by Gavin Ashenden
Migration, democracy and the battle for the soul of a nation.
The sudden appearance of anti-migration young men in black balaclavas, walking silently, peacefully and purposefully to block the streets of Dover, developed when the streets of Portsmouth were later that evening filled with residents, some of whom lay down in front of coaches bringing in fresh numbers of illegal immigrants.
The police were taken by surprise in Dover, but they were ready in Portsmouth with riot police to confront the residents; until the native English had to decide whether they would place themselves in a position where the police arrested them under riot legislation, or give way.
They avoided violence and confrontation and finally gave way. But the numbers, the determination and the discipline of both the local people and the young masked men provided an indication that the moment when social conflict between the establishment and the native English is not very far away.
We are seeing two contrasting groups of protesters. One group is masked, angry and appears to have the characteristics of a militia.
The other is restrained, unmasked but very angry. Particularly with the police. But they have something in common: they have lost confidence that democratic politics will protect them or even listen to them.
The loss of democracy and citizenship
If people feel that their votes no longer matter, that their protests are contained, condemned and not heard, and that they are punished for speaking plainly—sometimes being doxxed and losing their jobs—then the temptation to move outside the democratic process grows steadily stronger.
‘Big Brother Watch’ has documented that over 62,199 people have been arrested for communication offences in the last five years.
An establishment that is determined to restrict our vote’s outcome, restrict our freedom to write and speak, punish us for our thoughts and views, and curtail our right to protest, is not going to give power away easily, even or especially when confronted with violence. So what can be done?