Britain, Brexit, and rampant racism
In the wake of the brexit vote there has been an unprecedented wave of racist aggression and harassment across the entire country. Racist protests in the streets, posters being put up outside schools and sent through letter boxes. New stories of horrific scenes keep flooding in and there doesn’t appear to be an end in sight.
Obviously the perpetrators of this racism and bigotry make up the tiniest minority of Leave voters, and it would be offensive to suggest that the majority would even sit silently if they were to witness this. However, we must acknowledge the reasons for this sudden change.
The Brexit vote has not suddenly created racists. These people have been there all along. However, their sentiments have now been legitimised. They have been legitimised by powerful men spouting rhetoric carefully designed to appeal to and fuel bigotry, whilst retaining an air of social acceptability. They have been legitimised by elements of the media, who have gleefully stoked the fires of this bubbling anger for reasons of profit. And lastly, they have been legitimised by well meaning and convicted voters. Voters who wanted to leave for reasons of economy or sovereignty. Voters who wanted reasonable reforms to immigration. Voters who just wanted to voice their frustrations with the perceived disconnect between the working class and the ruling elite. But these voters turned a blind eye to the rampant anti-immigrant, xenophobic trends within the Leave campaign, because that propaganda worked towards their goal. That is where it went wrong.
Because of the blind eye turned by so many of the population, that small minority of racist bigots now believe that 51.9% of the voting population secretly agree with them. They believe that everyone who stands silently and watches is secretly cheering them on.
This is the state of our country. We have overt racists walking the streets, feeling empowered to spread hatred and abuse to all they see without fear of retribution.
Our greatest responsibility now is to show them that this is not the case. To show that we as a nation, regardless of how we voted, are a compassionate diverse and accepting people. To show them that racism, xenophobia and fascism will never, ever be accepted in our modern society.














