It is Marching Season in Northern Ireland, when Protestants hold parades, marches and bonfires celebrating a Protestant victory over Catholics in 1690. The season runs from Easter to September, but the peak is in July.
This effigy is definitely a product of ultra right-wing talking points and mounting tension from anti-immigrant sentiment. It’s not a healthy expression of a valid concern. There are mannequins depicting human beings at the top of the pyre. Under it is a sign that tells you exactly the group they want to harm. Further, a sign that says “veterans before immigrants” sets up a false dichotomy that pits two unrelated groups against each other. It has all the tropes of this type of propaganda.
The designers and builders of the pyre should not be celebrated and should face some legal backlash.
I heard some of those NI rioters being interviewed the last time this sort of thing kicked off, and they were going “There’s too many immigrants! But the Polish family next door are ok, decent people, and the Khans across the road too…” The people they were talking about had to board up their windows and barricade the door. How can you keep both those ideas in your head?
It is Marching Season in Northern Ireland, when Protestants hold parades, marches and bonfires celebrating a Protestant victory over Catholics in 1690. The season runs from Easter to September, but the peak is in July.
This effigy is definitely a product of ultra right-wing talking points and mounting tension from anti-immigrant sentiment. It’s not a healthy expression of a valid concern. There are mannequins depicting human beings at the top of the pyre. Under it is a sign that tells you exactly the group they want to harm. Further, a sign that says “veterans before immigrants” sets up a false dichotomy that pits two unrelated groups against each other. It has all the tropes of this type of propaganda.
The designers and builders of the pyre should not be celebrated and should face some legal backlash.
I heard some of those NI rioters being interviewed the last time this sort of thing kicked off, and they were going “There’s too many immigrants! But the Polish family next door are ok, decent people, and the Khans across the road too…” The people they were talking about had to board up their windows and barricade the door. How can you keep both those ideas in your head?
A valid concern?
Thank you for explaining the matter so well for us all. It’s much appreciated.