Katie Hopkins - The Backlash

[Update at end of post]

What's the ugliest

Part of your body?

What's the ugliest

Part of your body?

Some say your nose

Some say your toes

But I think it's YOUR MIND

I think it's your mind, woo woo

- Frank Zappa

Not such a Jolly Good Sheow now, eh Dave?

Ignore professional motormouth Katie Hopkins, they said. Everyone will lose interest if you do, they said. Don’t feed the troll, they said. So lots of people ignored her, and as a result, er, the Sun was so pleased with her racist incitement against refugees that they put it out there on SunNation in a desperate bid to drive traffic. And LBC, to their eternal shame, gave her her own show, so she could Carry On Inciting.

So that went well, then. Yes, we now have the country’s (just) best selling newspaper so proud of a pundit who talks of refugees as “like norovirus … feral humans … vagrants … swarms … like cockroaches” that they want the whole world to know. And thus the problem: were Ms Hopkins just another rent-a-rant on Facebook or Twitter, she would only be one among many spouting bile while hoping for a bite on her particular line.

(c) Beaubodor 2015

As Simon Usborne put it, “In the environment that led to creation of the Third Reich in Germany, Polish people were seen as ‘an East European species of cockroach’, while Jews were rats. When Hutu extremists used radio propaganda to incite violence against the Tutsis during the Rwandan Genocide, they called on people to ‘weed out the cockroaches’”. That is how loaded her hate speech is.

And it’s being promoted, and therefore amplified, by the Sun and LBC.Thus the reality, that many are fleeing conflict and persecution and have little other hope, is ignored - until the grim news that a boat thought to be carrying 700 refugees has capsized in the Mediterranean Sea comes through, and it is believed that most of those on board have drowned. Katie Hopkins will be so pleased.

Katie Hopkins migration achieved in one shot ((c) Doc Hackenbush 2015)

Her chosen political party, the Tories, may not be so happy, though: the photo of Ms Hopkins with an equally smiling Young Dave is being widely disseminated, and in the meantime Pope Francis’ concern at the loss of life in the Med has been echoed by Mil The Younger, who has urged that EU countries “Restart The Rescue” in view of the refugee situation and recent loss of life. What does Dave do now?

He doesn’t: Cameron can’t condemn the Sun. To do so would go against Creepy Uncle Rupe. He’s stuck with Katie Hopkins. It’s now down to LBC to think whether their actions were appropriate, and the Murdoch press to answer why they are so desperate to drive traffic to SunNation that they post racial incitement there, the online equivalent of that fatal pile-up on the other side of the Motorway that everyone has to slow down and look at.

There is a petition asking the Sun to dispense with Katie Hopkins’ services HERE. You can sign the Save The Children petition to “Restart The Rescue” HERE.

[UPDATE 21 April 1850 hours: following a report to the Metropolitan Police from the Society of Black Lawyers - you can see the details HERE - the Police have stated "we can confirm we have received allegations of incitement of racial hatred following the Sun article dated 17th April. The matter has been passed to Assistant Commissioner Patricia Gallan (specialist crime and operation directorate) for consideration".

There have thus far been no arrests. So now the cops are involved. Meanwhile, Ms Hopkins' Twitter feed has been uncharacteristically silent - the last entry is from Sunday. Why might that be? You might wish to ask that. I couldn't possibly comment]