Is the Right-Wing Protest in England Thuggery?
The British have not experienced significant riots or street protests for over a generation, reflecting a more civilized approach in this regard. So, what has caused the current street protests against immigration policies to spiral out of control? Despite the British media's attempts to downplay these events, they pale in comparison to what occurred in Bangladesh, where street protests overthrew the elected government. While such an extreme outcome is unlikely in Britain, the unrest is a smaller-scale version of similar tensions.
In England, discontent had been simmering for some time over perceived excessive Muslim immigration. Successive British governments were aware of the potential risks posed by the integration of an assertive Muslim culture and religion but did little to address them. Instead, they encouraged the immigration and prosperity of aggressive Pakistani Muslims, possibly driven by a need for cheap labor or by policies dating back to Winston Churchill's era. Churchill's support for the creation of Muslim-majority Pakistan and the subsequent encouragement of Pakistani immigration to Britain aimed to counterbalance an independent-minded India. This historical context set the stage for ongoing sympathy towards Muslim immigrants, further exacerbated by unchecked immigration from the Middle East and Africa. Consequently, Muslims now comprise 8-9% of England's population.
This demographic shift has significantly impacted the Anglo-Saxon cultural fabric of England. Many new immigrants, unable to find employment, turned to crime, leading to a surge in sex crimes committed by Pakistani Muslim immigrants. British authorities, however, often downplayed these crimes, which frustrated the white Anglo-Saxon majority. They sought an opportunity to express their anger and push the government to revise its immigration policies.
The catalyst for the current unrest was the stabbing of three children in a dance class by a 17-year-old Muslim boy born in England to immigrant parents. This incident ignited widespread anger among white Britons, leading to riots across England.
The newly elected Labour government tried to argue that the crime was not committed by an immigrant but by someone born in England. However, many saw little distinction, believing that cultural influences from immigrant parents played a significant role.
Today, the British government is expending considerable effort to control the riots, labeling them as right-wing protests. While this characterization may be accurate, the widespread public sympathy for the right-wing position indicates a deeper level of public frustration.