed on the 'left-wing', it was only when the culprits were identified that it became apparent who the real agitators were.

It is interesting though that you do not condemn the actions in the UK, instead you say, 'but look your side did it too'...as my Mum used to say, "Two wrongs do not make a right"

exchemist · Aug 7, 2018

The Emperor of Mankind said:
So a bunch of thugs wearing 'Make Britain Great Again' hats holding 'BBC = Bolshevik Brainwashing Cult' signs and chanting both Trump's and Tommy ~~Robinson~~ Yaxley-Lennon's names invaded a socialist bookshop. During the course of the video the cameraman finds a book called The Jewish Question and deliberately tried to portray the store owner as anti-Semitic without the slightest hint of irony. In the italicised name you'll find a link to the book on Amazon which explains what the book is actually about.

Thankfully these nutters didn't do a lot of damage; they tore up some signs the shop was selling, threatened the shop-keep and generally made themselves look like the idiots they are. That said; it feels like this was a test - a dip in the water to check the temperature, so to speak. If they can get away with doing this then how long will it take to escalate to actual personal violence? The latest incident in an increasingly right-wing atmosphere here in the UK.

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=696463064032417

I guess the 'free Tommy Robinson' crowd don't give as much of a **** about free speech as they like to pretend.

I suppose the good thing about this is that by attacking bookshops they remind us all of the Nazi brownshirts and make it that bit harder to keep up the imbecile pretence that Yaxley-Lennon is some kind of free speech hero.

Altfish · Aug 7, 2018

Mindmaster said:
What is hate? Speech you don't like? That's the whole problem, there is plenty of speech not to like. This target is moving and the broadest brush possible. Certainly, those who directly call for violence and abuse need no platform but most of these guys are not like that. What about them?

The stupidity, of course, is thinking that the target will not move to some other undesirable group. In the 1950's it was commies, in the 60s and 70s gays, and no doubt after all of the Alex Jone's and Fox News channels are cleared out it might be YOU. Who are you? Well, they already know and you're already on the hit list -- they must have one, or they wouldn't be on with the shadow bans and page deletions. Are you 100% grade A liberal? If not, you're probably on the list somewhere. They'll start with the "problems" and see what happens, and if nothing does... Everyone else that talks about something they don't like will go next. Of course, what they don't like will change tomorrow. Obviously, no one is 100% this or that... Even the liberals... But, wrong-think will get you "unpersoned" like some science fiction Orwellian nightmare. If you think it can't happen keep your eyes closed, but the tremors of the catastrophe are already shaking the ground. Do you have a million dollars like Alex Jones to keep yourself on the Internet? Who's really dumb enough to not see where this is going?

"First they came for the Jews
and I did not speak out
because I was not a Jew.

Then they came for the Communists
and I did not speak out
because I was not a Communist.

Then they came for the trade unionists
and I did not speak out
because I was not a trade unionist.

Then they came for me
and there was no one left
to speak out for me."

Martin Niemöller

Altfish · Aug 7, 2018

Estro Felino said:
Vicious Circle

The English elect Bedouins as politicians--------->These politicians persecute and jail those who speak out against their religion (Tommy Robinson)--------->The English go wild and go violent and criminal...to protest.

Stephen Yaxley Lennon has always been a thug and a racist, part of the reason he was jailed this recent time was his previous record.
Politicians CANNOT jail anyone in the UK, it is the courts that carry out that function.

ChristineM · Aug 7, 2018

The Emperor of Mankind said:
They're English accents. No need to tar the rest of us by association.

English accents luv? Which region of england spawns the English accent? From my travels i would suggest BBC land and their middle england dramas or cockney as the world view the english accent.

My accent is west lancashire*. 30 miles south west and i dont understand a word of scouse accent, 30 miles east and the accent of the moors mill towns is lost on me.

* Speaking french with a west lancashire accent can have hilarious results.

Just a note on the Glasgow accent, while in America i watched a couple of old episodes of Taggart with subtitles. I still chuckle over that.

Mindmaster · Aug 7, 2018

Altfish said:
"First they came for the Jews
and I did not speak out
because I was not a Jew.

Then they came for the Communists
and I did not speak out
because I was not a Communist.

Then they came for the trade unionists
and I did not speak out
because I was not a trade unionist.

Then they came for me
and there was no one left
to speak out for me."

Martin Niemöller

At least someone around here gets it... It doesn't matter if you are right or left or whatever... Today the forces that be lean left on the Internet, but what is the left tomorrow and the next day? Think about the gap between classical liberalism and modern day progressive liberalism. Will the liberals ten years down the road consider you a liberal? Who knows... That's the whole freaking problem... I can't predict that, nor can anyone else.

We don't need to have these companies sanitize our content for us -- we can switch off the channel if we don't like it just like the old days. If we allow these people to be our gatekeepers they gain fair too much influence on us -- like being able to mind control everyone with propaganda by simply limiting the messages you can see, like ever.

Start using social media like Minds, Gab, or *****ute (don't know why this forum censors bit-chute, lol) which are free speech absolutists. (barring illegal activity of course) Your connections are your votes... Put the votes in the right place.

Altfish · Aug 7, 2018

ChristineM said:
English accents luv? Which region of england spawns the English accent? From my travels i would suggest BBC land and their middle england dramas or cockney as the world view the english accent.

My accent is west lancashire*. 30 miles south west and i dont understand a word of scouse accent, 30 miles east and the accent of the moors mill towns is lost on me.

* Speaking french with a west lancashire accent can have hilarious results.

Just a note on the Glasgow accent, while in America i watched a couple of old episodes of Taggart with subtitles. I still chuckle over that.

It always amazes me as a Mancunian how the Scouse accent suddenly appears in St Helens; similarly you can be in Carlisle with no hint of a Scottish accent, then boom, you hit Gretna and it's "Och ooh the nae"

Far-right thugs invade socialist book store in London

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