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Wednesday, January 14, 2015

'I'd be happy breaking their bones. I'd be happy hurting them. This is the reality of England 2015. It's war already': Chilling glimpse into the world of Britain's Far Right and their views on Muslims


  • .The Far Right has splintered since the demise of the EDL last year
  • .Activists claim that Britain is at war with Islam and want to fight
  • .Others join because of concerns about immigration and austerity
  • .New documentary offers glimpse inside the growing movement 
  • .Comes in the wake of the Charlie Hebdo massacre in Paris last week 
They say they hate Muslims, consider the UK to be at war with Islam and are prepared to go to almost any lengths to ensure something is done about it.
This is the chilling world of the new Far Right, a panoply of splinter groups, some linked to the now defunct English Defence League and others to white supremacist groups such as Combat 18.
Now film maker Jamie Roberts has gone behind the scenes with the new breed of Far Right activist - and the results are deeply disturbing.
At war: Paul Pitt, leader of the South East Alliance, says Britain is at war with radical Islam
At war: Paul Pitt, leader of the South East Alliance, says Britain is at war with radical Islam
Extreme: Since the demise of the English Defence League, the Far Right has splintered
Extreme: Since the demise of the English Defence League, the Far Right has splintered
'It's something that has interested me for a long time,' explains Roberts. 'I grew up on films of Alan Clark and I've always been interested in people with extreme views in extreme circumstances.'
And his new film, Angry, White and Proud, certainly has plenty of that. 
Along with a shocking segment that shows a blonde toddler being taught to march are others that show angry men screaming slogans such as 'Muslim killers, off our streets!' and 'No more Al Qaeda, no f***ing more!' at groups of bemused onlookers.
In the wake of the Charlie Hebdo massacre in Paris last week, which saw Islamist gunmen murder 12 people, including eight journalists and two policemen, such moments are expected to become more frequent, with the atrocity already capitalised on by Far Right groups.
Two days later, as another gunman attacked a Jewish supermarket and murdered four hostages before being gunned down by police, the Far Right took to the streets in Germany while in France, National Front leader Marine le Pen joined talks at the Elysee Palace. 
But while it might appear that, in some respects, the Far Right is becoming increasingly accepted by the mainstream, a quick look at a demonstration in progress is enough to reveal that this isn't the case.
Opposing Far Right demonstrators are their equally aggressive counterparts from the Far Left and Islamic extremists led by the likes of Anjem Choudary, who are, at one point in the film, shown telling a furious protester that he and his children will one day be Muslim too. 
'We're going to be hugely outnumbered as per usual,' explains Colin, a former DJ and stalwart of the Right, as he talks to Roberts en route to a demonstration in Brighton.
'[Opposing demonstrators] are usually very, very young, opinionated and they like to throw things like bottles of urine, oranges with razor blades in them and stones.'
Beaming, he adds: 'It's a good day out!'
Ironically, Colin is himself the child of immigrants, an Irish father and an Italian mother who hails, as she proudly tells Roberts, from Monte Cassino.
But says Rosa Maria, who enthusiastically supports her son's politics, there's a big difference between people like her and the immigrants arriving now.
'We came here to work hard,' she insists. 'Not like these ones today.' 
Rosa Maria is doubly unique in the Far Right movement as not only is she female, she comes from an immigrant background herself. 
'There aren't many women at all,' explains Roberts. 'There's a few around but its much more a masculine movement.' 
Part of the reason for that is the violence beloved of certain segments of the Far Right movement, although for others, confrontation is an unavoidable part of life given the nature of what they oppose.Angry: Colin (pictured wearing sunglasses) is concerned about Islamism and regularly demonstrates
Angry: Colin (pictured wearing sunglasses) is concerned about Islamism and regularly demonstrates
Opposition: Radical Islamists often launch counter-protests such as the one pictured above
Opposition: Radical Islamists often launch counter-protests such as the one pictured above
One who thinks that way is Paul Pitt, a former EDL member and the founder of the South East Alliance, who says Britain is quite literally at war.
'I don't think moderate Muslims exist,' he insists. 'The jihadis are killing in the name of Islam. 
'They're not doing it in anyone else's name. If you are Muslim, you are part of Islam. They have no reason to be in this country whatsoever. They are vermin.'
Asked if his views are racist, he's quick to insist: 'No, I'm not a racist.'
That much is up for debate as are, as Roberts is keen to point out, the real motivations for getting involved with Far Right groups.
In some cases, it comes down to nothing more than enjoying a good dust-up, while for others, the reasons are complex. 
'I think some people are definitely attracted by the possibility of violence,' he explains. 'It makes these groups very close knit because they go through the demonstrations and any trouble together and that creates a bond.
'Others come from areas that are economically deprived and they do blame immigrants for taking their jobs in austerity Britain. 
Angry: The reasons for joining the Far Right are complex and cover a huge range of issues
Angry: The reasons for joining the Far Right are complex and cover a huge range of issues
Fear: Many join out of fear of immigration, although Roberts says each member has their own line in the sand
Fear: Many join out of fear of immigration, although Roberts says each member has their own line in the sand
'Ultimately, it becomes a sort of personal thing based on what your prejudices are. They all have their line in the sand.'
Interestingly, while few are prepared to go to the lengths of Paul and Colin, Roberts does think the rise of the Far Right is part of a nationwide debate - and says that a more moderate version of their stance is becoming increasingly common.
'The Right and Paul in particular do play on the fact that their views are something a lot of people talk about now,' explains Roberts, pointing to the similarity of some UKIP policies, for instance strict curbs on immigration, to their demands.
Not that UKIP can necessarily expect any extra votes. 'Paul doesn't think UKIP goes far enough,' explains Roberts. 'A lot of these views are very similar though.'
This, thinks Roberts, is the result of an unholy combination of recession and increasingly radical politics, both on the Left and Right, that has become increasingly about identity.
Echoes can be seen in the rise of the SNP, while Paul himself says he is 'British born but English by the Grace of God.'Frightening: Many claim the UK is at war, leading to fears of violent attacks on ethnic minorities
Frightening: Many claim the UK is at war, leading to fears of violent attacks on ethnic minorities
Identity: Roberts says the Far Right - and its opposite numbers - is essentially about identity politics
Identity: Roberts says the Far Right - and its opposite numbers - is essentially about identity politics

WHAT IS COMBAT 18? 

A white supremacist group, the 18 in the name is derived from Adolf Hitler - A and H being the first and eighth letters in the alphabet.
Based on the principle of 'leaderless resistance', the group has been connected with a series of murders as well as violent demonstrations.
During the 1980s, Combat 18 was linked with the Loyalist movement in Northern Ireland, while in the rest of the UK, it joined forces with football hooligans.
Today, it still exists on the fringes of the Far Right, although many in the movement have disavowed it.
The group also has imitators in the shape of international ultra-nationalist movements, most notably Greece's Golden Dawn. 
'There's a psychological mirroring of those involved in Right and Left and Islamist groups,' he explains.
'Ultimately, it's about identity politics. The people in Islamist movements are quite similar to those going into Combat 18.'
What that means for the rest of us is yet to be determined, although worryingly, the men and women featured in the documentary appear chillingly at ease with the idea of violent tactics. 
'We're not looking for violence but if we are attacked, then we will defend ourselves,' says Colin. 'This is the grim reality of England 2015. A country tearing itself apart.
'There is talk of a militia or a task force,' he adds. 'That's one way of explaining it. It's about finding a target, turning up out of the blue and smashing them.
'I'd be happy breaking their bones... I'd be happy hurting them.'
'There is talk of militias and it comes back in waves,' confirms Roberts. 'After Lee Rigby, a lot of places were fire-bombed. 
'There are a lot of people who want to do that and right now, they're on a knife edge. If a lot of events [such as last week's Paris attacks] happen in a row, then it only takes one lone wolf.
'A lot of people are talking about it. In their eyes, it's civil war already.'

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