Two trials...

One just ending, one beginning. Coming to a close the trial of Alfie Meadows and co. In my opinion reading the court reports you can see the defence has been excellent. This is a most important case; aggressive and egregiously political policing was used against the student movement of November/December 2010, the first mass movement against enforced austerity, a movement which was causing the government to falter, the coalition to come apart.

If the imprisonment and battery of children and young adults is allowed to stand, if it is deemed to be 'proportionate policing', as the Commander on the day described it, it will be a dark day for us all. I fear for the people on trial. The business end of the state urgently needs to sweep through London, make it a happy place for capitalists of the world to enjoy their Olympics. The state would think nothing of sacrificing young lives to this end. In my opinion if Alfie Meadows is found guilty we will all have to watch out for each other. If Alfie Meadows, who nearly died at the hands of the police, can be sent down for violent disorder, they can come for any of us.

Just beginning, the trial of fascist child murderer Anders Breivik. He did it. He killed 77 people, mostly teenagers at a youth camp. He does not deny it. If he is allowed to turn the trial into a political exposition, if his 'self-defence' argument is given any credence we will be in deep trouble. This is an important political event. There is great responsibility on the prosecution. If they get it wrong we could be facing the prospect of Breivikite attacks across the continent.

Ain't it the truth!

As more information regarding the identity of the terrorist responsible for the massacre comes to light, articles attempting to explain his motives are starting to appear online. And beneath them are comments from readers, largely expressing outrage and horror. But there are a disturbing number that start, "What this lunatic did was awful, but . . ."

These "but" commenters then go on to discuss immigration, often with reference to a shaky Muslim-baiting story they've half-remembered from the press. So despite this being a story about an anti-Muslim extremist killing Norwegians who weren't Muslim, they've managed to find a way to keep the finger of blame pointing at the Muslims, thereby following a narrative lead they've been fed for years, from the overall depiction of terrorism as an almost exclusively Islamic pursuit, outlined by "security experts" quick to see al-Qaida tentacles everywhere, to the fabricated tabloid fairytales about "Muslim-only loos" or local councils "banning Christmas".

Charlie Brooker is right, as usual.

A portrait of the fascist as a vain man

Know your enemy, Anders Behring Breivik; look at him. He is out to kill you. He and his associates are out to destroy everyone and everything you hold dear.

Even from these collated pictures you can see he is a walking study in the fascist mindset. Megalomania, self-importance mixed with a dominator complex. The flip side of megalomania is paranoia, hence, for example, his fixation on the alleged 'marxist/multiculturalist' conspiracy. He also has severe logorrhoea.

His manifesto, which is now getting worldwide attention, is supposedly 1,500 pages long; phew! Excerpts appearing in the news, including praise for various people and groups, Mel Philips, Jeremy Clarkson, the English Defence League, have highlighted a crucial point for anti-fascist politics.

The mainstream right, populist right and fascist right are cross-fertilising. Rightists of all kinds are using racism in general, islamophobia in particular, as their wedge issue, their cutting edge. Fascist or not, they are reinforcing each other at every turn, co-ordinating across Europe and America to bring violence and fear to our streets. We need a Europe-wide anti-fascist alliance.