Socialist Alternative sends its condolences to the families and communities affected by the shocking attack in Southport yesterday, which has seen three children confirmed to have lost their lives and a further eight in critical condition at the time of writing. Understandably, millions have been left speechless by this tragic event.
A society plagued by mental health crisis and a deep sense of alienation among young people, who are growing up in a world of profound social crisis, is a breeding ground for violent attacks such as these. The mass shootings seen in the US and similar incidents elsewhere are part of the same horrifying trend.
The exact details of this heinous and despicable crime, particularly the perpetrator’s motives, are still not clear, but this has not stopped the far-right trying to use it to further their own racist agendas. Fascist and far-right groups have begun to target the town in hopes that they can use this to whip up racist violence. Convicted stalker and fraudster ‘Tommy Robinson’ has weighed in claiming that the attacker was a recently-arrived refugee. Andrew Tate, whose misogynistic content is aimed at alienated young men has pushed the same narrative. However, Tate himself stands convicted of sex trafficking of minors, and has routinely defended rapists and abusers. This completely shatters the false narrative that these characters are interested in ‘defending women and children’.
Regardless of who the perpetrator in this attack was, the far-right has no answers. We need to build a mass movement against the far-right, who can counter these predatory forces on the streets, in the workplaces and in the communities. This must be linked to mass workers’ and trade union struggle for jobs, homes and services, so we can undercut the lie that the racist right stands on the side of ordinary people.
Instead of allowing working-class communities to be divided by racism, we need a struggle to transform society in the interests of the working-class majority, made up of all races, backgrounds and nationalities. This means building solidarity with working people fleeing war and poverty worldwide.
Socialist Alternative fights for a socialist society. One that properly funds and provides public mental health services which have been gutted by capitalist Tory and Labour governments over decades. We fight for a society which can guarantee genuine safety, an end to alienation, to wars, violence, poverty and all oppression.
Stand with the families and community affected by this horrific tragedy, and say NO to all racist division.
