Thread by @MikeStuchbery_

So I went to #DayforFreedom today - the 'free speech' rally organized by Tommy Robinson & his crew. Me, a notorious SJW carelord. Here's what I learned.

1. Yeah, it was heaving with bigots of every stripe. No surprise, right? You had your FLA bigots, your Generation Identity bigots, your mad conspiracy theorist bigots & your Keklord bigots. It was a Bigotapolooza. Bigotchella.

Also, you had this guy.

2. You also had folks of every colour and demographic among the 'NO TO SHARIA LAW' and 'LEAVE THE EU' placards.

You can't go suggesting that this was just a bunch of scared white dudes.

3. Anne-Marie Waters is fucking crazy. Yet she was amping up the crowd with a conspiracy theory, that... get this... pairs the Far Left & Big Business as trying to establish a New World Order.

4. 'Free Speech' is an utter winner for the Right & the Alt-Grifters. It's supremely hard to argue against, even to moderate it.

Look, the Left, we gotta champion Free Speech or we're toast. We've gotta be the standard bearers for *allowing* all arguments no matter how vile.

5. One huge theme of the afternoon was the idea that the Far Left & Islam conspire to crush dissenting thought - that they're in it to somehow divide the world in two.

No matter that the Left is essentially beaten to a bleeding pulp these days, & Islam wars against itself...

6. So today's rally really worked on two primal emotions - fear & comfort.

The Left (especially Antifa) and Islam were presented as a clear and present threat to our way of life.

This was typified in repeated talk of Speaker's Corner somehow being under threat.

(BS, obvs.)

7. Then there was the comfort provided by good old fashioned nationalism - flags everywhere, singing the anthem, you know the drill.

Moreover, the clash of civilizations rhetoric was dialed up to 11 - lots of verbal frotting of Western Civilization.

8. The production values of the rally were insane - wide-screen display, banners, massive sound system.

There was nothing authentic about the organization today. It was as astroturfed as a minigolf course.

A lot of people being played by monied interests.

9. It's kind of scary the cult of personality that Tommy Robinson has got going. In addition to the cops, there was masses of 'Tommy Robinson Online' volunteer security. The rock star welcome he got was intense.

The Left mock Tommy. They should start worrying about him.

10. @CountDankulaTV gave the most intellectually honest speech of the day - he didn't go on about Islam, or The Left. He simply talked about how giving the government more laws to use is a bad idea.

Yeah, didn't see that one coming.

11. A lot of very sketchy groups (such as Generation Identity) were working the crowd, recruiting, talking about what they do. Most didn't seem to know who they were.

Folks need to have the info to be able to spot them & know what they stand for.

12. Yeah, I met Sargon & @CountDankulaTV even had an interview with Sargon.

I got a lot of thoughts here, but I know this, having met several dudes I've roasted (& been roasted by) online:

Argue with them, or ignore them. Trying to crash their events only gives them power.

13. So, what can we do?

We need laws to protect the vulnerable, and to prevent extremists from inciting hatred, whether they wear a long white robe or a three piece suit.

That's not sexy, or comfortable or looks good as a hashtag.

14. We need to get a hell of a lot better at reaching out, at giving people the ability to be critical & not latch on to anybody, like Tommy, who casts a faith group as the enemy.

15. If you care about a free and open society, get out there and defend it at every opportunity. Swallow your ideological pride and talk, no matters how it galls you to be talking to some of these characters.

16. Put aside the tribal allegiances and focus on reaching as many people as possible with messages of how we're stronger together, rather than as a divided, polarized nation & planet. Do it with facts. Keep doing it. You'll fuck up, but keep doing it.

I've still got thoughts buzzing around my head, but I'll sleep on them tonight. This was a first draft.

I'll just end with this: Anyone who tells you to hate and fear your fellow man is a fucking charlatan. I know - I listened to many of them today. FIN.

PS. Sorry if you hate me now. I still love you all. Unless you're a Nazi.