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Article published In: Journal of Language Aggression and Conflict
Vol. 5:1 (2017) ► pp.134–155

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“Please protect the Jews”

Ideology and concealment in the Britain First solidarity patrol

 | Teesside University, UK
Published online: 16 October 2017
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https://doi.org/10.1075/jlac.5.1.06bur
Abstract
This research examined Facebook comments in response to Britain First’s ‘solidarity patrol’ video, in which Britain First is shown patrolling in Golders Green, North London, ostensibly to show support for the Jewish community after the shooting in the Kosher supermarket in Paris following the Charlie Hebdo attack. A Critical Discursive Psychological analysis was conducted on comments. Initial comments were identified as showing support and gratitude towards Britain First; however, comments became progressively anti-Semitic (e.g. by posing the rhetorical question, what benefits have Jews brought to Britain?). Results are discussed in terms of how Britain First has managed to achieve anti-Islamic rhetoric whilst trying to maintain support from the mainstream. This research has identified that discussions on Facebook have transitioned from Jews being constructed as vulnerable at the hands of Islamic extremism, to Jews being problematic and the aggressors.
Article outline
  • 1.Introduction
  • 2.Data and methods
  • 3.Analysis
    • 3.1“What have poor Jews ever done”: Showing support for Jews
    • 3.2“I say this as a proud British Jew”: Comments from authors who identify themselves as Jewish
    • 3.3“Who cares about the Jews?” comments displaying anti-semitic discourse
  • 4.Discussion
  • 5.Conclusion
  • Acknowledgements
  • References
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Foster, Russell David & Xander Kirke
2023. ‘Straighten Up and Fly Right’: Radical right attempts to appeal to the British LGBTQ+ community. The British Journal of Politics and International Relations 25:2 ► pp. 277 ff. DOI logo
Burke, Shani, Parisa Diba & Georgios A Antonopoulos
2020. ‘You sick, twisted messes’: The use of argument and reasoning in Islamophobic and anti-Semitic discussions on Facebook. Discourse & Society 31:4 ► pp. 374 ff. DOI logo

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