Last August I was attacked, and my friends assaulted while defending me, when I was celebrating my birthday.
Today a judge ruled that it was a politically motivated and homophobic targeted attack by a far right sympathiser.
This was the worst moment in a relentless campaign of far right harassment and threats on the street and online.
Far right supporters then spread lies online that the attack never happened, leading to further threats. They are not just racist bigots, but deceitful charlatans.
I’m a white journalist with a media platform and therefore this case gets lots of attention. But the far right and racists are currently emboldened, feel legitimised, and are targeting members of minorities who don’t have my platform.
The far right is growing in Britain and across the Western world and beyond. We need to unite to defeat this menace. There is no judicial solution to fascism: it has to be defeated through popular struggle.
Much of the British press and the ruling Conservative party have systematically and deliberately whipped up hatred and bigotry against minorities, and have viciously demonised the left. They share responsibility for what happened to me and to others.
In the general election we got far more coverage of a punch thrown at a Tory advisor that never actually happened than two female Labour canvassers in their 70s who were attacked – one with broken ribs.
The demonisation of the left as a dangerous rabble by not just the right, but those who describe themselves as moderates, is helping to make those of us on the left be treated by extremists as fair game.
“Both sides” rhetoric must be abandoned: we have to focus on the fact that it’s the far right who are the chief violent political menace – they’ve killed and maimed, and are viciously targeting minorities and the left. That means holding media and politicians accountable, too.
Thanks so much for all the solidarity and support – it’s meant a huge amount, and let’s defeat fascism together.
Owen Jones
