South Asians, Islamophobia, anti-blackness and the internalization of racism

Originally Posted in: Consented

Written by Amit Singh

One facet of the white domination of ethnic minorities in Britain has been divide and rule. Instead of ethnic minorities all uniting together against oppressive white racism, some ethnic groups look to align themselves with white people, in order to gain certain privileges.

This is not always the fault of said communities, but more a reflection of the way people are forced to internalize their racism within this model of “multiculturalism”. Proximity to whiteness is seen as desirable within a society where structural racism makes it difficult for those who are not white to progress.

One community that has done this more effectively than most is the British Indian community, particularly Hindus and Sikhs. They have taken on attitudes of anti-blackness and Islamopbobia, to gain proximity to whiteness and the acceptance of many British people. Part of this springs from colonial ideals of “chosen races”.

I remember when I was studying my undergraduate degree at SOAS, one imperialist white class-mate spoke to me about how his grandfather fought alongside Sikhs, as if this was something we should bond over and as if this was something I should be proud of. Good old Sikhs, following the white man into battle. Yet rather than being something to be proud of it is a sign of how South Asian’s were enslaved by the British and forced to fight under the pretence of “liberation” and “democracy” despite the fact their own country was occupied.

This Picture’s Not Funny: ‪#‎French‬ ‪#‎FarRight‬ Official Sparks Mob Violence Against Journalists

Originally posted on ImportantCool.com:

By Andy Beale

Front National European Deputy Bruno Gollnisch attacks journalists from French satirical news program Le Petit Journal with an umbrella. Gollnisch’s attack incited FN party members to mob violence against the journalists (Screenshot from Le Petit Journal aired 4 May 2015).

Where the hell are all the #jesuischarlies?

Following the attacks against the cartoonists and journalists at the Paris headquarters of Charlie Hebdo, the English-language media fell all over itself to show support for the magazine. The New York Times published a column describing the attack as “an assault on French identity.” The Guardian, the Wall Street Journal, the Daily Beast, USA Today, and many others all republished a cartoon of the prophet Muhammad to show their support for the magazine. Nearly 4 million people gathered in a giant Paris “unity rally” to condemn the attack. Charlie Hebdo and its anti-Muslim cartoons are still in the news four months later as the magazine was awarded the prestigious PEN Freedom of Speech award this year, despitestrong objections from PEN members.

So why aren’t any English-language media covering the vicious mob violence perpetrated against Parisian journalists on May Day?

The violence was carried out by Front National members and, most importantly, by an elected, sitting Front National European deputy. You may know the FN as France’s anti-gay, anti-Muslim fascist party. Party founder Jean-Marie Le Pen recently described the Nazi gas chambers as an unimportant “detail of history.”

On May 1st, as it does every year, the FN held a rally and march to commemorate Joan of Arc. The event quickly went south for the fascists, with much lower turnout than previous years due to rain, and immediate disruptions by topless FEMEN activists. In the FN’s first assault on free speech of the day, FEMEN was immediately and violently removed by the fascist party’s private security service. (French newspaper Le Monde says FN security’s removal of FEMEN was blatantly illegal, as “Following the penal code, coercive power is exclusively reserved to the police and the gendarmerie.”)

Then came the mob violence.

French satirical program Le Petit Journal, which has been described as the “French Daily Show,” sent two camera crews to the FN demonstration, capturing party supporters saying really dumb and racist things and supporting the Nazi-collaborating WWII Vichy government of Maréchal Petain. It was all fun and games until party leader Marine Le Pen took the stage.

Le Pen’s hour-long speech was pretty standard FN stuff, decrying the French government for its supposed multiculturalism. “They have allowed massive immigration to install itself in France. They have unpinned the Islamic fundamentalist grenade,” Le Pen told the crowd of 3,500.

Though Le Pen’s xenophobia was expected, Bruno Gollnisch’s violence was not. Gollnisch is an elected member of the European Parliament, one of 23 French deputies representing the FN at the EU. Le Petit Journal installed itself next to the FN’s VIP box, recording Gollnisch and other elected officials’ responses during Le Pen’s speech. Gollnisch, recognizing the journalists as employees of Le Petit Journal, grabbed an umbrella and attacked the journalists, managing to break their boom mic before being pulled away by FN security.

Gollnisch’s umbrella assault, on its own, might have been harmless, or even kind of silly. What came next was definitely not.

View original here. 1436 more words.

Report Back: Anti-Fascist/Imperialist Action in Murrieta, CA in support of Migrant Children Refugees

Originally Posted on Potentiality and Other Musings /  Anti Delusions

FIRSTLY– Friday July4 was a really important day and a strong convergence of indigenous, undocumented and anti – colonialist anti- fascist action on #farceofjuly against the reactionary racists holding down Murrieta. The Danzas called upon a strong spirit to hold that space and i think that is what moved a lot of the rightwingers down the road (though they were worried the bus would come in from the other direction). 

It’s important we got out there and got more information on what the conspiracy is between the police, border patrol and the anti immigrant protesters (as if they are any different). After going down the street to take pictures of the right wing reactionaries, a right winger punched someone who was with us. The police intervened and began to use excessive force on the people targeted by the right-wing. As we tried to leave the area, more police arrived and began brutalizing our group instead of holding accountable the right wingers (big surprise here..). We were assaulted by police, then charged with assault and Lynching. One comrade was arrested and charged with a felony, even though they were far from the conflict but were filming the brutality and excessive force of the police. His phone was confiscated. It appears we will be facing multiple felonies, if anyone in the So Cal areas knows of any legal support help or suggestions please email me at artofexisting@gmail.com.

Violence against Muslims and the Character of the BBS

Published On:Tuesday, June 24, 2014

Posted by Sri Lanka Guardian

| by Laksiri Fernando

( June 24, 2014, Sydney, Sri Lanka Guardian) After the organized violent attacks on the Muslim community in Aluthgama, Beruwala and Dharga town in mid-June, the political character of the Bodu Bala Sena (BBS) has come to the sharp focus. Some have condemned it as ‘terrorist’ and some others as ‘fascist’. All are fine as political rhetoric or words of strong condemnation of the heinous crimes that they have committed against the Muslim community. The acts in fact are both ‘terrorist’ and ‘fascist’ in soft meanings of the terms.

 

However, one central question posed is whether there is a need ‘to unite with the Devil’s grandmother,’ whoever she is, in the struggle against the BBS. I am particularly referring to Dayan Jayatilleka’s first article, “Is the BBS the Boss?” This united front proposition has been brought to the public discussion by portraying the BBS as a ‘clerical fascist organization’ going against the government for state power of its own, and posing a threat to the present ‘democratic’ regime. The danger of such an analysis, in haste perhaps or with different political motives, is not only that the formation of a viable opposition to the present anti-democratic regime is seriously undermined but also the actual power bases of the BBS or root causes are confused and camouflaged.

 

The Beast

 

Aluthgama violence is not the beginning or the end of recent acts of violence against the Muslim community by the BBS. It is undoubtedly the major single incident so far. The previous events and incidents are well recorded. Within barely a week of Aluthgama, a Muslim owned shop at Panadura has been set on fire. Parallel to the previous attacks on the Muslim community, their places of worship and business premises, there had also been a spate violence and incidents attacking the religious places and personnel of some Christian communities. Similar has been the atrocities committed against the Hindu Temples particularly in the North and the East.

 

The formation of the BBS in 2012 has been the culmination of an ideology and a sentiment evolving particularly after the defeat of the LTTE in May 2009. That is the ideology of ‘triumphalism’ and Sinhala Buddhist ethno-nationalism in a new form and at a new height. The intended defeat of ‘terrorism’ has been conveniently turned into a defeat of an ethnic and a religious minority. What the army did in Nandikadal is being reenacted in small measures by the BBS in different forms. It is important to note that Gnanasara thera in his Aluthgama speech equated the situation there to Nandikadal.

 

There had been debates about whether the Tamils and the Muslims could be considered equal in status and dignity to the Sinhalese as groups in a plural and a multi-cultural society in Sri Lanka and in what form. It’s a question of group rights in human rights parlance which I am familiar with. There has been strong views expressed claiming that their place is only as ‘minorities’ or ‘minority ethnicities.’ The President has never explained what he actually meant by ‘there are no minorities in this country’ in one of his speeches after the end of the war. He did say though that ‘all are equal.’ ‘No minorities’ could mean the eradication of their identities as Gnanasara thera wanted to change the name of Dharga town in his provocative speech before the violent attacks. Continue Reading

[ Greece] Please SIGN & SHARE: Shut down the Detention Centres for Migrants

 

From X-Pressed.Org

PLEASE SING AND SHARE THE PETITION TO CLOSE DOWN THE DETENTION CENTRES.

In 21st-century Greece an operation has been set in motion whose aim is to terrorise, torture and humiliate thousands of people, while insulting us all: refugees and migrants are being held in concentration camps. These are real storehouses for humans whose only crime is that they are in the country without papers!

The Greek state, without a trace of humanity or sensitivity, sentences thousands of migrants (including minors, people who require medical assistance and victims of torture) to an 18-month imprisonment in the most deplorable conditions: no yard time, complete lack of hygiene, inadequate food and medical care, no communication with friends or family.

International human rights groups have documented scandalous conditions of detention of migrants and asylum seekers in Greece and the country has been repeatedly condemned by European courts for subjecting refugees and migrants to inhuman and degrading treatment.

[Greece] Video: Future Suspended

Future Suspended (english) from Ross Domoney on Vimeo.

 

Athens, Greece

From Ross Domoney

How does a global financial crisis permeate the spaces of the everyday in a city? Our final 35′ documentary film traces the multiple transformations of crisis-ridden Athenian public space and those who traverse it.

Future Suspended is divided in three sections. “Privatised” explores the legacy of mass privatisation projects that preceded the 2004 Olympics, placing them in the context of present day privatisation schemes. “Devalued” gazes at the ever-shrinking spaces of migrants in the city and the devaluation of their lives that comes as a result. “Militarised” shows how, in face of the crisis, this devaluation turns into a generalised condition.

Why refugees to Greece are sewing their mouths shut

On Location: Why refugees to Greece are sewing their mouths shut

By: Anna Giralt Gris

 

Watch Video at Global Post

ATHENS — Greek authorities call them migrant pre-removal facilities, but they look more like prisons. Many of the residents are locked up not for committing a crime, but rather simply for trying to get asylum in Europe. For this, they say they’re held months, packed scores to a room, and often beaten.

“We didn’t have any choice so we started a hunger strike, we sewed up our mouth and we stopped eating and drinking,” said Farhad, who has asked not to be identified, fearing retribution for speaking out. “Anyone will do whatever it takes to get his freedom. Some people have tried to commit suicide to get free, others went crazy in there.”

[Photo Gallery/ Teaser] Exarcheia Neighborhood Athens

Athens, Greece

Following up on a conversation that was a triggering point for a refugee and Bay Area Intifada contributor to pack their bags, get out of the open air prison we call the US of …. ugh ugh ugh and travel to various flash points in the current refugee struggle taking place in Europe – BAI would like to share a simple photo gallery that gives a glimpse into the anti-authoritarian community of Exarcheia, Athens and the pretty spectacular street art that it is literally covered in.

In the coming weeks, BAI intends to release a series of articles on various issues within these communities… basically to figure stuff out through first hand experience, rather than more ish talking and assumptions. So have a look:

Portrait of Pavlos Fyssas, aka Killah P, antifascist rapper murdered by Golden Down members on 17 September 2013.
Photo by MKFor more info: http://roarmag.org/2013/09/pavlos-fyssas-killed-golden-dawn/ 

A memorial at the exact spot where 15 year old student Alexis Grigoropoulos was murdered by police on 6 December 2008, which sparked the largest and most intense uprising in recent Greek history.
Photo by MK

18 December 2013: European Day For Action Against Detention Centers

 

 

Originally posted in Xpressed 

IMMIGRANT AND REFUGEE DETENTION CENTERS MUST CLOSE DOWN

Please SIGN & SHARE our petition!

In 21st century Greece, an operation has been set into motion whose aim is to terrorize, torture and humiliate thousands of people, while insulting us all: refugees are being held in concentration camps. This is about real storehouses for human beings, located all over eastern continental Greece, on the Greek islands and even in Athens and Corinth. The only “offence” committed by the thousands crammed into these spaces is that they are here without papers – no matter if they come from war-torn Syria, occupied Palestine or African countries ravaged by extreme poverty. The Greek state is violating both European treaties and its own constitution, without showing a trace of humanity or sensitivity when it sentences thousands of immigrants (including minors, people who require medical assistance and torture victims) to an 18-month imprisonment in the most deplorable conditions: no yard time, a complete lack of hygiene, inadequate food and medical care, no communication with friends and family. The goal is to discourage new immigrants from entering Greece. The Greek state has the arrogance to describe immigrants as a “health time-bomb”, while dismantling the public health sector and ignoring the inhumane conditions of the refugee detention centers, thus putting the health of both Greeks and immigrants at great risk.

Fighting Sexual Assailants, Hindu Fascists & Bourgeois Activists in India

India’s crime bureau chief said, last week, “If you can’t prevent rape, enjoy it.” His comment inflamed an already tense atmosphere at a time when horrific rape incidents are making more and more headlines. This is not to say that rape is all of a sudden more common in India or that the media is suddenly doing a good job of covering the larger context of the problem. In fact, most of the news coverage concerns only middle and upper class and upper caste women, celebrities or white visitors. Even when there is coverage of Dalit women like the Gulabi Gang, important factors (social, economic and historical conditions, as well as the incident frequency for minority women) are erased from the narrative entirely. This, in no way, is to dismiss the real experiences of the women who did speak out and inspire public outcry that caught the attention of the world. These women face repression also and we realize that it is often traumatizing and re-triggering to speak about assault and rape.

However, very huge communities of women who experience rape and sexual harassment on a daily basis, and have no conventional tools of redress, have been forgotten by the public, the media, and even by many activists–both in India and abroad.

A contributor for Bay Area Intifada visited India this month and spoke with a local activist about the extreme conditions of Dalit (untouchable), Adivasi (indigenous), and Muslim women and what these women are doing to survive. Due to extreme repression against any form of activism in these communities, we will refer to the activist as “Maryam.” We have also omitted the region where she works and all other details about her life.

Warning: Some of the images and descriptions below are very graphic.

BAI: In the English media, we’ve been reading about domestic and/or sexual violence in India. What I’ve been hearing about since the beginning of my visit, is that the uncovered stories of Dalit (untouchable) women in India, especially in northern states like Uttar Pradesh, are pretty horrific. But these stories don’t seem to be circulating so much in the international narratives. Can you tell me a little bit about what’s going on?