Black Lives Matter and the beginnings of Fascism in the USA

London Protest – photo Steve Eason

At a time when thousands of young people are taking to the streets in cities across the USA and the UK, to protest against the institutional racism and bigotry in the US, culminating in the murder of George Floyd, we stand in solidarity with them. The horrific scene of the murder of African American George Floyd by the Minneapolis police, recorded on video, has shocked and angered not just black America, but also the millions of people determined to make a stand against racism and the murder of African Americans by police forces in many US towns and cities. The fact that no judicial action was being taken against the perpetrators of this terrible crime until young people rioted and protested in the streets of Minneapolis, speaks volumes about the racialised justice and crime system in the USA.

Trump, who has put himself at the head of the white supremacist and Far Right forces in the USA sounded the dog whistle and called on police forces to shoot all of those protesting in US cities. He even used the phrase used by a white racist police chief in the 1960s whose brutal methods led to race riots: “When the looting starts the shooting starts!”

All of this is a clear signal that Trump is preparing to encourage and strengthen Far Right militias and others, along with the police, to attack the progressive youth and African Americans protesting. Scenes of extreme police violence against protestors in many US cities have been widespread across the media along with shocking physical attacks and arrests of journalists by police, who have been let off the leash by Trump.

Left Unity stands four square beside those now protesting against racism and reaction in the US and we will do everything possible to support those protests as well as supporting campaigns in the UK against racism both here and in the US. We will also support all of those forces fighting against the introduction of Fascism and Far Right actions in the US and will continue to pressurise both government and civil society in the UK to resist it.

Joseph Healy

International Officer