London riots: Looting and violence continues

[Clegg]

Very interesting article written by Tariq Ali no doubt offering a different perspective to the one you currently have.

Why here? why now.


Why is it that the same areas always erupt first, whatever the cause? Pure accident? Might it have something to do with race and class and institutionalised poverty and the sheer grimness of everyday life? The coalition politicians (including new New Labour, who might well sign up to a national government if the recession continues apace) with their petrified ideologies can’t say that because all three parties are equally responsible for the crisis. They made the mess.
They privilege the wealthy. They let it be known that judges and magistrates should set an example by giving punitive sentences to protesters found with peashooters. They never seriously question why no policeman is ever prosecuted for the 1000-plus deaths in custody since 1990. Whatever the party, whatever the skin colour of the MP, they spout the same clichés. Yes, we know violence on the streets in London is bad. Yes, we know that looting shops is wrong. But why is it happening now? Why didn’t it happen last year? Because grievances build up over time, because when the system wills the death of a young black citizen from a deprived community, it simultaneously, if subconsciously, wills the response.
And it might get worse if the politicians and the business elite, with the support of the tame state television and Murdoch networks, fail to deal with the economy, and punish the poor and the less well-off for government policies they have been promoting for more than three decades. Dehumanising the ‘enemy’, at home or abroad, creating fear and imprisonment without trial cannot work for ever.

Were there a serious political opposition party in this country it would be arguing for dismantling the shaky scaffolding of the neo-liberal system before it crumbles and hurts even more people. Throughout Europe, the distinguishing features that once separated centre-left from centre-right, conservatives from social democrats, have disappeared. The sameness of official politics dispossesses the less privileged segments of the electorate, the majority.

The young unemployed or semi-employed blacks in Tottenham and Hackney, Enfield and Brixton know full well that the system is stacked against them. The politicians’ braying has no real impact on most people, let alone those lighting the fires in the streets. The fires will be put out. There will be some pathetic inquiry or other to ascertain why Mark Duggan was shot dead, regrets will be expressed, there will be flowers from the police at the funeral. The arrested protesters will be punished and everyone will heave a sigh of relief and move on till it happens again.

Yeah, it's a different perspective to most people because most people aren't ******ed. Thanks though.

Keep on pushing pushing that agenda though fella, maybe you can come to my area and hand out a few leaflets tonight? I'm sure those poor, victimised folks doing the riots will be happy to break out the blanket and picnic basket and have a nice chat with you.

[COVID-19]

Here are photos I took of Colliers Wood 5 mins from me:

[Uturn]

[GJC]

Because they're usually not allowed to go victimising innocent people without risk of being caught by the law.

We're not talking about a force for social change here, we're talking about opportunistic criminals.

100% agree. Sunderland, Middlesborough etc have had massive unemployment for what 30 odd years and a youth population with no hope but no riots. Re this fellow getting shot if you pull a gun on the police you will be shot. It was the same in my youth. When I was a lad we had gangs and tough lads (guess I was one of them) but we left our own people and community be. The birch was barbaric and I knew many lads who got it, will say no one had it twice.

[-Lowkey-]

It's not a political thing. There were riots during the last government anyway, I remember Birmingham having a particularly bad few days where a couple of people got killed and gravestones were smashed up.

Totally different situation and totally different scale. If you are referring to the riots in Lozellz Birmingham in 2005 they where largely due to racial conflicts between the black and Asian community.

The riots started because of an unsubstantiated rumour about a black immigrant girl being raped by a group of Asian men was broadcast on a pirate radio station.

[COVID-19]

[COVID-19]

[-Lowkey-]

Yeah, it's a different perspective to most people because most people aren't ******ed. Thanks though.

Keep on pushing pushing that agenda though fella, maybe you can come to my area and hand out a few leaflets tonight? I'm sure those poor, victimised folks doing the riots will be happy to break out the blanket and picnic basket and have a nice chat with you.

I see you lack the intelligence to debate or pick fault with anything written in the article that you find ‘******ed’ instead you ramble on about something nonsensical typical of someone who doesn’t really understand the issue.

[Clegg]

Totally different situation and totally different scale. If you are referring to the riots in Lozellz Birmingham in 2005 they where largely due to racial conflicts between the black and Asian community.

The riots started because of an unsubstantiated rumour about a black immigrant girl being raped by a group of Asian men was broadcast on a pirate radio station.

If the Birmingham riots were now and the London riots in the past, you'd say the London riots were because of a man being shot and the Birmingham riots because of poor innocent victims unemployed blah blah blah.

Good people are having their lives destroyed and people like you just want to use it an excuse to whine and moan and push your political bullshit.

You're a stupid **** with an agenda. Go fuck yourself.

[D-MiZe]

I see you lack the intelligence to debate or pick fault with anything written in the article that you find ‘******ed’ instead you ramble on about something nonsensical typical of someone who doesn’t really understand the issue.

Aye, that's Clegg.