How does Britain First capitalize on current events to spread their message?
"You might be talking about a small minority of the British population…but you’re talking about an influential population…this type of extremist rhetoric does have some real life consequences.
...
Events like that [Lee Rigby] fuel these things…they give people an excuse to air the vulgar prejudices they hold dear in their heart. Real world events have an effect on these people…they need a stimulus…there needs to be a stimulus."
Britain First and Lee Rigby
Images from the Britain First Facebook Page
On May 22 2013, Lee Rigby, a 25 year old father of one, was returning to the Woolwich barracks in south London when two men drove into him with a car and proceeded to hack him to death in the street. A soldier who had served in Cyprus, Germany, and Afghanistan, Fusilier Rigby was wearing a "Help for Heroes" hooded top when he was murdered by the British Muslim converts, Michael Adebolajo, 29, and Michael Adebowale, 22. Adebolajo claimed he was a soldier of Allah and the murder was an act of war. This event marked the first al-Qaida-inspired attack to claim a life on British soil since 7 July 2005 (1).
Immediately after the murder, multiple far-right groups, including Britain First, attempted to use the murder to gain supporters for their cause. The Rigby family repeatedly distanced themselves from these groups, stating that their views "are not what Lee believed in and has (sic) no support from the family" (2). Despite this, Britain First continued to appropriate his death, even using "Remember Lee Rigby" on the ballot paper for European elections. In a distressing statement, Lee's Mother, Lyn Rigby, confessed to being "heartbroken" that this action had been allowed. The Electoral Commission issued an apology, admitting that it should "never have been permitted" (2). Highlighting the fact that the election was taking place on the one year anniversary of Lee's death, Lyn Rigby asked, "can any more heartbreak be thrown at me and my family" (2)?
With this question in mind, a great duplicity is revealed in the two images above. Britain First utterly disregarded the wishes of a mourning family and capitalized on the murder of a son, a fiancé, a father. Hidden behind their "thoughts and prayer" are deeper and darker motives -- motives that saw a national moment of pain and loss as a recruitment opportunity and did everything in their power (online and offline) to exploit it.
Immediately after the murder, multiple far-right groups, including Britain First, attempted to use the murder to gain supporters for their cause. The Rigby family repeatedly distanced themselves from these groups, stating that their views "are not what Lee believed in and has (sic) no support from the family" (2). Despite this, Britain First continued to appropriate his death, even using "Remember Lee Rigby" on the ballot paper for European elections. In a distressing statement, Lee's Mother, Lyn Rigby, confessed to being "heartbroken" that this action had been allowed. The Electoral Commission issued an apology, admitting that it should "never have been permitted" (2). Highlighting the fact that the election was taking place on the one year anniversary of Lee's death, Lyn Rigby asked, "can any more heartbreak be thrown at me and my family" (2)?
With this question in mind, a great duplicity is revealed in the two images above. Britain First utterly disregarded the wishes of a mourning family and capitalized on the murder of a son, a fiancé, a father. Hidden behind their "thoughts and prayer" are deeper and darker motives -- motives that saw a national moment of pain and loss as a recruitment opportunity and did everything in their power (online and offline) to exploit it.
Britain First and the Shootings on Parliament Hill
Images from the Britain First Facebook Page
On October 22 2014, Michael Zehaf Bibeau fatally shot Corporal Nathan Cirillo, a Canadian soldier on ceremonial guard. He then continued on to the nearby Centre Block parliament building where he was killed after a shootout with parliament security personnel. Considered by many friends and family to have mental health issues, Bibeau was a habitual offender and a drug addict. A converted Muslim, Bibeau had previously expressed support for Jihadists and other Islam extremist groups. His mother says it was the last "desperate act" of a mentally unstable man (3). The Royal Canadian Mounted Police have classified it a "terrorist attack" (3).
A selective news source, Britain First cherry-picks the stories they cover. Unsurprisingly, the shootings on Parliament Hill, Ontario were covered extensively. Once again capitalizing on the death of a solider at the hands of a Muslim, Britain First produced multiple media campaigns mourning Cirillo's loss and celebrating unification with Canada. As Facebook users searched for online support communities, Britain First was waiting with open arms and a comment section that espoused hateful anti-Islamic sentiments. As seen above, the top comments consist of blaming "the left, who brought these dangerous 'people' in, and nurtured them", declarations to "destroy Isis", and warnings that "Islamic scum" are "taking the whole world". Careful page moderation ensures that these comments stand without opposition. It is easy to see the potential transition from fellow mourner to Britain First supporter to radical activist.
As Alex Miller said in the video above, "[events] give people an excuse to air the vulgar prejudices they hold dear in their heart. Real world events have an effect on these people…they need a stimulus [to gain support]…there needs to be a stimulus."
A selective news source, Britain First cherry-picks the stories they cover. Unsurprisingly, the shootings on Parliament Hill, Ontario were covered extensively. Once again capitalizing on the death of a solider at the hands of a Muslim, Britain First produced multiple media campaigns mourning Cirillo's loss and celebrating unification with Canada. As Facebook users searched for online support communities, Britain First was waiting with open arms and a comment section that espoused hateful anti-Islamic sentiments. As seen above, the top comments consist of blaming "the left, who brought these dangerous 'people' in, and nurtured them", declarations to "destroy Isis", and warnings that "Islamic scum" are "taking the whole world". Careful page moderation ensures that these comments stand without opposition. It is easy to see the potential transition from fellow mourner to Britain First supporter to radical activist.
As Alex Miller said in the video above, "[events] give people an excuse to air the vulgar prejudices they hold dear in their heart. Real world events have an effect on these people…they need a stimulus [to gain support]…there needs to be a stimulus."
Works Cited
- http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-25450555
- http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2614505/Fury-hijack-Lee-Rigbys-poll-Soldiers-mother-says-heartbroken-extremist-party-allowed-use-ballot-papers-European-election.html
- http://globalnews.ca/tag/parliament-hill-shooting/
- "Cyber Racism: White Supremacy Online and the New Attack on Civil Rights", Jessie Daniels
- “The future of (the) race: identity and the rise of computer-mediated public spheres”, Dara Bryne