Very perceptive. Fortunately parading around in black while wearing masks doesn't endear your cause to most people. And the people popping up defending these thugs are showing their true colours. That said, it's no time to be complacent.
"Patriot Platform" has echoes of "Patriot Prayer", a Proud Boy-allied far-right group founded in Seattle about a decade ago which was explicitly Christian. Like this lot, they focused on street demonstrations in Seattle, Portland and elsewhere. The contexts are very different though. There's a fairly limited appetite for earnest American-style Christian nationalism bolted to a far-right movement in the UK. It's not zero, but it's limited.
I live in Portsmouth. There was definitely a coordinated effort to get people down here. I was watching some of it unfold on a number of YouTube feeds and you could hear them asking each other where they'd come from. Poole, Reading and Worthing were audible. Quite frankly these people scare me far more than a bunch of random terrified people rescued from a leaky boat in the middle of the channel. Young (fighting age, their words) men, dressed in black with masks marching through the streets. At least Oswald Mosleys blackshirts had the courage to show their faces.
Bear I'm furious about-and frightened by this. And what was the point of changing PM if he doesn't appear to have the cojones to say masked men organising to harass others is OK. 🤷♀️
The BBC reported that Kent Police said it was ‘a spontaneous protest’. There’s nothing spontaneous about 500 identically dressed men in black with balaclavas descending upon a seaside town, the security services must have known or else their information gathering expertise needs a huge overhaul.
Somebody on bluesky responded to me wrt the 'spontaneous' comment by saying it's police jargon, meaning the 'protest' organisers didn't notify the police beforehand.
That may well be correct, but the fact is that's not how most of us understand the word and it makes the authorities look stupid and ill-informed. If indeed that is their jargon, they need to change it PDQ.
This behaviour was very worrying, it was intimidating, bullying and I was extremely disappointed at the lack of action by the police AND the government. These thugs will no doubt feel they can do this more often and further afield.
They are cowards though, covering their faces, and I dread to think that some may have been carrying weapons.
As Kane Clements has said, if the PM doesn't grow a pair, and soon, we will be seeing more of this!
These were uniformed blackshirts, although the uniform has been updated. It's surely a prima facie offence under the 1936 Public Order Act - is that not still the law? If it is, why is the Government not enforcing it against both organisers and participants? Baldwin knew what to do. Does Burnham?
It's tricky. Mass arrests would reinforce the thug narrative that they are being unfairly persecuted. And I have no idea of police numbers but am guessing it's likely that the coppers didn't want to wade into a couple of hundred of those types of protesters where they have less fear arresting, say, climate protesters where there is no risk of violence. In some cases police also often find observing more valuable than making immediate arrests. But let's face it, the police are not going to be the ones to shut these people down, that will be up to civil society, counterprotesters, investigative journalists and substackers like The Bear who keep their eye on the ball.
But if it's illegal to organize such an event, the authorities might be able to track down the organizers and charge them, even if the mass army had not been arrested.
Maybe we should have a ban on both balaclavas and burqas/niqabs (although the latter would cause protests too); then the fascists couldn't claim bias against them.
It could become a serious problem. Much depends on the political will that should be available, when necessary, to press Police, Prosecutors, Judges and Regulators to do what they are set up to do!
This appeared to work during the Southport riots?
Is there any lack of will? Are politicians scared of being accused of anti Right Wing sentiment?
I agree with the conclusion that it’s the level of organization that’s worrying the discipline that can only come from training and an effective command structure. These people and their behaviour reminded me of films of the Proudboys in America. In their case wearing chinos, khaki shirts and masks as a uniform. Turning up in UHaul rented vans, marching in the same disciplined manner.
Where were MI5? Why didn’t their monitoring pick up the organisation and planning behind this Patriot Platform? Where is the funding coming from? Is there an MI6 angle of overseas funding and influence? https://vm.tiktok.com/ZN82NFKHU/
"They appeared disciplined, co-ordinated and ready to do it again." They were also dressed in black, which has huge historical significance. Think Mosley's and Mussolini's Black Shirts. How long until they move on from 'small boats' to other political issues, such as welfare recipients? The authorities need to move, at speed, to identify who organises and finances these people. If we wait until they identify themselves it will be too late.
Again a concise article, facts, not rhetoric like Farage and Reform spout continually. I have deep concerns about the far right and the blame culture so reminiscent of the 1930’s, not just here but across the continent and in America. We need to viscously stamp this out at once.
Britain needs immigrants. We're all immigrants or descendants of immigrants.
When did it become *normal* to pretend that refugees aren't human beings? Most people who risk losing their lives in dangerous sea crossings are desperate to be able to work and live somewhere safely.
And whatever happened to safe routes for asylum seekers?
Brexit broke Britain's economy, humanity and unleashed cruel, ignorant racists.
And Bear is right. The money behind this is very worrying.
Musk's cult followers brag that his election interference 'won' Trump's 2nd term.
It’s frightening & what’s more it’s supposed to frighten. All dressed in black & faces covered. Yet they call them ‘protesters’, and yes, they appear well organised. Yaxley-L’s henchman was apparently filming them in Pompey acc to the media. Burnham needs to speak up & totally condemn this immediately.
We were listening to a man on R4 at lunchtime talking to Sarah Montague about how he joined the protest in Portsmouth. We heard very clearly his views on 'illegal immigrants' and that he categorically refused to believe that a far lower number of boats have arrived in recent months than previously, or that many thousands of those deemed illegal immigrants have been returned. The rhetoric of leaders such as Yaxley-Lennon and others is getting through in a way that the truth is not. He also said all his family and friends agree with his views. He was calm, rational and coherent. It's those like him, who have been brainwashed to believe everything that is wrong with the country is the fault of (specifically black and Asian) immigrants, and the ECHR, and our government, who are those we should be very cautious about
Bear.
I made the same points, more briefly, on BSky last night.
What we saw was a paramilitary exercise. The choice of black clothing being historically symbolic.
The threats were no longer so much about harming asylum seekers.
They were towards the authorities. Face masks to add menace and foil CCTV & facial recognition.
It was a challenge to good governance, order & civilisation.
It is also function of what happens when groups of humans enter into conflict. They innovate as they race to overcome each other.
Unless The PM grows a pair and acts this does not bode well.
Very perceptive. Fortunately parading around in black while wearing masks doesn't endear your cause to most people. And the people popping up defending these thugs are showing their true colours. That said, it's no time to be complacent.
I'm fairly surprised they haven't called themselves Guardian Angels of Albion or some such nonsense. But I expect they will. Moseley's Minions.
"Patriot Platform" has echoes of "Patriot Prayer", a Proud Boy-allied far-right group founded in Seattle about a decade ago which was explicitly Christian. Like this lot, they focused on street demonstrations in Seattle, Portland and elsewhere. The contexts are very different though. There's a fairly limited appetite for earnest American-style Christian nationalism bolted to a far-right movement in the UK. It's not zero, but it's limited.
I live in Portsmouth. There was definitely a coordinated effort to get people down here. I was watching some of it unfold on a number of YouTube feeds and you could hear them asking each other where they'd come from. Poole, Reading and Worthing were audible. Quite frankly these people scare me far more than a bunch of random terrified people rescued from a leaky boat in the middle of the channel. Young (fighting age, their words) men, dressed in black with masks marching through the streets. At least Oswald Mosleys blackshirts had the courage to show their faces.
Bear I'm furious about-and frightened by this. And what was the point of changing PM if he doesn't appear to have the cojones to say masked men organising to harass others is OK. 🤷♀️
The BBC reported that Kent Police said it was ‘a spontaneous protest’. There’s nothing spontaneous about 500 identically dressed men in black with balaclavas descending upon a seaside town, the security services must have known or else their information gathering expertise needs a huge overhaul.
Somebody on bluesky responded to me wrt the 'spontaneous' comment by saying it's police jargon, meaning the 'protest' organisers didn't notify the police beforehand.
That may well be correct, but the fact is that's not how most of us understand the word and it makes the authorities look stupid and ill-informed. If indeed that is their jargon, they need to change it PDQ.
This behaviour was very worrying, it was intimidating, bullying and I was extremely disappointed at the lack of action by the police AND the government. These thugs will no doubt feel they can do this more often and further afield.
They are cowards though, covering their faces, and I dread to think that some may have been carrying weapons.
As Kane Clements has said, if the PM doesn't grow a pair, and soon, we will be seeing more of this!
These were uniformed blackshirts, although the uniform has been updated. It's surely a prima facie offence under the 1936 Public Order Act - is that not still the law? If it is, why is the Government not enforcing it against both organisers and participants? Baldwin knew what to do. Does Burnham?
It's tricky. Mass arrests would reinforce the thug narrative that they are being unfairly persecuted. And I have no idea of police numbers but am guessing it's likely that the coppers didn't want to wade into a couple of hundred of those types of protesters where they have less fear arresting, say, climate protesters where there is no risk of violence. In some cases police also often find observing more valuable than making immediate arrests. But let's face it, the police are not going to be the ones to shut these people down, that will be up to civil society, counterprotesters, investigative journalists and substackers like The Bear who keep their eye on the ball.
“Mass arrests would reinforce the thug narrative that they are being unfairly persecuted.”
Not if there is clear evidence of wrong doing, Mike. You can’t have ‘two tier policing’ if there is a clear crime being committed.
This is clearly criminal behaviour.
Identifying them is the difficulty - if they weren’t arrested on the spot.
But if it's illegal to organize such an event, the authorities might be able to track down the organizers and charge them, even if the mass army had not been arrested.
Maybe we should have a ban on both balaclavas and burqas/niqabs (although the latter would cause protests too); then the fascists couldn't claim bias against them.
September 9th Channel 4 - Dispatches - Tommy Robinsons Where's the money gone?
It could become a serious problem. Much depends on the political will that should be available, when necessary, to press Police, Prosecutors, Judges and Regulators to do what they are set up to do!
This appeared to work during the Southport riots?
Is there any lack of will? Are politicians scared of being accused of anti Right Wing sentiment?
My main thought is how many of these so-called patriots would be the first in line is we needed conscripts to defend the country.
They would all claim some sad ass medical condition, never would they sign up and take up arms to fight for the country.
Baby bone spurs!
I agree with the conclusion that it’s the level of organization that’s worrying the discipline that can only come from training and an effective command structure. These people and their behaviour reminded me of films of the Proudboys in America. In their case wearing chinos, khaki shirts and masks as a uniform. Turning up in UHaul rented vans, marching in the same disciplined manner.
Where were MI5? Why didn’t their monitoring pick up the organisation and planning behind this Patriot Platform? Where is the funding coming from? Is there an MI6 angle of overseas funding and influence? https://vm.tiktok.com/ZN82NFKHU/
"They appeared disciplined, co-ordinated and ready to do it again." They were also dressed in black, which has huge historical significance. Think Mosley's and Mussolini's Black Shirts. How long until they move on from 'small boats' to other political issues, such as welfare recipients? The authorities need to move, at speed, to identify who organises and finances these people. If we wait until they identify themselves it will be too late.
Again a concise article, facts, not rhetoric like Farage and Reform spout continually. I have deep concerns about the far right and the blame culture so reminiscent of the 1930’s, not just here but across the continent and in America. We need to viscously stamp this out at once.
Britain needs immigrants. We're all immigrants or descendants of immigrants.
When did it become *normal* to pretend that refugees aren't human beings? Most people who risk losing their lives in dangerous sea crossings are desperate to be able to work and live somewhere safely.
And whatever happened to safe routes for asylum seekers?
Brexit broke Britain's economy, humanity and unleashed cruel, ignorant racists.
And Bear is right. The money behind this is very worrying.
Musk's cult followers brag that his election interference 'won' Trump's 2nd term.
It’s frightening & what’s more it’s supposed to frighten. All dressed in black & faces covered. Yet they call them ‘protesters’, and yes, they appear well organised. Yaxley-L’s henchman was apparently filming them in Pompey acc to the media. Burnham needs to speak up & totally condemn this immediately.
We were listening to a man on R4 at lunchtime talking to Sarah Montague about how he joined the protest in Portsmouth. We heard very clearly his views on 'illegal immigrants' and that he categorically refused to believe that a far lower number of boats have arrived in recent months than previously, or that many thousands of those deemed illegal immigrants have been returned. The rhetoric of leaders such as Yaxley-Lennon and others is getting through in a way that the truth is not. He also said all his family and friends agree with his views. He was calm, rational and coherent. It's those like him, who have been brainwashed to believe everything that is wrong with the country is the fault of (specifically black and Asian) immigrants, and the ECHR, and our government, who are those we should be very cautious about