Tommy Robinson and Let Women Speak

[eatfigs]

I've only read about this on Twitter so there's a chance this is being taken out of context, but it looks like Let Women Speak were part of Tommy Robinson's rally in London this past weekend:

https://x.com/shularises/status/1797585248580186511

https://x.com/GappyTales/status/1797611080212205988

https://x.com/MrAndyNgo/status/1796931835823362392

This doesn't sit right with me at all. I've been to LWS events and thought I knew what they were about. I've argued against the guilt-by-association tactics that some activists use against LWS when male intruders have turned up to the events, like the neo-Nazis in Melbourne.

But here we see the opposite, LWS deliberately attending far-right fascist marches. This seems inexcusable to me.

I mean I'd say that's exactly what some posters on this board do when they call people child abusers, harming women and other ridiculous things for saying they are happy to use preferred pronouns for example.

The double standards are striking. The hostility Janice Turner got for the Debbie Hayton interview, for example.

🙄
I'm not doing "critical reflection" on Tommy Robinson supporters.
May as well do "critical reflection" on holocaust deniers. Or people who think they have been visited by aliens.

If you want to know what a convicted racist neo nazi thug says, knock yourself out. It speaks volumes that you think he is in any way, shape or form reliable. But them again, the whole premise of the thread is whether (some) GC feminists are sympathetic to the far right cause.

You see it all the time at the moment with Israel-Gaza/Hamas.

“I cant believe [insert name of famous person] hasn’t come out in condemnation of Israel’s actions. They must support genocide, the evil bitch/bastard/cunt!”

There are whole articles speculating on Taylor Swift’s opinion for example. Maybe she just can’t be arsed to get into passing opinion on absolutely everything that upsets people because inevitably it’s a losing game.

Ok Columbo.

You got what you wanted, she's gone.

Not sure what your end game is. If you hound every woman you disagree with further and further to the right, then all you will have is more of what you apparently hate.

So true. 2 pages of denial it was happening. Then 3 pages of justification for why it was happening.
and still NOBODY is tackling the double standards of Aja ruining the Countess‘s conference in Dublin for a very weak link to supposed far right and then a month later attending the TR rally??!!

Nobody is hounding anyone into agreeing with Tommy F'ing Robinson. If you do nobody MADE you agree with him. Own it. If you're ashamed to think about why that might be.

What I want is for the far right to fuck off out of feminism and leave it to people who actually give a shit about women and girls. What I want is for feminists to condemn Tommy Robinson and fascism, not support them.
Couldn't care less about whether Aja is on Twitter.

I've missed this - going to have a Google or do you have a link?

You don't seem to give a shit about the woman you are burning on this particular pyre.

Kinda racist to put a black woman who doesn't do your bidding on the fire. So you might just want to cancel yourself.

I'm not into purity politics and the oppression Olympics.
If a black lesbian wants to attend a far right rally they will get the same response from me as a straight white man.

What I want is for the far right to fuck off out of feminism and leave it to people who actually give a shit about women and girls

What do you consider "far right" though? I'm guessing you'd put in that category, anyone that has concerns about any sort of immigration levels and cultural background of immigrants.
You've already confirmed that you think the English flag is racist and any sort of national pride is racist.

Couldn't care less about whether Aja is on Twitter.

From what Lippy is saying on Twitter they've been hounded out of the cause altogether not just Aja off Twitter.

So I hope women like Cassie are happy that two of the women who are amongst the most responsible for doing the donkey work to get us where we are today, have been bullied out.

I guess threads like this are meant to have a chilling effect on the rest of us to make us fear we might get cancelled if we make a perceived mis-step.

I'm not into purity politics

Chinny reckon

Targeting online?

I take it there’s more people you do this to

I think to be honest you have more chance of getting "women to do the work" if the movement isn't associated with the far right.

Many women will distance themselves from TR supporters. As is their right.

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I'm only on here. I doubt me responding to pro TR/right wing frothing on here is what made Aja leave twitter.

Lippy is a Mumsnetter so it will have contributed.

No. Tommy Robinson is far right. It's not really a disputed opinion.

I think people who attend TR rallies wearing british/english flags and talking about being proud of their country are indicating support for his far right movement.

And I think apologists who say strawman things like "you think the British flag is racist" to obfuscate involvement in far right activity, are also part of the far-right problem.

Inclusivity in action.

Exactly.

I'm a gender abolitionist. Women don't get a pass for obnoxious behaviour because they are female.

You’ve screen shot her content and made some strong attacks about her

Why do that to one person?

Oh, there we go then. Poor her getting caught out on camera.

Because posters like you repeatedly deny there is an issue with the far right influence in GC feminism and demand proof of people say it.

Then when posters provide proof, it's hounding.

Maybe you should accept some culpability for what's happened to Aja for refusing to accept what you were being told about the far right and forcing people to get proof rather than engaging with the concern.

I've not much idea about Tommy Robinson, nor what his views are, because I don't spend my time on twitter. I hear, though, he generates much emotion and hatred from those that do.

Some people seem to need to have hate figures in order to define their own political views, or affirm their own sense of tribal belonging. I do feel this is more prominent in those who identify 'as' Left Wing'.

I contribute to another forum ( mainly men) that has a section for political comment - and it is usually full of people hating on politicians in the most crude and aggressive of ways; including hating on Kier Starmer ( even though I live in a very left wing city - maybe because I do...) and anyone who consistently puts forward alternative persepctives to their own firmly held articles of faith is attacked in the most personal of ways.

This is not what passes for political comment or debate in my world. I'd rather deabte ideas than condemn individuals.

When you say 'far right' can you elborate the sorts of ideas and thinking you are so vehemently opposed to?

Try to explain in a neutral way, if possible - focusing on the ideas and values you reject.