May 15, 2020
Get the latest on coronavirus. Sign up to the Daily Brief for news, explainers, how-tos, opinion and more.
What Draws The Far Right And Anti-Vaxxers To Lockdown Protests?
Self-styled “mass gatherings” have been advertised across the UK this weekend to protest against the Coronavirus lockdown, “mandatory vaccines”, and the so-called “new normal”.
Flyers for an event in Bristol’s Victoria Park, widely circulated online, appear to be distributed by a protest group called the UK Freedom Movement and invite attendees to “be a part of the largest mass gathering since lockdown”.
The words “mass gathering” are likely a reference to the category of large-scale public event that governments across the globe had been under pressure to limit as the virus spread in its early days.
“We say no to the Coronavirus Bill, no to mandatory vaccines, no to the new normal and no to the unlawful lockdown,” the flyer continues.
“Bring a picnic, some music, and let’s have some fun and say yes to life!”Some believe Jayda Fransen, the former deputy leader of the far-right Britain First group, may be behind the UK Freedom Movement organisation – something she has flatly denied. Britain First is a nationalist anti-Islam group that has said it “hate[s] white left-wing politicians who are wrecking our country”.
Speculation appears to have arisen because on April 30, 2020, Fransen was registered on the government’s Companies House website as the director of a new organisation called Freedom Movement Ltd. 
The correspondence address listed for Fransen under Freedom Movement Ltd also matches a registered office address listed by Britain First Merchandise Ltd, which cites Britain First leader Paul Golding as a director and Fransen as a resigned director. 
Fransen has been a vocal opponent of the lockdown on her Social Media channels, although both she and another far-right figurehead called Richard Inman – who claims to be the actual founder of the UK Freedom Movement – have denied they are running this weekend’s events. Both, however, have supported the fight of the anti-lockdown protestors in online videos.
Inman founded campaign group Veterans Against Terrorism, which has been accused of Islamophobia and has clashed with anti-fascist protesters. Veterans Against Terrorism says it opposes “Islamist extremists”.
In his video, the commentator commends the work of “whoever’s behind this” – the lockdown protests – and urges that “the right to peaceful assembly is a fundamental human right”.
Fransen, meanwhile, said she was “very concerned about the loss of my civil liberties and those of my fellow Britons” in a YouTube video message to her followers. 
In the clip, she added: “Take a look around us: across the country, people are being fined, threatened, arrested for crimes which do not exist.”
Analysis by HuffPost US revealed that many of the anti-lockdown protests taking place in the US have also had support by far-right groups, including white nationalists.
Far-right figureheads in the US including Larry Lockman, who once called proposed US immigrant welcome centres a “war on whites”, was behind one rally in Augusta. And neo-fascist street gang The Proud Boys was behind similar protests in Florida
Both protest groups called the lockdown unconstitutional and a breach of their civil rights, with Lockman calling it an attack on business and religion.It isn’t clear what specifically the protest against “mandatory vaccines” refers to, although it may be aimed at any possible future vaccine for Covid-19. Health secretary Matt Hancock has refused to rule out making Covid-19 vaccines mandatory if one is discovered, but has also stressed that he hoped there’d be no need to enforce legislation.
The messaging against vaccinations plays into a long history of “anti-vax” protestors. The latest iteration of the movement believes a coronavirus vaccine would be potentially more dangerous than the disease itself. 
“Mass gatherings” have been trailed throughout the country, from Bristol to Glasgow and London to Manchester, after a trickle of anti-lockdown protests took place last weekend – including on the South Bank in central London, where anti-vaccination protestors were photographed alongside those BREAKING the lockdown.
So what connects the politics of the far right with the views of anti-lockdown protesters – or anti-vaccine protesters?
The three groups are ultimately linked by their distrust for traditional media outlets, and the government, according to Rob Blackie, a digital political strategist who has worked on campaigns for UN Climate Change, Best for Britain and the Wellcome Trust.
“Firstly they share a suspicion of mainstream media and government information,” says Blackie. “Like conspiracists on the far left, they feel that they can make up their own minds, and rely on information spread by social media. This is everything from cut and pasted WhatsApps and emails to discussion forums and Facebook groups. In America, where the anti-vaccination movement is strongly linked to the right of politics. “Secondly they feed off discussions in America, where the anti-vaccination movement is strongly linked to the right of politics. Credible-looking media sources in the US often promote conspiracy theories, which are then picked up across the world.” Messages may travel to large cross-sectional audiences online, but in a digital world, the real challenge is forming a mass gathering in real life, says Blackie, especially given the forewarning police forces have had about the events and the increased police presence on the streets anyway due to the lockdown restrictions.
Current restrictions state the public can only go outside with members of their own household, or to meet one friend for a socially distanced walk or meet up in a park. 
“These days most of these groups are mainly online – that’s how they get virtually all their reach, influence and money,” says Blackie. “This also means that they struggle to be effective offline – because they don’t know how to organise there.”
It isn’t clear how connections were made between the groups of lockdown protestors, anti-vaccination protestors and the far-right, nor how the events were organised or how flyers were mass printed and delivered to individuals this week – but streams of angry residents have been sharing their fear and frustration about the events on social media.
“Bristol and the south west’s Covid-19 rate has been relatively low, and now those that think [they know] best are going to put us all at risk just to try and prove a point,” one Bristol resident, who does not wish to be named, tells HuffPost UK."They act with anger when, let’s face it, if everyone did as they were told this would be over a lot sooner. “All that we have strived to do over the last few weeks will be undone. All these people are being asked to do is stay home on mostly full pay. They act with anger when, let’s face it, if everyone did as they were told this would be over a lot sooner. Shame on them.”
Police forces country-wide have confirmed they will break up the groups if they begin to form at midday tomorrow, as advertised on the flyers.
There could be up to 60 protests taking place across the country this weekend if the advertised events actually materialise, with others being promoted in cities including Leicester and Southampton, although an exact number is difficult to gauge. 
So far in the UK, anti-lockdown protests have been minimal when compared to the rallies that have dominated headlines in the US.READ MORE Health Secretary Says 'Vaccines Save Lives' In Message To Anti-Vax Movement We're Still In Danger Of Lockdown Riots Unless We Can Keep A Lid On The Tinder Box The UK Has Steered Clear Of Coronavirus Lockdown Protests. But Will That Continue?
Related Stories
Latest News
Top news around the world
Academy Awards

‘Oppenheimer’ Reigns at Oscars With Seven Wins, Including Best Picture and Director

Get the latest news about the 2024 Oscars, including nominations, winners, predictions and red carpet fashion at 96th Academy Awards

Around the World

Politic
'Trump tax': MSNBC host Chris Hayes shows how Trump winning would increase costs
Mar 28, 2024
How much would former President Donald Trump's proposed 10 percent tariff plan actually cost the average American household?The wave of tariffs Trump enacted when he was last president caused chaos, but there are many complexities that muddy this somewhat. However, MSNBC's Chris Hayes took an educated and simple guess at just how badly the country would be hit in the pocketbook under Trump's second-term plans."We don't know exactly how much everything would cost," said Hayes, but "just add 10 percent on the back of the napkin. Here's the cost of living under the Trump Tax."ALSO READ: ‘Don't have enough’: Wealthy Trump allies balk at helping Donald pay legal bills"Start with groceries," he said. "A dozen eggs cost about $3. Once you apply the Trump Tax, that is up to $3.30, with the U.S. importing over 4 million eggs a year, but cost consumers over $1.2 million. If you like oranges, they currently go for about $1.53 per pound. With the Trump Tax, that would be $1.68 per pound, which would cost American consumers almost $71 million for the nearly half a billion pounds of the import. Bananas. We don't really grow them in the U.S., do we? They average about $.63 per pound and going up to $.69 per pound with the Trump Tax, thanks to the U.S. importing more than 10 million pounds per year, that could cost Americans at $609 million and that's a $609 million tax on American consumers. Then there's tomatoes. They go for about $2.13 per pound. Apply the 10 percent Trump Tax. They would be $2.34 per pound, potentially costing Americans $3.5 million thanks to the 6.8 million pounds we import per year. If you are spending $1,200 on groceries, add another $120 to the bill. That's more than the peak of inflation in 2022, which topped off at 9 percent. This is 10 percent."Groceries are just the start, he continued."How about the refrigerator?" said Hayes. "You need to keep the groceries fresh. The average cost of a new fridge is about $1,300. With the Trump Tax, that could go up to $1,430, costing Americans $1.95 billion for the 15 million refrigerators that we import. Again, $1.95 billion of new taxes. What about the car that you need to drive to the grocery store? On average, a new car costs about $48,808 today. With Trump Tax, it costs $53,684, with Americans potentially taking a $66.3 billion hit across the board on the 13 million cars we import. That's not including the 50 percent tariff which would make it another $25,000. Even the smartphone in your pocket cost on average about $940 right now. With Trump Tax, it can go up to $1,034, with Americans potentially paying an extra $13.2 billion for the nearly 141 million smartphones that we import per year.""Everyone hates when you have to pay more for things," he added. "Inflation is one of the biggest liabilities for a sitting president. Yet here is Donald Trump, in the Year of our Lord 2024, running against President Biden, promising to make things more expensive for every American."Watch the video below or click here. Chris Hayes breaks down "Trump Tax" www.youtube.com
READ MORE
Politic
Trump-endorsed candidate says Beyoncé is teaching women 'how to be hyper-sexual'
Mar 28, 2024
North Carolina Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson had yet another group of extremist comments unveiled — this time about legendary singer Beyoncé Knowles-Carter.According to The Root, "During a series of rants spanning multiple years, Robinson —who is Black —insulted Beyoncé’s singing abilities, called her a 'skank,' and said she was teaching 'young women how to be hyper-sexual w----s.'"For example, in 2017, Robinson posted to Facebook, “Person; Beyoncé is a role model!” Me; “The only person that butt shakin’, devil worshipping, skank is a role model to is people who want a fast track to Hell.” This is on top of previous reporting that he referred to her music as sounding like "Satanic chants."ALSO READ: ‘Don't have enough’: Wealthy Trump allies balk at helping Donald pay legal billsThese revelations come at a moment when Beyoncé herself has found herself at the center of some national controversy, having written a country music inspired album known as Cowboy Carter, and some country radio stations refusing to play singles off of it because of her race.Robinson, who is challenging Democratic Attorney General Josh Stein for the governorship of North Carolina, has been put under the spotlight for a number of bizarre and offensive comments throughout the years.Among other things, he has referred to school shooting survivors as "prosti-tots," pushed QAnon and "lizard people" conspiracy theories, questioned the Holocaust, and suggested American politics was better in the era when women couldn't vote.
READ MORE
Politic
'Some prosecutor should be looking into' Trump's latest legal defense scam: expert
Mar 28, 2024
Former President Donald Trump's sprawling network of ostensibly independent political groups raising money for him, much of it in service of paying legal expenses, seems to walk right up to the line of breaking the law, former prosecutor Kristy Greenberg told MSNBC's Alex Wagner — and may in fact cross it."Kristy, how is this legal?" asked Wagner. "How can he keep saying this one thing and doing another?""Well, I think the big question here will be looking behind all of this as to who is coordinating it," said Greenberg. "If Donald Trump is coordinating between his campaign and these PACs that are supposed to be third parties and independent — the Save America PAC is independent, even though he directs it, independent third-party — if there is sufficient coordination, you could prove that, then maybe you would have something to say these expenditures are not purely personal, these are really campaign contributions. And therefore they should be subject to the limits of $5,000 that campaign contributions are subject to."ALSO READ: ‘Don't have enough’: Wealthy Trump allies balk at helping Donald pay legal billsWhat it looks like, Greenberg went on, is that Trump and his allies are "just trying to do an end-run around these various regulations, and it seems so transparent.""[Special counsel] Jack Smith ... had served some subpoenas in connection with that nonexistent, as it turns out, election defense fund," Greenberg said. "He served some subpoenas and then he withdrew them and it was unclear why, because that seemed like such a clear-cut fraud. I questioned why that happened. Perhaps it was optics. Perhaps he thought like he had such strong cases, the January 6 case and the national security case, that he didn't want to seem as though he was trying to drain Trump of the ability to legally defend against those cases. Hard to say. But I questioned it at that time because that seemed like such a clear wire fraud case that it seemed like it should be looked into, but maybe they just had limited resources and didn't like the optics of it.""But I agree with you, this raises a lot of questions," she added. "Someone, somewhere, even if not the special counsel's office, because they are pretty busy — some prosecutors should be looking into this."Watch the video below or at the link. Kristy Greenberg on the legality of Trump's PACs www.youtube.com
READ MORE
Celebrity News

> Latest News in Media

Watch It
Millie Bobby Brown & Jake Bongiovi Celebrate “Three Years of Bliss” Ahead of Wedding
March 24, 2024
C4Ehegcq1-A
Kate Middleton & Prince William "Enormously Touched" by Public Support
March 24, 2024
s8fig-RCjFc
Gisele Bündchen Denies Cheating on Ex-Husband Tom Brady
March 23, 2024
_SpRMagA8BM
Eminem, 50 Cent & Snoop Dogg Present Dr. Dre with a Star on the Walk of Fame
March 19, 2024
4bNLs1hxVp8
Opening Remarks for the Variety Summit October 20th, 2023 Jay Penske
March 18, 2024
c6Z707iLq8E
'Everybody Was S----ing Their Pants': Nick Thune Jokes About Being Born in the '70s and Fatherhood
March 16, 2024
mm7Baf6o2d8
Gunna Says Tour Will Up Creativity in Rap, Endorses Flo Milli | TMZ
March 22, 2024
QfMU24fw-Qo
Reporter Taylor Lorenz Says Palace Botched Kate Cancer News Rollout | TMZ Live
March 22, 2024
o43ZucdiyEo
Riley Strain's Body Found After Going Missing in Nashville 2 Weeks Ago | TMZ NOW
March 22, 2024
1m1zM-4_Cs8
Kyle Richards hasn’t spoken to co-star Dorit Kemsley, denies sending her a ‘manipulative’ text
March 24, 2024
LqLZzDP1hm4
Jordan Emanuel on her connection to 'RHOSLC' star Meredith Marks, advice from Amanda Batula
March 24, 2024
5NPAwlOov1Y
Kate Middleton’s uncle Gary apologizes after slamming ‘fickle’ Meghan Markle in scathing interview
March 24, 2024
JWG9kitALZk
TV Schedule
Late Night Show
Watch the latest shows of U.S. top comedians

Sports

Latest sport results, news, videos, interviews and comments
Latest Events
20
Mar
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE: Playoffs - Women
SK Brann W - Barcelona W
20
Mar
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE: Playoffs - Women
Hacken W - PSG W
19
Mar
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE: Playoffs - Women
SL Benfica W - Lyon W
19
Mar
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE: Playoffs - Women
Ajax W - Chelsea W
17
Mar
SPAIN: La Liga
Atletico Madrid - Barcelona
17
Mar
ENGLAND: FA Cup
Manchester United - Liverpool
17
Mar
ITALY: Serie A
Inter Milan - Napoli
17
Mar
ENGLAND: Premier League
Brighton - Manchester City
17
Mar
GERMANY: Bundesliga
Borussia Dortmund - Eintracht Frankfurt
17
Mar
ENGLAND: FA Cup
Chelsea - Leicester City
17
Mar
ITALY: Serie A
Roma - Sassuolo
17
Mar
ITALY: Serie A
Verona - AC Milan
17
Mar
ITALY: Serie A
Juventus - Genoa
16
Mar
GERMANY: Bundesliga
Darmstadt - Bayern Munich
16
Mar
ENGLAND: FA Cup
Manchester City - Newcastle United
16
Mar
ENGLAND: Premier League
Fulham - Tottenham Hotspur
16
Mar
SPAIN: La Liga
Osasuna - Real Madrid
13
Mar
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE: 1/8 Final
Atletico Madrid - Inter Milan
12
Mar
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE: 1/8 Final
Barcelona - Napoli
12
Mar
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE: 1/8 Final
Arsenal - Porto
11
Mar
ENGLAND: Premier League
Chelsea - Newcastle United
10
Mar
ENGLAND: Premier League
Liverpool - Manchester City
10
Mar
SPAIN: La Liga
Real Madrid - Celta Vigo
10
Mar
ENGLAND: Premier League
Aston Villa - Tottenham Hotspur
10
Mar
ITALY: Serie A
Juventus - Atalanta
10
Mar
ITALY: Serie A
Fiorentina - Roma
10
Mar
ITALY: Serie A
AC Milan - Empoli
Find us on Instagram
at @feedimo to stay up to date with the latest.
Featured Video You Might Like
zWJ3MxW_HWA L1eLanNeZKg i1XRgbyUtOo -g9Qziqbif8 0vmRhiLHE2U JFCZUoa6MYE UfN5PCF5EUo 2PV55f3-UAg W3y9zuI_F64 -7qCxIccihU pQ9gcOoH9R8 g5MRDEXRk4k
Copyright © 2020 Feedimo. All Rights Reserved.