Darren Lewis serves as the Assistant Editor at the Daily Mirror and is a writer for Mirror Football, contributing a weekly news column.
In the follow-up to the iconic Die Hard film, Bruce Willis ponders aloud: “How can the same situation occur twice to the same individual?”
Given Nigel Farage’s exploitation of the Epping asylum-seeker issue, the realm of possibilities expands significantly.
Observing the professional xenophobes and racist instigators on social platforms inciting potential riots reminiscent of 2024 has been quite a spectacle.
When combined with certain segments of mainstream media providing a platform for bigotry and perpetuating it, the need to reduce tensions this summer becomes evident.
Caught amidst the Epping crisis are several homeless families who were legally residing there long before the recent turmoil, awaiting relocation to more permanent housing.
Reports from residents in the area indicate that these families are now living in fear due to the hostile groups targeting asylum seekers at a local hotel.
Deputy PM Angela Rayner’s remarks hinting at the possibility of increased riots fueled by immigration tensions and declining living standards raise serious concerns about the government’s actions.
Why any individual in a position of political authority would amplify negativity and seem to justify resorting to violence to address frustrations is truly perplexing.
Those who suffered from last year’s violence, facing discrimination based on their race and targeted for attacks, certainly won’t appreciate politicians being careless with their rhetoric. Their voices matter.
The expectation of such behavior from Farage, who has been publicizing the tensions in Epping as reflective of the national sentiment, is not surprising. However, these sentiments are not widespread but rather the work of a small extremist faction leveraging social media.
These actions mirror the toxic environment that Farage is keen on fostering, reminiscent of a climate where masked individuals target Black and Brown individuals, akin to incidents in the United States.
It is evident that such a direction is what the deceivers, thugs, and those aiming to divide us are pursuing.
Let’s consider some facts. Seeking asylum is not illegal, as protected by the 1951 Refugee Convention.
The majority of asylum seekers reside in low or middle-income nations, often in proximity to their countries of origin.
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